Before we dive in head first though, check out my new logo for my column designed and created by Brighton based artist Dave Ratcliffe aka Dave Pop!
Creating bright, bold, pop art with a generous topping of seaside sauce! The logo was pencil sketched then refined into an ink drawing, then scanned, digitally manipulated, then printed and painted over, creating a combination of hand made brush strokes, splats, spots and perfectly smooth lines. I love it, thanks so much again Dave Pop!
Feel free to check out my socials here 🙂
Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – Die With A Smile
Lady Gaga is officially back! And she’s dropped a collab with the one and only Bruno Mars, a duet I never had on my bingo card but here we are. Die With a Smile marks the first collaboration for the duo, bringing together their innate musicality and creativity together on this anthemic and simply epic love ballad.
Gaga said “Bruno and I have a lot of mutual respect for each other and were talking about collaborating. I was finishing up my own album in Malibu and one night after a long day he asked me to come to his studio to hear something he was working on. It was around midnight when I got there and I was blown away when I heard what he had started making. We stayed up all night and finished writing and recording the song. Bruno’s talent is beyond explanation. His musicianship and vision is next level. There’s no one like him.”
On collaborating together, Bruno Mars adds, “Getting to work with Gaga has been an honor. She’s an icon and she makes this song magical.” agreed!
LATEXFAUNA – Makoterchyk
I don’t speak Ukrainian but I can if you like OW! Sorry if you’re a little monster you’ll know. LATEXFAUNA are five boys from Ukraine and an innovative indie pop band. I’m not sure how I discovered them actually but I’m bloody glad I did and I feel so excited I get to share them with you all from Scene HQ.
Dima Zezyulin, Ilya Sluchanko, Sasha Dyman, Sasha Mylnikov, and Max Grebin have crafted a distinct identity in the music industry since they got together. The group’s journey is characterised by a blend of musical experimentation and artistic evolution! Makoterchyk is a bop-even though I have no idea what they’re singing about and yes I Google translated the lyrics into English but I still don’t really know, although I think Makoterchyk must be somewhere in Ukraine and there’s something about a stray dog and having a sandwich with the stray dog? <3
Charli XCX – Guess featuring Billie Eilish
Charli xcx teams up with long-time friend Billie Eilish for the Guess remix and there’s even an iconic video. This has been the most BRAT summer ever thanks to Charli (and Billie and Lorde).
The iconic duo both appear in the fab official music video directed by Aidan Zamiri. All bras and underwear used in the music video have been donated to I Support The Girls. ISTG are a non non-profit organisation that collects and distributes essential items, including bras, underwear, and menstrual hygiene products, allowing people experiencing homelessness, impoverishment, or distress to stand tall with dignity.
Guess gave Charli her second ever UK number 1 single and her first as a lead artist-so deserved and way overdue! She should’ve had a million number 1’s by now. Her first number 1 was back in 2012 as a feature on Icona Pop‘s I Love It (a classic).
Andrea Maria Ricchetti – Boy
Italian independent singer and song writer Andrea Maria Ricchetti is asking have you ever found your partner cheating on you in a club?
I haven’t actually phew but only because I’m more of a Netflix and chill kind of guy than a club guy! Andrea is warning you to not play with him though and has a brand new sexy angry attitude eeeep. Produced by AnthXXX, Boy is a beautifully crafted single that showcases Andrea’s talent as a songwriter and performer and marks another step forward in Andrea’s promising musical journey IMPO.
DEV – Tilt
Rapper, singer and songwriter DEV (aka Devin Star Tailes) has dropped Tilt and from the very start the track grabs your attention with its pulsing beats and sleeeeeek production. DEV has been so slept on for too long now and we need to get her back in the spotlight again. Back in the 2010’s DEV joined forces with JLS, Enrique Iglesias and Far East Movement. Remember Like a G6?! It still slaps, and so does Tilt. The song’s upbeat tempo and bass-heavy rhythm create an instant urge to move, making it a perfect fit for dance floors and late-night playlists.
I love how DEV’s vocals always ooze (I love the word ooze) such confidence. Her voice cuts through the mix with a cool, effortless energy, delivering each line with a blend of sass and swagger. DEV’s ability to deliver memorable hooks remains as sharp as ever and she seriously ate on Tilt.
Addison Rae – Diet Pepsi
After rising to fame on TikTok, Addison Rae has dropped her major label debut single Diet Pepsi. In addition to being her first release with Columbia Records and her first solo release of 2024, the new track is an unexpected sonic departure from her previously released debut EP AR (which I loved, especially Nothing On (But the Radio)-such a bop). Recorded in Stockholm-home to countless other pop masterpieces before-Diet Pepsi was produced by Luka Kloser and Elvira Anderfjärd for MXM Productions and written by Addison herself along with Luka Kloser and Elvira Anderfjärd.
Addison is like if Britney Spears made a Lana Del Rey song, it’s SO GOOD, or Mariah Carey 2000’s-3 of my faves!
Addison first teased new music back in June when she was fresh off her surprise live musical performance debut at Charli xcx’s sold-out BRAT Tour show in Los Angeles. The two performed their viral track The von dutch remix with addison rae and a. g. cook which is their second musical collaboration following Charli contributing to the remix of Addison’s 2 Die 4 which features on AR too.
Shawn Mendes – Why Why Why
Shawn said “Music really can be medicine. Two years ago, I felt like I had absolutely no idea who I was. A year ago, I couldn’t step into a studio without falling into complete panic. So to be here right now with 12 beautiful finished songs feels like such a gift. Honestly thank god for my friends and family. Life can be brutal but having a small group of people you deeply trust to walk you through makes it so much better. I really hope you love this album, I do. I really really do. I hope it makes you feel warm and close to the earth like it does for me.”
Kim Wilde – Trail of Destruction
British pop icon Kim Wilde‘s latest single Trail of Destruction is a fiery return to form, taken from her upcoming new album Closer which is coming in January 2025. Kim said “I wanted a connection to Stone from my Close album in 1988 as well as referencing Jack Black’s 60’s referencing “Sticking it to the man” speech from School Of Rock. Stone was a protest about the “man” taking ownership of our planet and not keeping their promises to stop messing it up. Trail Of Destruction is a protest for a new generation.”
I love that Kim is still doing her thing and fabulously, especially after so many musicians from the 80’s have fallen off the wagon and I think Trail of Destruction not only reaffirms Kim’s status as a pop legend but also showcases her ability to craft compelling music that resonates with old fans and new listeners too. Fun fact: Kim’s a self confessed Swiftie which makes me love her even more.
ALBUM OF THE MONTH: Tinashe – Quantum Baby
Tinashe Jorgenson Kachingwe aka Tinashe has gifted us Quantum Baby,the second instalment of a planned album trilogy, following her short but sweet 2023 album BB/Ang3l-actually QB is short but sweet too but it’ll be worth it when the third instalment arrives!
Quantum Baby marks a bold and experimental evolution in Tinashe’s artistic journey, blending genres and pushing boundaries with a captivating finesse. The album is a vibrant fusion of R&B, electronic, and pop elements, with Tinashe’s signature sultry vocals leading the charge. From the ethereal, synth-laden opener to the bass-heavy club bangers, QB is a testament to Tinashe’s versatility and fearless approach to music-making.
My favourite tracks Galactic Love and Gravity Pull showcase Tinashe’s knack for catchy hooks and hypnotic beats, while lyrically exploring themes of love, escapism, and self-discovery. Her voice effortlessly navigates between the lush production layers, creating a dreamy atmosphere that is both intoxicating and empowering. The album’s production is sleek and polished as always and features delicious pulsating rhythms and intricate soundscapes that transport us to a futuristic world.
Tinashe said, “Quantum Baby is about getting to know me on a deeper level. It’s about exploring who I am as a person and who I am as an artist. I’ve never been one to be put into a box, so the name Quantum Baby encompasses all the different parts that make up who I am as a creative”.
Nasty is obviously another one of my favourite tracks on QB, this track was Tinashe’s first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 chart as a lead artist since her 2014 single 2 On featuring Schoolboy Q and her first way overdue solo entry. Janet Jackson performed a mashup of Nasty with her own 1986 song, also titled Nasty, while performing on her Janet Jackson: Together Again tour in June. I’m manifesting that we get a Tinshe x Janet Jackson official Nasty remix together and roll on part 3 besties.
