today’s pop picks move through sleek korean alt-pop, cinematic electronic hope, melancholic dance release and piano-led memory. these four tracks turn longing, transformation and emotional survival into vivid, polished pop moments.

anyway – hangawi

hangawi turns love and detachment into a sleek, late-night alt-pop beauty

anyway is a sophisticated alt-pop and synth-pop debut built around atmospheric synth lines, rhythmic bass and a vocal tone that feels calm, intimate and emotionally alert. there’s a touch of the liquid drum and bass that really works, and the combination with the sweet vocal really works. conceptually, the track sits in the complicated space between love and distance, giving melancholy a polished, chic shape that works perfectly for late-night drives.

hangawi is a south korean independent singer-songwriter, formerly known as silvia m, stepping forward with a release written and composed herself. the song captures a pivotal point in her growth as a lyricist, melody maker and performer, shaped by ongoing vocal training and a clear dedication to craft. it’s vulnerable but controlled, anyway introduces an exciting new voice with brilliant pop instincts. an essential pop track this month.

thank u for making this hangawi 🌙

invisible light – amarah

amarah turns uncertainty into a wonderful, cinematic and atmospheric pop single

invisible light is an atmospheric pop track shaped by modern electronic textures, intimate vocals and a dreamlike sense of movement. the synth work gives me all the feels, and there’s a touch of haim to the vibe, but with a touch more 80s to it. the song builds towards an emotionally resonant chorus, using light as a symbol of resilience, guidance and the courage to keep moving through doubt. it genuinely soars, and the restrained verses make it land even harder.

amarah returns with this release as the beginning of a new artistic chapter, embracing english-language songwriting while holding onto the emotional depth at the centre of the project. the track moves through hope, transformation and self-discovery, placing the listener inside a cinematic world where uncertainty is not the end of the story. polished but personal, it perfect for reflection and the moment when inner light starts to come back. more of this please!

thank u for making this amarah ✨

drowning days – martyrs

martyrs make loneliness feel huge, melodic and perfectly danceable

drowning days is a sad banger in the truest sense, built from four-to-the-floor energy, gleaming guitars, a strong bassline hook and a chorus made to drag tired hands into the air. there a touch of everything everything to this, or maybe arab strap when they got the drum machines out. i love the mix of summer brightness on the surface, while loneliness move knowingly underneath. and by the time we hit the giant chorus, we’re fully sold.

martyrs are welsh diy duo jon howells and michael hall, creating genre-fluid music from a ramsgate attic with no interest in staying still. inspired by new order, the cure and detroit techno, this release tries to dance through depression rather than escape it neatly. taken from the forthcoming last summer ep, it turns lost people, empty places and remembered joy into something euphoric. it’s sad, it’s beautiful and we can’t get enough.

thank u for making this martyrs 🌊

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great house – vanessa carlton

vanessa carlton turns memory and farewell into the most poetic, piano-led pop

great house is a reflective piano-pop track built around big ol’hearty grand piano chords, some otherworldly synths and expressive vocals that invite the listener back into the rooms of memory. there’s a deep sense of lovely nostalgia when i listen to this, but it also takes me into the future. conceptually, it explores how people move forward while still holding the places and stories that shaped them.

vanessa carlton continues her independent creative path with veils, her seventh studio album, produced by dave fridmann. after the global recognition early in her career with ‘a thousand miles’, she has kept following a more introspective and poetic instinct, making music that wanders into psyche, soul and atmosphere. and we’re very glad of it, because this single is fantastisc. it feels watchful and enduring, with its visual world preserving fragments of human life, reminding us how fragile and connected every memory can be. an essential pop track this month.

thank u for making this vanessa carlton 🕯️

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