COLUMN: This is… #DaleyPop!

Music has been embedded in my life ever since I was in the womb, my Mum and Dad basically raised me on music, especially POP music! I grew up listening to Madonna, Mariah, Kylie, Spice Girls, Britney… even AQUA! I love sharing my favourite songs and album every month with the world from Scene HQ! Follow me on Twitter @DaleMelita x @daleypopscene and Instagram @itsdalemelitabitch x @daleypopscene and here’s your #DaleyPOP playlist for this month.

POP REVIEWS

Lana Del Rey – A&W

I’m a Lana stan and I’ve had this one on repeat since it was released! Trap Lana is secretly my fave Lana and it’s seven minutes long! What. A. Treat.

The track is split into two parts, Part I: American Whore and Part II: Jimmy and the title A&W refers to both a roadside chain restaurant in America (a bit like Little Chef I guess – wait are they still around?) and American Whore.

Taken from Lana’s ninth upcoming album, Did You Know That There’s A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd, out next month (which I already know will be my album of the month in April hehehe). Lana is an icon; she’s a legend and she is the moment.

Oscar Zia – Autopilot

Swedish pop star Oscar Zia makes so many pure pop bops, so you need to check him out if you’ve not heard his music before. It’s been a while since he’s released any new music though, well until now, and he posted on Instagram: “been a while since I released music, and I’ll admit it was a very nervous one, but now I’m so damn happy. Nice to know that there are more people who use Autopilot sometimes, thank you for listening!!!”

And that the song is about “what used to be fun isn’t fun anymore, when there’s nothing good to say, when nothing feels like it used to, but everything continues as usual anyway.” Well thank godddd Oscar hasn’t gone into autopilot with his music because this slaps! Scandipop forever <3.

Loreen – Tattoo

Speaking of Scandipop, Eurovision royalty Lorine Talhaoui aka Loreen (who previously won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2012 with her anthem Euphoria) is back with another anthem, Tattoo.

She performed in Heat 4 of Sweden’s Melodifestivalen and omg… she ate and left no crumbs even after having to start her performance again after a stage invader!

Sweden has now overtaken Ukraine as the favourite to win the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest thanks to Loreen although she’s not officially representing Sweden… yet. I’m manifesting she will be though, and this could be a seventh win for Sweden, bringing them level with Ireland’s record.

Jain – The Fool

Multi-cultural singer-songwriter Jain has unveiled The Fool from her much-anticipated and upcoming third studio album coming this spring on Columbia/Sony Music France! Jain’s music is always super uplifting and magical!

Jain said: “The Fool is the holiest card in the deck. You can’t go on any kind of journey unless you’re willing to be foolish. Taking your first step, driving a car, falling in love. There’s always a risk you’ll lose your balance. At any moment. But in the end, the fool’s journey is the only journey.” J’adore.

Jason Mraz – I Feel Like Dancing

I’m Yours hitmaker Jason Mraz is back with this feel-good bop! Jason said: “Songs appear out of a real necessity, and this song appeared as I struggled with identity and self-worth in my mid-40s, And I have to truly dance like no one’s watching.” What a king.

Oh, and he’s announced a shiny new album too called, wait for it, Mystical Magical Rhythmical Radical Ride (such a cool name) coming out in June. Oh, and a tour too although only in America currently… Hopefully he’ll come to the UK – please come to the UK if you’re reading this Jason!

CHVRCHES – Over

Scottish trio CHVRCHES have dropped this bop which I’ll be playing Over and Over (😝)… Apparently the origins of Over date back to 2017 and they basically came back to the track at the end of last year. Martin Doherty said: “It felt like somewhere that Chvrches could be going, potentially — that isn’t to say that’s where we’re going, but something that felt 2023, and not like something that’s been kicking around for a few years.” And that “Over is a song that we wrote with Oscar Holter, a producer we really respect and admire.

“Normally we collect songs over the course of months (or years!) until we have an album’s worth of material, but this time we just wanted to release something we were excited about and give the fans something new to mark the end of the Screen Violence era, and the start of whatever the next CHVRCHES chapter might be.”

Omg – they’ve signed a new record deal with Island Records so don’t worry besties.

Madame – IL BENE NEL MALE

Francesca Calearo (aka Madame) is a robbed queen! She could’ve been representing Italy in Liverpool at the Eurovision Song Contest this year after performing at the Sanremo Music Festival 2023 but unfortunately wasn’t chosen (Marco Mengoni was the very well worthy winner though). IL BENE NEL MALE is COSÌ BUONO though! Meaningful lyrics about the complexity of love and relationships: TICK; really fresh house beats: TICK!

Em Beihold – Roller Coasters Make Me Sad

Mega underrated American singer-songwriter Em Beihold has dropped Roller Coasters Make Me Sad, a relatable song basically for anyone who is confused as to why they aren’t happier when everyone around them seems to be enjoying themselves.

Em posted on Instagram about the song, saying: “Happiness, success, & fulfilment all come in waves and it’s silly to think that we’re meant to maintain those things 100% of the time. How can you feel a high if you haven’t experienced a low?” Definitely food for thought and I still love Thorpe Park. And Alton Towers. I’m still yet to go to Flamingo Land.

ALBUM (EP) OF THE MONTH

Channel Tres – Real Cultural Shit

I discovered Channel Tres when I had my Spotify on shuffle and his song All My Friends came on and I was like woah, this sounds innovative and definitely my cup of tea. I immediately did a bit of research and found out that his 2018 track Controller received major airplay on BBC Radio 1 – and it’s a bop. I listened to more of his music and became a fan there and then.

I followed him on all his socials and now here I am typing up my album (EP) of the month! Even Sir Elton John is a fan. Channel Tres has been making music for a hot minute but finally taking his sound to the mainstream, and the five tracks lining the new EP demonstrate just how much pop potential his signature style has. Channel said: “This EP is about me reminiscing on different relationships I had with my friends back in the day,” and “Being a grown-up now, some of those relationships I don’t get to have as closely as I want anymore.

“If I ever ran into any of those friends or called them on the phone we have words and slang that we use that only we know. I call that type of stuff ‘real cultural shit.’”.