today’s pop picks move through club-lit identity searching, travel-ready groove, introspective hip-hop and 90s-rooted alt-pop. these four tracks turn movement, memory and self-discovery into bright, energetic and emotionally open moments.
rocker on a club run – hey gorgeous
hey gorgeous blur indie rock and house culture into a restlessly brilliant pop banger
rocker on a club run is a late-night pop track caught between indie rock grit and house music pulse. written as the party song from international breakthroughs, it moves through digital and analogue textures, restless energy and the search for a place where different scenes can finally meet. it really is quite the fusion, and has a real ambition at it’s heart. the blend could be absolutely terrible, but thankfully it really, really works. the single drives along with bags of character, a great melody and a good old bleepy bloop at times too.
hey gorgeous is the montreal project led by multidisciplinary artist peet massé, whose songwriting explores travel, self-discovery and meaning beyond physical and psychological borders. the video follows a fictional version of massé through bars, clubs and galleries, reflecting the track’s battle between alternative rock and house culture. playful, searching and filled with movement, it captures the feeling of trying to belong in more than one world at once. a brilliant single and an essential pop listen this month.
thank u for making this hey gorgeous 🪩
this is how my story goes – cael anton
cael anton turns travel memory into a groove-led pop-rock beauty
this is how my story goes is a groove-laden pop-rock track with funky bass, synth colour, classic guitar energy and live world-music percussion. it has a chilled but danceable feel, building towards a chorus made for singing out while moving through memories of travel and important turning points. we get a lot of music in our magical mystery postbag, so it’s great to hear bright, ambitious pop that nods to golden songwriting too. i love the harmonies too.
cael anton is an independent canadian composer, singer, multi-instrumentalist and producer blending vintage rock roots with modern electronic sound. taken from his upcoming album last night in the city, the single uses female voices and lead guitar to add lift and movement to its already bright pulse. it feels contemporary and classic at once, made to make listeners think, move and let their minds follow the groove. a great single, and we’ll be digging into cael’s other work this weekend. check it out below.
thank u for making this cael anton 🚗
lost – mike t
mike t turns emotional noise into this intimate, self-searching pop-rap stunner
lost is an introspective pop-rap track built around self-discovery, grief and the need to step away from constant noise. over production from ray mickey, mike t turns the feeling of being alone in a crowd into something calm, thoughtful and easy to sit with. it’s edgy too, not fitting into a mainstream box in the best possible way. amongst the tough vibes, there’s genuine beauty in here too, especially with the synth string sample which provides an epic backdrop.
mike t is a grand rapids artist recording and mixing from his bedroom studio, shaped by the storytelling of j. cole, the production feel of mick jenkins and the poetic delivery of isaiah rashad. the song reflects social media chaos, political noise and the urge to run somewhere silent, while still recognising that problems must eventually be faced. vulnerable and direct, it gives directionlessness a moment of peace. we love this single, and hope there’s more coming soon.
thank u for making this mike t 🌫️
bottle – reetoxa
reetoxa turn teenage rebellion into a joyful, 90s-rooted alt-pop beauty
bottle is a high-energy alt-pop track with 90s alternative grit, modern polish and a story pulled from teenage chaos. there’s bags of energy here, and the emotional release in the chorus lands it beautifully. interestingly, the single was written by jason mckee in 1995, but it still manages to carry a lot of urgency. conceptually, it deals with friendship, mental health struggles and the desire to escape difficult circumstances before life has given you the tools. we know the feeling, and the single captures it in style.
friend of the blog reetoxa is the melbourne project fronted by singer-songwriter jason mckee, working with producer simon moro, kit riley on bass, james ryan on guitar and peter marin on drums. recorded at the avenue studio in cheltenham, the song finally receives the full treatment mckee imagined decades ago. its mix of vintage bite and contemporary lift makes it feel lived-in, loud and all very fresh. a great single, we’re looking forward to hearing more.
thank u for making this reetoxa 🍾
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