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Pop

Like an intravenous shot of adrenaline to the rhythmic pulses, MAEVE’s dance-pop anthem, Secret Places, is a kinetic tour de force

Posted on 23 January 2025

If the placid pop trend is leaving you uninspired, MAEVE’s latest single, Secret Places, shatters that monotony. The progressive dance-pop anthem, laced with ecstasy and unapologetically empowering lyricism, pulses with the kind of energy that could send a dancefloor into a frenzy. Listening solo? You can still expect sharp shocks of electricity to the soul and senses.

Each drop in the track feels like a rush of pure euphoria, perfectly tailored to sync with your heartbeat. Short of injecting adrenaline directly into your rhythmic pulses, there’s no better high than cranking up the volume on this perennial pop earworm.

At just 21, Maeve is already carving out her own path as a multi-genre artist. Originally from Massachusetts and now calling Miami home, her powerhouse vocals and sharp-witted lyrical chops reflect the influence of artists like Lorde, Rihanna, and Miley Cyrus. With roots in pop, folk, RnB, and country, her versatility fuels the authenticity of her sound. As a student at the prestigious Frost School of Music, she’s mastered the art of fusing vulnerability with a sense of empowerment, creating tracks that resonate with intensity.

Secret Places is a testament to her high-energy ethos and exploratory spirit. The track is swathed with self-confidence and clarity, embodying Maeve’s belief in embracing life’s challenges and carving out new beginnings.

Secret Places is now available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The Glass Half Empty: Bella Gate’s Live Rendition of ‘Drink with Me’ Overflows with Introspection

Posted on 22 January 2025

With the live version of Drink with Me, Bella Gate candidly revisits the raw vulnerability of her original release, layering it with the visceral intimacy only a live performance can provide. This track, first released as a single in June and later featured on her September album Gateway, is Bella’s most personal work to date.

Accompanied by a string quartet, whose tender arrangements were crafted by Latin Grammy Award-winning engineer Alberto Pérez and Juanjo Fernandez, this version exudes emotional complexity through its neo-classical chamber pop orchestration.

Far from preaching, Bella Gate draws listeners into a poignant chapter of her life, where alcohol became a sanctuary that only stacked the odds and tribulations up against her. Through ornate, jazz-influenced chromatic progressions and intricate riffs, she unpacks the bittersweet reality of seeking connection, be it through partnership, friendship, or chosen family, from a place of painfully honest imperfection.

The depth of this live rendition lies between the lines; it’s a meditation on confronting vulnerability and finding strength in human connection instead of in crutches. With previous features in Wonderland, Earmilk, and Notion, Bella Gate is carving her place as one of London’s most promising singer-songwriters; she deserves accolades in spades.

Stream the live rendition of Drink with Me on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Breaking Chains with a Beat: Isabella Chiarini’s ‘Gotta Be’ Shatters the Illusions of Toxic Love

Posted on 22 January 2025

Imagine the raw vocal power of Lady Gaga spiritually amplified by the hypnotic aura of Stevie Nicks, and you’ll get close to the visceral impact of Isabella Chiarini’s latest single, Gotta Be. Throw your perceptions of pop anthems by the wayside with the battle cry wrapped in melody, which tears down the illusions of toxic relationships with unapologetic candour and electrifying pop liberation in its purest form.

Chiarini’s ability to project emotional depth with soaring vocal conviction is nothing short of magnetic. The track’s lyrical narrative cuts to the heart of unhealthy dynamics, where manipulative partners masquerade as saviours. In Gotta Be, Chiarini flips the script, transforming her own lived experience into a universal reminder that happiness doesn’t hinge on anyone else. “It’s okay to do what’s right for you,” she affirms, “because, in the end, that’s what will make you happiest.”

Crafted with co-writers Teresa Nocita and Canadian Idol winner Brian Melo, Gotta Be showcases Isabella’s commitment to authenticity. Her influences may be rooted in personal pain, but the result is a fearless declaration of self-worth that uplifts as much as it empowers. The track seamlessly fuses bold pop hooks with subtle subgenre influences, creating a sonic identity that etches its way into the memory and refuses to fade.

From her beginnings at age eight to honing her craft with PCG Universal, Chiarini’s career has been fuelled by resilience. With Gotta Be, she’s sparking a revolution in how we approach love, freedom, and independence. Cast stones with her by hitting play.

Gotta Be was officially released on January 8th; stream the single on all major platforms, including Spotify, now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Natalee Gallo – now it doesn’t matter: Cinematically Ethereal Dream Pop

Posted on 4 January 2025

From the moment ‘now it doesn’t matter’ opens with an ethereal breeze of melancholy, Natalee Gallo demonstrates her cultivated approach to fusing folk sensibilities with a cinematic dream pop aesthetic. This single only gathers visceral steam as the instrumental and vocal hooks ache with conflicted, confessional sincerity, allowing the track to breathe in a raw, human way.

Not only is it an immersive panorama of intensely personal yet universally resonant pain, but it also serves as a powerful testament to Gallo’s authenticity. Rather than simply trailing the trends, Gallo incorporates subtle folky tinges that accentuate the avant-garde balladry, giving her sound a distinctive edge while still retaining a current appeal. It’s a scintillatingly stylised diary entry turned forward-thinking pop piece, brimming with enough soul to stand out on any contemporary playlist.

Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Gallo has built her emerging indie presence around her sound which reveals her fascination with intertwining pop, synth, and folk elements. In 2025, Gallo intends to share three more singles, potentially culminating in an EP, as she seeks to widen her audience and highlight the eclectic influences driving her project.

now it doesn’t matter is available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Alt-Pop Sad Boy Psychonaut Jake Marshall Captured the Messiness of the Human Psyche with His Earworm, Next Time

Posted on 3 January 2025

Jake Marshall continues to push boundaries with Next Time, the defining single from his debut EP, Better Luck Next Time. The perennial pop earworm blasts past contemporary trends with its retro-futurist spin on disco, funk, synth pop, and Avant Garde indietronica. Marshall’s music remains unapologetically unique, and Next Time is no exception, delivering the kind of sonic innovation that makes you fall a little deeper for his unfeigned artistry and unflinching mission to capture the messiness of the psyche as it wrestles with themes of affection and rejection.

The track evolves and drifts into obscure interstellar experimentation, allowing the listener to imagine what John Grant could create with the sardonic grit of Fidlar. It’s a testament to Marshall’s restraint-less approach to laying it all down on the line—idiosyncrasies and all. Next Time carries the emotional resonance of heartbreak but reframes it as an empowering experience; this ongoing saga of self-discovery is as stunning to hear as it is to witness, particularly as Marshall gains both artistic confidence and career traction.

Anchored by his striking four-octave range, Marshall delivers every lyric with a depth that feels revolutionary in a genre where vulnerability can often be an afterthought. The dynamic vocal lines, paired with the intricate production courtesy of Daniel Finn, create a rich sonic panorama that bridges raw emotionality with experimentalism.

Next Time will be available to stream across all major platforms from January 3rd, including Soundcloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

aubreyleighkirk has made her debut with her truth-bleeding wounded ballad, empty

Posted on 30 December 2024

The single ‘empty’ by aubreyleighkirk arrives with lyrics so visceral they resound as though they’ve poured from a raw wound. Confounded with striking minor-key piano chords, filmic orchestral swells and the singer-songwriter’s seraphically melancholic vocal harmonies, the debut single instantly catches you off guard.

With gospel-esque choir vocals adding to the arcane atmosphere of the cinematic vignette—which illustrates the hollowness of loneliness when you’re missing the warmth of the only person capable of making you feel whole—aubreyleighkirk easily distinguished herself as a purveyor of authentic artistry. As the industry waits with bated breath for more of her discography to cascade from her cultivated pipeline, she’s already an indie pop icon to watch.

Aubrey grew up immersed in music. After graduating from the Manhattan School of Music with a BM in Musical Theatre, she pursued the arts relentlessly and proudly joined the Actors’ Equity Association. Her career soared in the cabaret scene, including appearances at 54 Below, The Greenroom 42, and Birdland Jazz Club. To date, she has performed in three original works at the NY Winterfest, the NY Theatre Festival, and a five-week Off-Broadway run at the Players Theater.

After building her film presence in LA through lead roles in commercials, short films, and independent features, she now flies between NYC and LA, forging her music path with ‘empty’ and preparing more releases this winter.

empty was officially released on December 13; stream the single on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Surf the 60s with Sheykh Forever’s Dreamy Indie Pop Hit, Run for Cover ft. Louella JC & Daniela

Posted on 23 December 2024

You can practically hear the 60s swinging through Sheykh Forever’s new single, Run for Cover, featuring Louella JC & Daniela. The earworm practically brims kaleidoscopic doo-wop bliss, which complements the endlessly ascending layered vocal harmonies that drift across the surf pop aesthetics.

Far from your run-of-the-mill attempt at sonic antiquity revivalism, Run for Cover is a slice of resonance wrapped within the consolation of nostalgia; when you melt into the oceanic breeze of the single, you become more than susceptible to the lyrical messaging which reaches out to life’s archetypes always seeking sanctuary. With romanticism nestled into the polished progressions, Run for Cover hits on every conceivable level.

Sheykh Forever is a self-described factory for infectious earworms, stationed somewhere between yesteryear and the distant future. By fusing disco, heavy rock, and hypnagogic indie pop, all slathered with a fat dose of booty-bouncing funk in their eclectic discography, they offer a musical palette that stands distinct in the modern pop scene.

Run for Cover exemplifies the enigmatic artist’s knack for bridging retro elements with contemporary commercial appeal; it opens up a whole new realm of melodic synergy as it grooves across the intersection of accessible pop and dreamy indie vibes.

Run for Cover was officially released on November 29th; stream the single on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The guilt of grief locked into the minor-key melodies in The Every Glazer’s most affecting single to date, One More Day

Posted on 15 December 2024

The Every Glazer never shies away from emotive candour, yet, his latest single, One More Day, lays bare the inner turmoil that took hold after he rushed to the hospital to be by his mother’s side, only to arrive too late. The luminous minor-key notes meet the aching intensity of lyrics that detail his regret, as though the track had no choice but to spill from his soul in an attempt to process grief through a poetically intimate narrative.

Mourning rarely translates neatly into language. For some, it’s an alien phenomenon; for others who have firsthand experience, it’s simply beyond expression. The Every Glazer manages to crack that code by stripping himself bare in a score that feels both painfully raw and tenderly consoling.

Anyone who has ever stumbled through the guilt-ridden conflicting emotions of bereavement will find solace in the harrowing yet comforting presence of ‘One More Day’. It’s no easy listen. Even the singer-songwriter admits performing it live remains a daunting prospect. Yet its presence in the world ensures no one needs to bear that emotional weight alone. In under four minutes, The Every Glazer turns the inexplicable into a resonant, empathetic encounter.

One More Day was officially released on November 15; stream the single on Spotify and YouTube now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Cecilia’s Debut, Don’t Wanna Cry, is a Disco Ball’s Glow over Retro-Futuristic Reflections

Posted on 15 December 2024

Cecilia’s debut single, ‘Don’t Wanna Cry’, sinks the listener into a rabbit hole of retro-futurism beneath the glow of a disco ball, pulling her listeners’ senses between awe for innovation and comfort from nostalgia-swathed pop hooks.

If you’re weary of modern retro pop revolving around Lana Del Rey’s carbon copies, Cecilia rhythmically shifts away from the fray. Her sound—recorded and produced independently in her Los Angeles home studio—invites her growing following into a seraphic reverie of dreamy alt-pop, all defined by some of the most sublime vocals from a breakthrough pop artist in 2024.

Influenced by the disco era’s warm grooves, modern electronic textures, and soulful classic vocal timbres, she crafts a retro-futuristic hybrid with indie sensibilities. ‘Don’t Wanna Cry’, released on 26th November, layers its introspective lyrics and ethereal melodies to form a kaleidoscope of colourful warmth, while the earworm mantra lingers long after the final note.

By making her debut with such an empoweringly vulnerable release, Cecilia sets a high bar, teasing more hits from an already iconic artist who dares to groove to her own tune.

Stream Don’t Wanna Cry on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Duane Harden conquered the pop scene with Blind (Pop Life Mix)

Posted on 11 December 2024

After carving a legacy in the confines of the house music scene, Duane Harden has proven his mettle as a pop icon in the making with ‘Blind (Pop Life Remix)’.

Euphoria pulses through the intro, carried by shimmering new wave synths that ignite a rush of sonic exhilaration. As the melodies gain momentum, Harden’s mastery of interwoven complexity becomes unmistakable. This is not the work of an artist content with formulaic hits; instead, Harden layers raw emotion, kinetic energy, and rich textures into his production, crafting an anthem that resonates with bittersweet authenticity.

The track pulls listeners into a trap-tinged world of naïve desire, where the longing to escape emotional vulnerability is laid bare against the Latino guitars and disco-pinched grooves. With each progression, Harden’s hooks tighten their grip, drawing you deeper into the duality of aching euphoria and scarred sentimentality.

By refusing to paint within the lines, Blind (Pop Life Mix) cements Harden’s place as a multifaceted artist capable of shifting seamlessly between genres while delivering emotive, high-energy productions. For his 81k monthly listeners and beyond, this track is an invitation to revel in the alchemy of pop at its most sincere and unflinching.

Be a part of the hype by hitting play on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast