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 Carey, Kylie Minogue, Spice Girls, Britney Spears and even AQUA and I’ve always been obsessed with Eurovison! I love sharing my favourite songs and album every month with the world from Scene HQ!
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Alice Chater – Don’t Let My Boyfriend Get In Your Way
SCREAMING CRYING SHAKING THROWING UP-sorry but my favourite secret popstar is back!
Alice said “This song is cheeky, lighthearted but with a bit of a problematic meaning. My toxic trait, which I call ‘the overlap’ is when you’re in a relationship and your boyfriend is messing up, treating you terribly so you start to look for other options whilst your still in the relationship, for me I have codependency issues, so it’s really hard for me to leave even when I’m being treated terribly. This is something a lot of my girlfriends struggle with too, it’s so scary for some people to be alone and make that step.. so having options ready to move on is how I’ve always dealt with it. Which is beyond toxic but it’s definitely an issue a lot of people have!”
Katy Perry – WOMAN’S WORLD
Wowowowowow it’s hard to ignore all of the negative reviews on Katy Perry‘s new song but I like to keep my column positive, I’m here for the music not for the dramz. Fair enough she probably shouldn’t have worked with Dr. Luke though but this song is super catchy and and he did produce her best albums (IMPO), Teenage Dream and Prism so I’m excited for Katy’s upcoming album 143 out in September!
Katy said “I set out to create a bold, exuberant, celebratory dance-pop album with the symbolic 143 numerical expression of love as a throughline message” and apparently the result is a sexy, fearless return to form for the multifaceted musician. Jam-packed with the kind of empowering and provocative pop anthems fans have come to love, 143 is an album with a lot of heart – and a lot of BPM.
Jessie Ware and Romy – Lift You Up
Jessie Ware and Romy (from The xx) have treated us to a euphoric slice of disco-infused house that radiates positivity and joy and self-belief, produced by Stuart Price who’s worked with Madonna, Dua Lipa and Kylie Minogue.
Romy said “I’ve been a fan of Jessie’s music for a long time and it was amazing to finally work together after many years of friendship,” and “We wanted this song to be uplifting, celebrate togetherness, and I can’t think of a better way to share it with everyone than at Glastonbury.” (Jessie brought Romy out on stage in June to debut the track btw). Oh and Jessie said “I was so excited to be in the room with my friend and to see how she works and to hear her beautiful voice,” and “I’m so proud of the record. It’s a song that’s about both of us being too hard on ourselves, and not believing enough in ourselves. I think anyone can relate to that.”
Kesha – JOYRIDE
Ke dollar sign ha (only animals will know) is finally in her independence era. JOYRIDE is an absolute bop, which she released on the 4th July (Independence Day in America) and also, her first release since parting ways with Dr. Luke‘s record label, also it’s her first release via her own label Kesha Records-exciting times!
Kesha said “I’m really excited for Kesha Records to expand and grow in all the ways that people would think, but also in unexpected ways because I’m currently looking into the tech space and I’m looking to find partners who have the values that I align with. So, in addition to the traditional record label model, I’m also looking to the future and I’m looking for some really creative, boundary-pushing, innovative tech creators that want to change how the music business works and bring a new level of transparency to the whole business.” MOTHER!
Back to JOYRIDE, it’s definitely the most Kesha-sounding song she’s made in so long and omg….can you imagine a lip sync for your life to this?! OMG.
Faouzia – ICE
Super talented singer-songwriter Faouzia is honestly an artist to watch. Her voice is just euphonious, if you’ve not heard of her yet, you’re welcome.
“I wrote this song during a period of my life where I felt extremely jaded and numb. After feeling every emotion so strongly my entire life, I was hit with this cold feeling that enveloped my mind and I was afraid I would never be able to escape it. After all the tears spilt, it felt like one day they just … stopped. With no end in sight, I found comfort and familiarity in this hollowness and found inspiration for my new song ICE. Using classical and dark melodies I love so much, the song just came pouring out.” Faouzia will be one of the main pop girlies in no time at all.
Jain – Nobody Knows
Nobody Knows is giving Allie-X in the best way, check it out and thank me later, or now, up to you :).
Quavo and Lana Del Rey – Tough
American queen Lana Del Rey has dropped her first release of 2024-a highly anticipated collab with Quavo from Migos and it’s giving country marries trap🤝. Tough really is like the best parts of all of her albums mixed into one so it’s a great time to be a Lana stan. My soul leaves my body when their voices hit harmony.
Lana said earlier this year at a pre-Grammys event that her upcoming tenth studio album will be country inspired and named Lasso so I think Tough is a tiny taster of that. Hopefully! I’m too excited for Lana’s country era hehefekkdkewmvfsbvdfmfdbfsbdfmbsd.
JADE – Angel Of My Dreams
Built around a cheeky, knowing sample of Sandie Shaw’s 1967 Eurovision hit Puppet on a String, lyrically Jade wanted to reflect on her time in an industry that has brought her highs and lows. “It’s about how obsessed I am with the industry – so there are lyrics like “love when you call me a star” – but also there’s the dark side that comes with that. It’s not as glam as it seems.” The sample, which Jade had wanted to use in a song for years was chosen very specifically. “In the beginning of our career you do think you are this puppet, but at the same time it isn’t true – we wrote a lot of our songs, and we were behind a lot of what we put out there. I resented that as a statement. So it felt natural to take that and show that it can be true and untrue at the same time.”
“This dawn of pop girls giving people everything is so exciting. It couldn’t be better timing for my music. I’m so proud of it and I can say that with chest. The fans have waited long enough so now we just want to give it to them.”
Kylie Minogue, Bebe Rexha and Tove Lo – My Oh My
With a nod to the unmistakable Kylie ‘la la la’ refrain, a thumping bass line, playful lyrics and produced by the legendary Steve Mac (Calvin Harris, Little Mix, The Saturdays, Ed Sheeran, One Direction, P!nk), the song is destined to be a summer dance floor favourite.
Calum Scott – Roots
With its whistle-like tones and shimmering guitar work, the song takes on an unstoppable intensity thanks to the soaring power of Calum’s voice and the free-spirited joy within his lyrics.
ALBUM OF THE MONTH: Ashlee Simpson – Autobiography Expanded Edition
Omg Jessica Simpson‘s cooler sister Ashlee Simpson released this slept on early-aughts pop-rock album Autobiography 20 years ago! 16 year old emo me had this on CD and lent it to a friend and never got it back, I remember the reality show on MTV too!
Ashlee said “I can’t believe it’s been 20 years since the release of Autobiography,” (me neither) and “It was such a beautiful time in my life and so much has changed in the best way! It is really fun to look back on this memory and celebrate.”
The expanded edition is on all streaming platforms of course and features every song from the original album as well as a selection of rare cuts: international bonus track Harder Every Day, UK bonus track Sorry and Japanese bonus track Endless Summer.
Autobiography was a critical and commercial success debuting at number 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart with roughly 398,000 units sold in the first week and then shortly thereafter, the project was certified triple-platinum by the RIAA although it only peaked at number 31 in the UK, that’s why I think it’s slept on, in the UK anyway.
I’m still not over the infamous/iconic Saturday Night Live lip-syncing incident, just saying.
Ashlee said we can expect new music soon too! “Right now I’m working song by song, and then we’ll see,” and that her dream collaborators are Morissette, Fiona Apple, Jewel, and….Chappell Roan. I’m manifesting an Ashlee Simpson X Chappel Roan collab now!
Last month Ashlee threw a party at West Hollywood nightclub Evita to celebrate, check out Pieces Of Me below,
If only I lived in LA, feel free to pop across the pond Ashlee if you’re reading this, you make me wanna la la still!
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