today’s pop picks definitely feel powerful but also a little inward. they are songs about control, ego and illusion. but underneath all that, there’s a lovely, steady strength that comes out.
grey – jenica
“jenica builds incredible industrial pop that feels metallic, bold and completely self-possessed”
grey glints like silver under city lights. it’s confident, produced like a dream, full of sharp synths and distortion that’s more on the deliberate side than chaotic. this is standout, weird pop and it’s bursting with that main character strut.
based in london, jenica creates everything herself, writing, producing and mastering from her own space. that autonomy shows, and also makes us more excited. grey feels controlled, intentional, chic. even the spanish switch at the end adds a little flair without breaking the mood. this is perfect pop for 20226.
thank u for making this jenica ✨
valentine – hana piranha
“hana piranha wrap destructive romance in dangerously seductive pop”
valentine is the kind of pop that slightly smalls, while also warning you. fantastic, breathy vocals drift over lush synths, a pulsing rhythm, while the lyrics hint at collapse. it’s a great vibe, with an almost twin peaks-like refrain, introducing themes like recognition, and relationships playing out before they even begin.
born in NZ before moving to england at the age of 12, hana’s work is wonderfully rooted in literary darkness and emotional honesty, it leans into tension, and the result is immersive, dramatic, beautifully uneasy.
thank u for making this hana piranha 🖤
you know – michael aimes
“michael aimes fuses big bouncy rap energy with melodic r&b ease”
you know hits immediately. the beat is playful and infectious, but the hook floats in with smooth confidence. it feels a little sunlit, the best kind of rhythmic and easy to move to. but underneath, there’s thought and a genuine message about power, money and control.
based in orlando, michael aimes handles the full process himself from his home studio. that freestyled hook gives the track spontaneity, a looseness that keeps it human. the flow is definitely there, and i’ll definitely be checking out more of his stuff.
thank u for making this michael aimes 🌊
macht – arttext
“arttext delivers a standout, smooth pop with a warm message of silence at its heart”
macht feels spacious and contemplative. pop textures swirl around philosophical lyrics, but the centre of the track is definitely a sense of stillness. and all that it can achieve, in the face of external pressures and this world we live in. we don’t listen to a huge amount of german pop, but this one definitely slaps, and we love the message of questioning external power and redirecting focus inward.
based in germany, arttext blends human writing with generative ai orchestration. the result is cinematic yet grounded, experimental but emotionally centred. inner strength through silence.
thank u for making this arttext 🤍
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