today’s pop picks move through florida singalong charm, worship-pop surrender, autobiographical hip-hop and afrobeats-latin heat. these four tracks bring hope, resilience and movement into bright, emotionally direct spaces.
livin like a local – liz nash
liz nash turns florida storytelling into a wonderfully unique brand of upbeat singalong
livin like a local is an upbeat pop-leaning track with warm guitar, percussion, bass and electric piano, built around the easy charm of florida life. the song teases an out-of-towner learning how locals do things, but its heart is welcoming, playful and made for singing along. it’s wonderfully produced in a kinda honest and natural way. and liz’s vocal just shines; its got bags of character and delivers ‘livin like a local’ in style.
friend of the blog liz nash is a mount dora singer-songwriter creating her florida songs album with a focus on place, character and everyday detail. inspired by paul simon’s storytelling and instrumental choices, she recorded vocals and guitar in orlando with john marsden, while paul gonzalez and oskar cartaya added parts from los angeles. it just feels sunny, generous and rooted in community. and we love it.
thank u for making this liz nash 🌴
take it away – fishburn
fishburn turns surrender and healing into brilliantly heartfelt christian pop
take it away is an emotional christian pop track built around honesty, prayer and the moment someone finally gives their burdens over. it opens from a place of internal struggle, then moves through grief, anxiety and exhaustion towards hope, mercy and release. melodically is where it really shines, with a vocal that really shines through. and by the time we hit the chorus, it really takes off.
fishburn creates contemporary christian pop rooted in redemption, faith and the life-changing love of jesus christ. written and produced by russ harris, with heartfelt vocals from emy smith, this release is the third chapter of the upcoming bukra album, following the flame and the baker woman. rather than pretending pain is simple, it makes space for brokenness while pointing towards surrender. intimate and worship-led, it is made for listeners needing comfort and strength. a stunning track.
thank u for making this fishburn 🙏
skyfall – dru melodics
dru melodics turns survival into an alluring brand of cinematic, autobiographical pop-rap
skyfall is a cinematic alternative hip-hop track shaped by resilience, truth and the refusal to be defined by chaos. built around reflective lyricism and an exciting and dramatic production, it tells the story of someone who has felt misunderstood, isolated and in freefall, yet still finds the strength to stand. it’s a compelling story and production delivers it in style; all restless energy, a tough rhythm a vocal with impressive flow. it’s great.
dru melodics is the artistic voice of andrew marshall, an independent uk songwriter and recording artist from birmingham. his music rejects fictional image-making, instead drawing from lived experience, recovery, accountability and personal transformation. produced by don p courtesy of anno domini nation, this lead single from the no promises project feels direct, heavy and human, turning hardship into a statement of endurance. essential stuff this month.
thank u for making this dru melodics 🌌
diva – j12
j12 brings afrobeats and latin pop together in a feel-good anthem
diva is a vibrant afrobeats-latin pop track with infectious rhythms, spanish melodic colour and a chorus built for movement. featuring spanish singer merblond, it moves between english, nigerian pidgin and spanish, turning attraction, admiration and cultural connection into a bright, dancefloor-ready release.
j12 is a uk-based nigerian afrobeats artist building an international profile through high-energy performances, consistent releases and growing media support. inspired by a romantic encounter in madrid, this single reflects the cross-cultural spirit of modern afrobeats while keeping confidence and passion at the centre. following traction across social media, streaming platforms and live stages, j12 sounds focused, global-minded and ready for a wider audience.
thank u for making this j12 💃
follow pop bangers 26 for more of the most exciting, up and coming artists
Leave a comment