Looking for some motivation to help power you through the start of another work week? We feel you, and with some stellar new pop tunes, we’ve got you covered.
These tracks from artists including Porter Robinson, Artemas, Empress Of and more will get you energized to take on the week. Pop any of these gems into your personal playlists — or scroll to the end of the post for a custom playlist.
“Our thorns are buried deep / But we see beauty in our dreams,” Florrie declares on the chorus to “The Lost Ones.” She’s speaking from personal experience: the British pop singer-songwriter-producer-drummer’s upcoming debut album has been more than a decade in the making, following her four-song EP Introduction way back in 2010 and several years of industry hell.
After a string of promising independent singles, however, Florence Arnold is newly signed to BMG and Xenomania Records. Along with the release of “The Lost Ones” single last Friday (Mar. 22), a full-length of the same name has been set for a June 14 unveiling, and an opening stint for Girls Aloud at the O2 in London will follow later that month. Florrie could have moved on from her pop dreams — instead, she’s primed for a big year.
“The Lost Ones” hints at her professional struggle, with references to “expectations we couldn’t touch” and “mistakes made when we were young,” without getting too tangled up in behind-the-scenes headaches. Instead, Florrie positions the single as a rejoinder that these frustrations do not exist in a vacuum, and offers hope to those who can’t see the break of dawn approaching. The production swirls and soothes until it bursts open on the chorus, and Florrie’s voice nimbly oscillates between comforting and inspiring. It’s the type of song that will sound encouraging on a lonely commute, and righteous in front of an arena audience.
We’ll see how much of The Lost Ones carries a similarly anthemic streak, but the lead single suggests an ambitious pop project that Florrie has waited a lifetime to begin unfurling. With “The Lost Ones,” she takes a long-awaited swing and connects.
Here are some new pop songs worth checking out this week…
A press release describing Porter Robinson’s new single as “bracing” is actually underselling things a bit: “Cheerleader” is a synth-pop shot of adrenaline, with buzzing melodies and instrumental pile-ups that will leave you dizzy (and applauding Robinson for creating the complete opposite of background noise).
Artemas teased “I Like The Way You Kiss Me” for weeks ahead of his new single’s release, and indeed, the darkly lit alt-pop track does boast the type of chewable hook that could go viral — although listeners should really bask in that guitar line, which barges in like some new-school New Order.
Following up recent single “Serpentine” with an even more arresting pop track, Renforshort offers personal reflection and a sly soft-loud dynamic on “Hurt Like It Should,” speaking her truth over acoustic strums until the guitars fuzz out her lamentations.
Empress Of’s new album For Your Consideration is worth your time as a whole, but if you only have a few seconds to get hooked, press play on “Lorelei” and marvel at the twitchy, endlessly complex collection of beats — a sparkling pop song follows, right when your defenses have been zapped away.