Browsing Category

Pop Music Blog & Promotion

Pop Music

As the trends in music evolve, as does the definition of pop music. Pop started as an abbreviation for popular; since the mid-20th-century, it has become the go-to term to define the music currently holding the most favour with the public. The evolving nature of pop makes it hard to pinpoint the pioneers; some say it all started when performers needed a catchy and memorable song in the Victorian area, while others say that pop began with the original crooners in the 30s.

The introduction of the pop music charts in 1952 allowed a cultural shift to form around music. It was at this point in history that teenagers became a massive target for the media. Before this new social reconstruction, there had been no in-between for children and adults. Just as it is now in the TikTok age, where teenagers can make an unknown artist go viral in minutes, teenagers effectively ran the music industry in the 50s too!

After Elvis Presley reigned supreme in the late 50s and early 60s, the Beatles dominated the charts for eight years until they disbanded in 1970. Throughout the 80s, synthpop took the pop limelight until the Boy Band era was born in the 90s. The selling power of East 17, Take That, Backstreet Boys and ‘N Sync gave Bob and Chris Herbert the idea to manufacture the world’s ultimate girl group; with the Spice Girls, they discernibly succeeded. After the Spice Girls topped the charts, more manufactured pop acts, such as Britney and Mariah Carey, started to surface. Manufacturing is still a massive part of the pop industry, but more and more pop artists are becoming brave enough to break the mould (think Billie Eilish, St. Vincent and Lorde).

Even though the pop charts are more diverse than ever, with Ed Sheeran sitting next to the Weeknd and Dua Lipa next to Tom Grennan, there are still common factors in their pop tracks. Today, most songs that fall into the pop category follow the extensively tried and tested pop formula. Generally speaking, pop tracks are 3 – 5 minutes in duration, use just one key, contains melodically lyrical soundbites that include the title, have a repeating chorus and keep to 4/4 time signatures. Repetition is quite literally key.

Unless it is a ballad or a stripped back acoustic number, pop tracks usually unfold to danceable tempos and rhythms to complement the lyrical hooks. Elements from every genre can be pulled into pop, the main ones being rock, RnB, hip hop, country, Latin and dance. Indie pop was a force to be reckoned with at the start of the millennium, but two decades in, it has lost its foothold to hip hop and RnB, which have become pop genres in of themselves.

Specyal T & Chasing Sunday Plug into Electro-Pop with ‘Automatic’

Posted on 5 March 2025

Specyal T and Chasing Sunday didn’t come to play it safe with ‘Automatic’. The neon-stroked electro-pop earworm grips with an irresistible bassline and the illusion of what The Doors might have been if Jim Morrison had stumbled into the synth-pop era with his seductive vocal swagger. Sticky-sweet in all the right places yet sharp enough to cut through the usual pop formula, it’s a track built to cling to the subconscious.

Specyal T, the Toronto-based Caribbean-Canadian musician, composer, and producer, has spent years making waves across North America and Europe. With tracks rotating on CBC Radio 1 and placements in TV and film, she’s made a name for herself by stepping outside comfort zones. ‘Automatic’ keeps that tradition alive. It’s more than a drenched-out dose of euphony—it flips the script on image-based prejudice while celebrating diversity with an eccentric edge that few dare to take on.

In a world as fractured as ours, ‘Automatic’ isn’t just another pop hit—it’s an essential earworm capable of filling the empathy void that has become a global endemic.

‘Automatic’ is out now on all major streaming platforms, including SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Eve Berry Sinks into the Shadows of Situationships with her debut single, ‘back to you’

Posted on 4 March 2025

Eve Berry has hit the pop sphere running with her ethereally dreamy 2010s textures and equally seraphic vocal lines, commanding their way through layers of reverb to entrench the illuminated melodies with emotion that aches with the kind of pain only a cyclical romance can conjure.

back to you is as confessional as a diary entry, an exposition of the darker, often repetitive nature of situationships, where worth is measured in how much time you can kill by their side—until someone shinier walks by. Eve spoke the unspoken, unearthing how the push and pull of an imbalanced romance is the ultimate ego death when the other person is always holding all the cards.

The 21-year-old singer-songwriter and producer from the Southside of Glasgow first found her footing in the city’s live music scene, hitting open-mic nights from the age of 11 before drawing influence from songwriters like Stevie Nicks, Lana Del Rey, and Taylor Swift. Her love for era-defining synth-pop from the 2010s seeps through every note of back to you, a track that carries the weight of nostalgia while feeling like a fresh stab to the heart. Teaching herself guitar before expanding to piano and home production, she built this song from the ground up, knowing it had to be her first release.

For fellow situationship survivors who can’t help but find themselves back where they swore they’d never return, back to you is now available on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Shahev Sen Dips a Brush in Nostalgia and Paints a Soul-Soaked Indie Dream with ‘You Know Why’

Posted on 3 March 2025

Shahev Sen sings like he’s unburdening his soul, letting every note spill out with the weight of lived experience. His sophomore single, You Know Why, pulls from the golden days of new wave indie and the dreamy haze of ‘60s psych pop, creating a sound that feels like slipping into a world where the colours are richer, and reality softens at the edges.

Hailing from the streets of old Calcutta, Shahev’s journey has been anything but straightforward. His early days as a bassist and vocalist in the city’s club scene shaped his raw, blues-infused rock ‘n’ roll sensibilities, but after his band dissolved in 2015, the pull of music never fully loosened its grip. In 2023, he returned as a solo artist, bringing with him the weight of time, reflection, and a refusal to bow to trends.

You Know Why is steeped in personal reckoning, wrestling with the struggle of prioritising values over financial stability in a world that doesn’t always make room for sentiment. His vocals cascade through the track with an unfiltered honesty, carrying the ache of repressed anger and betrayal. Instead of leaning on a predictable guitar solo, he swaps it for a sweeping orchestral middle eight, giving the song a grand, cinematic depth, resulting in a soul-stirring indie gem that doesn’t play by the rulebook.

You Know Why is out now on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

From Ballads to Bold Anthems: Megan Wheeler on Her Artistic Evolution – An Interview

Posted on 3 March 2025

Megan Wheeler has always been a storyteller, but with Now That I’m Gone, she steps into a new chapter—one shaped by collaboration, growth, and a sharpened sense of artistic direction. The track sees her breaking away from her piano ballad roots, embracing an up-tempo sound that captures the strength in walking away and knowing your worth. In this interview, she discusses the influence of working with producer Channing Nuon, the challenge of sifting through hundreds of unfinished ideas, and the impact of her time in Nashville. From early inspirations to the producers she dreams of working with next, Megan offers insight into her evolving craft and the themes shaping her upcoming projects.

Megan Wheeler, welcome to A&R Factory! Your passion for songwriting has been evident from an early age, and it’s exciting to see how your music continues to evolve. Now That I’m Gone feels like a turning point in your songwriting, showing growth from your early work. What emotions and experiences shaped this track, and how does it reflect where you are now as an artist?

This track came from the inspiration of an artist and song I love. I came to the point in my songwriting where I wanted to try collaborating and also write something up-tempo compared to piano ballads. I wanted to write something that gave a sense of empowerment in knowing your worth and knowing not to go back to old habits. I would say this reflects a part of where I am now as an artist. I have a lot more range in my songwriting to continue to show.

This is your first time collaborating on a song. How did working with Channing Nuon influence the final sound of Now That I’m Gone, and did the experience change the way you approach songwriting?

Working with Channing Nuon was a great experience. He produced this track, and we co-wrote it, which is something I’ve never tried before, so he definitely had a big influence over this track. This experience gave me a new approach to try. It helped me become more comfortable in collaborating, sending ideas back and forth, and writing over a track already produced for the first time. I’m used to producing the tracks myself, so it’s incredibly helpful to have another person work on this project.

You’ve mentioned that storytelling has become a bigger focus in your music. What kind of stories do you find yourself drawn to, and do you feel like your songwriting process has changed as a result?

The kind of stories I find myself drawn to are ones I can relate to and also stories that make me think of things in a different way. I love songs with lyrics that make me think “I’ve never thought of putting it that way before”. Songs that are relatable to my life make me feel heard and my feelings validated so I automatically become drawn to them. I definitely think this has changed my songwriting process as now, I focus on writing lyrics that can make people really feel and relate to what I’m trying to say.

With over 200 unfinished pieces stored on your phone, how do you decide which ideas are worth developing into full songs?

There are certain ideas I feel drawn to more than others. I know I want to work on developing an idea if I find myself listening to it over and over again, feeling that sense of rush in writing something I love and think others will. There are some ideas I hear and think, it’s okay but I could do better. The more I write, the more I find ideas that excite me to develop them.

Your time at Belmont University and in Nashville must have given you a fresh perspective on the industry. Did your experiences there shape your vision for the kind of artist you want to become?

Being in Nashville and in a school surrounded by songwriters, I see the dedication and work ethic people put in and it inspires me. I have met professors that have done things in their careers that make me think my dream is possible to achieve. It instills confidence and inspiration in me to be surrounded by such talent. My vision for the kind of artist I want to become now is someone who takes the inspiration of others and turns it into motivation to reach my fullest potential.

You’ve expressed an interest in working with producers who have helped shape the careers of well-known artists. If you could collaborate with anyone right now, who would it be and why?

My dream producer collaboration would be with either Max Martin, Jack Antonoff, or Dan Nigro. These producers have created songs I’ve grown up listening to and inspired me to be like. They’ve created possibly some of my favorite songs with some of my favorite artists and I’ve always wondered what kind of songs I could create with producers like them.

As someone who started writing at a young age, how has your relationship with music evolved, especially since taking time to focus on your mental health?

When I was young, I used to write for fun as a hobby of mine before even knowing how to develop a full song. Over time, my relationship with music has evolved into something more fulfilling. There were times, especially when struggling with my mental health, when I questioned if this was something I really wanted to pursue. Taking time to focus on myself has taught me that this is something I really am passionate about, and if I didn’t at least try, I would regret it for the rest of my life. Now, I feel confident in the path I’ve chosen for myself.

Your music is deeply personal but also relatable to your peers. What kind of impact do you hope your songs have on listeners going through similar experiences?

I hope listeners feel validated in their feelings and in their thoughts. Hearing songs that are relatable yet personal can create a connection I hope to have with my listeners on a deeper level.

Looking beyond Now That I’m Gone, are there any themes or sounds you’re experimenting with in your upcoming projects? 

In my upcoming projects, I’ve been experimenting with more production ideas and instruments I haven’t used before. Something that can still feel authentically myself while expanding and creating my own sound.-

Discover more about Megan Wheeler via her official website; and listen to her sophomore single, Now That I’m Gone, on Spotify from February 28th.

Interview by Amelia Vandergast

Young Jay Channels the Tides of Romance in His Tropic RnB Trap Pop Fusion, ‘Her Ocean’

Posted on 2 March 2025

Young Jay’s latest single, Her Ocean, is as sonically oceanic as the title—it moves with the same tranquil yet powerful force. Fusing pop, RnB, and trap, the independent artist found his space in the contemporary landscape with a track that radiates warmth and intimacy. There’s a sultry undercurrent, but the real strength lies in the sincerity of his lyricism. While others lean on excess, Young Jay proves that restraint and poetic depth leave a far stronger impression.

After stepping away from music for a year following the passing of his great-grandmother, Lillie Mae Jones Manning, Young Jay resurfaces with a song that feels like both a reflection and a return. Her Ocean is far from surface-level sentimentality—it’s a testament to the kind of romance that refuses to drown in modern trends. With a vocal delivery that rolls in like a tide, carrying both tenderness and intensity, he captures the equilibrium between admiration and longing, bringing a tactile emotional depth to the track.

The production lingers in the same atmospheric space, conjuring images of golden-hour heat and slow-motion devotion. The melody doesn’t overpower; it guides, letting the lyrical honesty take centre stage.

Her Ocean is available now on all major streaming platforms, including YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Megan Wheeler Leaves the Monotonous Plastic Pop Mould in Ruins with ‘Now That I’m Gone’

Posted on 28 February 2025
Megan Wheeler

Megan Wheeler has long since blown the doors to the pop pantheon open, but with her new single, Now That I’m Gone, she’s taken the throne within it. Moodily fiery and enveloped in ethereal textures that swirl around the four-to-the-floor beat, the single is a blast beyond the contemporary curve. New wave synth pop motifs inject a touch of nostalgia into the future-forward production, while glitchy vocal distortions and constant tonal shifts round out the emotionally charged anthem of self-reclamation.

Since the release of Replaced at just 16, Wheeler has distinguished herself as a pop phenomenon with songwriting that cuts through the noise. Compared to Taylor Swift, Avril Lavigne, and Dolores O’Riordan, she’s built a reputation for songs that walk the fine line between relatability and raw emotional depth. With Now That I’m Gone, she leans into confidence rather than heartbreak, proving she’s just as potent when asserting independence as she is when pouring vulnerability into her verses.

Her time at Belmont University in Nashville sharpened her talent, but it was the return home to St. Petersburg, Florida, that crystallised her resolve. Now That I’m Gone is the sound of that clarity, shattering any lingering doubt about her direction. As a dual citizen of Ireland and the U.S., a Philadelphia Eagles devotee, and someone unafraid to engage with social issues, Wheeler refuses to settle in life or music. Now That I’m Gone is just further proof that she’s pushing forward without hesitation.

Now That I’m Gone is now available on all major streaming platforms. Find your preferred way to listen via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Stephan Folkes Demands Authenticity in His Genre-Blurred Instant Hit, ‘Say It Like You Mean It’

Posted on 28 February 2025

Stephan Folkes isn’t interested in fitting the mould—he’s too busy blasting past the constricting contours. With his debut single Say It Like You Mean It, the London-based singer, songwriter, and producer channels the soul of the greats while making sure his name rings out on its own terms. The track is a sharp-edged lesson in self-worth, delivered with the kind of vocal command that makes empty words feel like an offence.

Raised on the sounds of Prince, George Michael, and Stevie Wonder, Folkes has been chasing musical excellence since he first stunned school audiences at 11. By 13, he was writing his own songs, sharpening his craft under the guidance of former UB40 backing singer Claude Alexander. Now, as a seasoned performer and sound engineer, he refuses to be boxed in—melding R&B, soul, pop, funk, and even trance into his own brand of sonic storytelling.

Say It Like You Mean It is a bold opening statement for his upcoming LP. Seraphic 80s tones hum in the background, while his voice carves through the mix with an urgency that demands attention. The track reflects on pale imitations of love with a vocal bite reminiscent of Prince, refusing to let wasted time go unnoticed. As “The Visionist” and self-proclaimed “King of Fantasy,” Folkes embodies self-investments

Stream Say It Like You Mean It on Spotify now.

Stay tuned for Stephan Folkes new releases on Instagram and TikTok.

Discover more ways to listen and connect with Stephan via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Heather Dolly Turns Back Time with her Retro Chamber Folk-Pop Ballad, ‘My Love’

Posted on 27 February 2025

Don’t be fooled by the wavy, lo-fi, tape deck-esque intro—‘My Love’ doesn’t linger in nostalgia for long. From the mind of one of 2025’s most authentic aural architects, the single unfolds into a euphonically intimate trip across the decades. Heather Dolly flits between the 60s and 90s with a sound that carries echoes of icons from both eras, yet her sonic signature remains unmistakable.

Between Beatles-esque chamber pop crescendos and the aching touch of Hurt-era Christina Aguilera, ‘My Love’ sells sanctuary to wearied lovers, embedding them in the tonal catharsis of a track classic in all the right places, innovative in all the rest. It plays out like an affectingly poetic diary entry, wrapped in orchestral swells and folk-pop warmth, with hints of jazz rock swimming in the underpinnings.

At just 19, the Welsh singer-songwriter—now based in Liverpool—has already mastered the delicate balance between timeless and contemporary. With influences ranging from Laufey and Faye Webster to Bob Dylan, she’s not just borrowing from the greats; she’s reinterpreting their legacies with a voice that could heal the deepest of emotional scars.

‘My Love’ was officially released on Valentine’s Day and is now available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Julia Powell Resurrected the Esoteric with Her Art-Pop Earworm, ‘LAZARUS’

Posted on 27 February 2025

In a world where mannequin heads and hypnotic light shows serve as the set dressing for Julia Powell’s sonic exorcisms, ‘LAZARUS’ arrives as the latest séance. Since her 2022 debut EP, Ephyra, fans have been left suspended in Powell’s void—unsure whether to dance, dissolve, or do both at once. With her upcoming album alchemically stirring for a late 2025 release, she’s already made it clear that her dominion over the avant-garde is absolute.

Between the stabbing ache of the piano keys, the chamber strings that oscillate beyond recognition, and the trip-hop-tinged middle-eight teetering on the edge of total chaos, ‘LAZARUS’ doesn’t just transcend—it disorients. Powell’s teasingly arcane vocal lines slither through the arrangement, twisting through histrionic motifs that claw at the psyche. The track is as much a fever dream as it is a statement: Powell has reached the epitome of art pop and staked her claim to supremacy.

If her live shows—described by fans as out-of-body experiences—are any indication, ‘LAZARUS’ is only the beginning of the next rupture in Powell’s hauntingly immersive world. The esoteric earworm is a sign of the seismic shifts to come.

‘LAZARUS’ is available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Ever So Good Sunk Their Pop-Rock Hooks Into a Frenzy of Euphoria with ‘Super Friend’

Posted on 26 February 2025

‘Super Friend’ is the latest sugar rush of pop-rock energy from Marcus Perry’s long-running passion project, Ever So Good, which has been fine-tuning the formula of melodic punk-tinged rock anthems since 1998. The ever-shifting collective of collaborators has never lost sight of its mission—turning raw emotion into soaring choruses that demand to be shouted back.

With ‘Super Friend,’ Ever So Good proves once again that knowing how to ignite nostalgia doesn’t mean getting lost in it. Their dopamine-drenched pop-punk and power-pop influences shine through without a trace of pastiche. The instrumentals pulse with enough power to light up a city, while Perry’s vocals glide through melodies that cling to the memory like a long-lost favourite from the early 00s.

Only an alchemist of sound could turn the despair of the friend zone into such a riot of serotonin. ‘Super Friend’ doesn’t wallow; it soars, inviting listeners to shake off their ennui and revel in the chaos of longing. For anyone who grew up blasting anthems from the golden era of pop-punk, this track is a sharp reminder of why those hooks still hit home.

‘Super Friend’ is available now on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify

Review by Amelia Vandergast