Greg – Page 9 – BOPS

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THIS WEEK’S DARK POP BOPS

Dark pop is just the best isn’t it. All the hooks, and all the moods. This week we’ve got shadowy textures, emotional weight and cinematic production. Let’s get stuck in 🖤

Lera Shemi – call you by your namE

Lera Shemi delivers an ambitiously dark, emotionally charged pop banger that we can’t get enough of

call you by your namE leans all the way into distorted drums and heavy bass, creating a brilliantly raw, electronic backdrop that feels all kinds of broken. It’s a compelling sound world, unfolding in a wonderfully disturbing way in it’s short run time

Lera Shemi, a Los Angeles-based artist originally from Ukraine, continues to build a distinct alt-pop identity rooted in emotional extremes. This release forms part of a wider conceptual project, reinforcing her commitment to storytelling that feels both personal and confrontational. It’s stunning.

Lois Powell + Night Wolf – The Laws Of Life

Lois Powell and Night Wolf craft a dreamlike dark pop beauty somewhere between Enya, Bush and DJ Shadow

The Laws Of Life unfolds as a slow-building string and ambient-ish soundscape, combining compelling vocals with plucked strings and a deep, brooding synth undercurrent. The track shifts in a compelling way, and i really like how I’ve little idea which direction it will take. It ends up somewhere between Enya, Kate Bush and DJ Shadow, a heady mix.

Lois Powell, now based in Norfolk, brings a soft yet expressive vocal style, while Night Wolf, a UK producer, shapes the track’s atmospheric depth. Together, they continue a collaborative run that leans into reflective themes and immersive sonic detail. A brilliant track, check it out here.

Mortez – Purgatory

Mortez serve up a dramatic, emotionally intense track blending dark pop and symphonic elements with a sense of scale and urgency

Purgatory builds around sweeping instrumentation, a pretty sample, and a honest, direct vocal. It unfolds wonderfully and has a genuine sense of narrative that gives me all the feels. The track balances raw vocal moments with a more cinematic arrangement.

Mortez, the collaboration between Brett Daniels and Rachele Royale, channel themes of struggle and resilience into a release that feels both personal and theatrical. Their combined backgrounds help this to land somewhere brilliant, and I’m excited to hear more.

Valkyrie’s Bard – Movement

Valkyrie’s Bard presents a brooding dark pop anthem driven by minimalist structure and a powerful, emotionally direct vocal

Movement starts off dramatic and gets more wonderfully tense as it unfolds. It’s sparse, powerful and incredibly hooky, managing to deliver the vibe throughout. There’s a genuine craft here, using space and dynamics to shape its impact, and I’m hitting repeat right away.

Valkyrie’s Bard, the project of Sarah Miller, draws from classical roots while exploring darker, contemporary themes. This release reflects a shift towards more expansive storytelling, centred on collective emotion and personal reflection. A fantastic piece.

THIS WEEK’S INDIE ROCK BOPS

And we’re kicking off the week with everyone’s favourite genre; indie rock. This week’s bops stretch from intimate reflection to full-bodied urgency. Bops, the lot of them.

DIN NYC – PRESS

DIN NYC delivers a charged, politically urgent track that brings classic rock intensity through a sharp contemporary lens

PRESS wastes literally zero time in establishing its force, driven by gritty guitars and a livewire rhythm section that pushes everything forward. It’s produced like a dream, the vocals are great, and it brings to mind The Lemonheads, The Clash and a bunch of other fucking great bands. It’s definitely in it’s own lane though.

DIN NYC, the solo project of Mubashir Mohi-ud-Din, draws from a wide transatlantic background, landing in New York with a sound rooted in classic rock lineage. This release marks a pivotal moment, turning lived experience and political awareness into something direct and unflinching. Essential stuff.

Arctic Wave – Salt in the Wound

Arctic Wave crafts the best kind of fuzzy, emotive indie rock track with a melodic heart

Salt in the Wound drives along with a striking guitar hook, some wonderfully wiry guitar work, before opening into a layered, harmony-rich chorus that carries real emotional lift. It’s a huge, emotional release when this kicks in, and very, very infectious.

Arctic Wave, an Austin-based project led by C.L. Turner, leans into storytelling shaped by personal upheaval and reflection. This single continues that arc, exploring heartbreak with clarity and resisting easy resolution in favour of something more honest. Honestly, it’s a bop.

Citizen Smith – Summer Magazine

Citizen Smith deliver a bright, hook-led indie rock anthem shaped by classic influences and sharp melodic instincts

Summer Magazine lands as an immediate, feel-good track built around jangling guitars and a clean, driving rhythm. There is a lovely sense of timeless REM-flavoured pop rock sensibility at play, with melodies that have stuck with me on this lovely Monday.

Citizen Smith, a four-piece from Norwich, position this release as a strong introduction ahead of a larger body of work. Drawing from established British and American influences, they channel nostalgia into something confident and accessible. It’s brilliant, and immediate Spotify follow for me.

Blocks of Life – Whisper In the Dark

Blocks of Life serve up a wonderfully textured, introspective indie rock bop which gives you all the feels

Whisper In the Dark has a kind of acoustic rock core, with a slow-building atmosphere that lets the vocal sit front and centre. It’s a compelling production, and the verse is genuinely great.

Blocks of Life, the project of US-based Pete Wiley, operates as a collaborative, fluid setup that brings different musicians into each release. This track reflects that ethos, focusing on introspection and careful composition over immediate impact. I’ll be keeping an eye on these guys!

THIS WEEK’S INDIE FOLK BOPS

What better than some wonderful indie folk this Sunday. There’s the odd intimate acoustic moment, to more expansive live arrangements. Every single one’s a bop, so let’s get stuck in 🕺

Tony Arthur – Shoebox

Tony Arthur delivers a direct, honest and reflective indie folk moment built on deeply rooted songwriting traditions

Shoebox has all the warm acoustic tones, direct and honest songwriting that you need this Sunday. It’s steady, unhurried and really brings alive that the forgotten memories of that old shoebox that we’ve all got in a cupboard somewhere. It’s produced beautifully, reminiscent of Knopfler at times, and the light percussion, piano and tasteful backing vocals lead us to a really immersive place.

Tony Arthur, now based in Berlin, draws on decades of musical exploration across genres and continents. This release marks a continued focus on introspective songwriting, rooted in folk tradition while shaped by a wide-ranging personal history. It’s really working, and this was an instant Spotify follow for me. More please, Tony!

Arliston – The Older I Get (Live at 123 Studios)

Arliston capture a beautifully fragile and emotionally direct performance that genuinely stuns

The Older I Get strips things back to its emotional core, with sparse arrangement, beautiful strings and delicate instrumentation that guide the track to a really special place. It’s such an incredible performance, and there’s a glimmer of raw immediacy to this that adds to it’s vibe. I would absolutely have loved to have been in the room when this was made.

Arliston, a London-based duo, use this release to revisit and reshape earlier material through a more intimate lens. It signals a step forward, balancing their cinematic tendencies with a more human, unguarded approach. A stunning indie-folk moment.

The Parachute Testers – Better Be Home Soon

The Parachute Testers reimagine a classic with a wonderfully warm indie folk approach that honours its emotional core

Better Be Home Soon leans into gentle guitar work and expansive vocal harmonies, building a soft, enveloping atmosphere. I’ve been listening to a lot of Mazzy Star recently, and the vocals here feel in similar world. They’re honestly really fantastic and benefit from a patient arrangement, and the tasteful production.

The Parachute Testers, a collective spanning South East Ireland and beyond, bring their collaborative sensibility to the Crowded House classic. The track reflects their blend of folk and atmospheric influences, offering a fresh perspective while staying true to the song’s heart. Incredible stuff.

Conor Maradona – Snowball

Conor Maradona brings sharp lyrical personality to this stripped-back indie folk pop banger

Snowball has a fun, knowing vibe, built on clean acoustic lines and a vocal that carries both humour and sincerity. The studio chat in the intro is reminiscent of Oasis B-sides during the golden years, and the melody isn’t too far off. Curiously, the I Am The Walrus-esque outro hints at a sense of ambition in production that hints at something that I would love to hear more of. Anyway, it’s a bag of fun, and another immediate Spotify follow for me.

Conor Maradona is a Welsh singer songwriter who as well as looking like a right laugh, makes some decent music blending wit with accessible songwriting. This release continues to build towards a debut project, framing his style as both personal and unfiltered. More of this please, Conor.

Lee Switzer-Woolf – I Might Be An Alien

Lee Switzer-Woolf cooks up a stunner of a glitchy, atmospheric folk-tronica banger

I Might Be An Alien arrives with some sparse guitars, ambient textures, and a sort of off-centre, immersive mood. The arrangement stays minimal, a glitchy beat here and there, with space and tone shaping the track’s emotional weight. But unlike some stuff like this, it’s not just all lovely production and sound world, it’s got a genuine zinger of a hook which definitely pulls this into banger territory.

Lee Switzer-Woolf, a Reading-based artist, leans into a folktronica approach that balances acoustic roots with experimental edges. This release signals a continued evolution, exploring themes of disconnection and identity with a restrained, thoughtful touch. Honestly, this is fucking great.

THIS WEEK’S POP BOPS

It’s the weekend and we’ve got a few pop bangers here; moving between alt-pop, pure pop and a bit of brooding synth pop. All stunners too. So here’s the pop bops we’re shouting out today ✨

Chroma Noir – Burned Into My Mind

Chroma Noir follow up their last banger with a brooding synth-pop cut shaped by cinematic textures and emotionally charged, gothic-leaning atmosphere

Burned Into My Mind drifts in with those trademark moody synth layers, rich vocals, and pulsing electronic rhythms. It builds into a brilliantly dark, melodic chorus that’s genuinely memorable. I love the boy girl vocals in this too, it’s really cool.

Chroma Noir, formed in Santiago, Chile, lean into a blend of synth-pop and post-punk textures, pairing evocative vocals with cinematic production. This debut positions them within a lineage of darker electronic pop while pushing towards something more contemporary and expansive. Like your synth pop dark and 80s-flavoured? Check it out, it’s essential.

Joshua Pearlstein – Wanna Dance

Joshua Pearlstein channels bright pop textures into a brilliantly bold pop banger

Wanna Dance first hits with the crispest pop production you’ve heard this year, and a lovely, polished pop sheen. It’s got some great space, some gritty electronic elements, and some incredible synth work. But most of all, its a pure pop bop.

Joshua Pearlstein, a young artist moving between Boston and Los Angeles, is building a sound that merges precision with emotional directness. With a growing audience and a clear sense of identity, this release marks another step towards a more defined and ambitious pop vision. A real banger.

Nory J – Weekend With Benny

Nory J crafts an alt-pop anthem with a genuine craft and vibrant, hook-led songwriting

Weekend With Benny rides on upbeat production, clean pop structures and the tiniest hint of Prefab Sprout. Which of course I absolutely love. But it’s definitely in it’s own lane, with a sense of release carried through its bright melodies and rhythmic drive.

Nory J, the project of British musician Jack Spooner, sits pretty squarely in the alt-pop space with a strong independent streak. With consistent touring and growing recognition across UK platforms, this track reinforces his knack for writing accessible, personality-led pop. It’s one of my fave alt-pop moments this year.

ALT POP BOP OF THE WEEK

There’s one alt-pop BOP that’s stood out this week, so let’s get stuck in. You’re in for a treat ❤️‍🔥

Deptford Sound Collective – We All Need a Cat

Deptford Sound Collective deliver a sharp, synth-driven alt-pop track with buoyant energy and a direct, characterful vocal presence

We All Need To Get A Cat, is driven by crisp, bouncy synths and tight rhythmic detail, locking into a bright, propulsive groove. The production feels clean and immediate, with its playful feline theme cutting through and giving the track a really fun, distinctive, character-led edge.

Deptford Sound Collective, based in South East London, channel a real-life story into a release that blends humour with emotional clarity. This single marks a more direct, pop-facing moment for the collective, using its vibrant sound to explore themes of loss, recovery, and the unexpected comfort of companionship. It’s a real bop, check it out below.

THIS WEEK’S INDIE POP BOPS

Our indie pop selection this week has got some of the best tracks I’ve heard this year. Some lovely self-reflection, as you might expect from the genre, and also some bright, melodic songwriting. Let’s get stuck in ✨

Rock Berg – Ey Uh (i’m a fool)

Rock Berg delivers a stunning, wavy indie pop track that brings a lush emotional clarity

Ey Uh (i’m a fool) bursts in with a rainbow of colourful synth textures and chantable hooks, driven by punchy electronic beats and a light, elastic groove. It’s upbeat, reflective and produced like a dream. Zero idea what ‘ey’ and ‘uh’ mean but somehow they make for one of the best choruses I’ve heard this year.

Rock Berg, a Los Angeles-based indie pop artist and producer, builds their sound around wit and emotional clarity. This release captures that balance, leaning into humour and honesty while keeping its pop instincts sharp. I absolutely love this.

Seafront – Take Me Back

Seafront craft a warm, nostalgic indie pop track built on shimmering guitars and a sunday afternoon melodic flow

Take Me Back settles easily into soft guitar lines and steady drum patterns, with a melodic bassline guiding its reflective tone. The track feels sunlit and unhurried, carrying a sense of calm throughout. It’s got a touching melody that I couldn’t stop singing this week.

Seafront, a Birmingham-based project, focus on themes of memory and stillness, and this release continues that direction. Rooted in simplicity and companionship, it leans into everyday moments with a quietly hopeful outlook. More of this please, Seafront.

Finlay Birch – Weight Will Unwind

Finlay Birch delivers a beautifully atmospheric indie pop cut with a beautiful sound world

Weight Will Unwind unfolds in all the right ways, with acoustic guitar, ambient textures and subtle vocal layering, building a sense of space and release. And a stunner of a hook. The arrangement favours patience, allowing everything to settle naturally.

Finlay Birch, a Scottish songwriter now based on the Isle of Mull, centres his work on place and reflection. This track marks a more expansive chapter, bringing together intimate writing with a fuller, collaborative sound. It’s beautiful, and an instant Spotify follow for me. Looking forward to more.

Redesya – Liv

Redesya create a dark, immersive indie pop track that skilfully blends bouncy electronic textures with a stunning vocal presence

Liv moves through pulsing electronic layers and shadowy synth work, anchored by a tight rhythmic core and a haunting melodic hook. It’s another one this week which is produced wonderfully, and walks that line well between a sense of dark, moody pressure without losing its pop focus.

Redesya, an alternative pop duo, shape their sound around emotional intensity and modern electronic production. This release explores anxiety and relational strain, pushing their aesthetic into more visceral territory. Compelling stuff, and I hope there’s more this year.

Nicole Issa – Cliché

Nicole Issa serves up an emotionally detailed indie pop track with a beautiful, intimate core

Cliché opens with gentle guitar strumming and careful production, spotlighting the sheer loveliness of the vocal to carry its emotional weight. The track gradually expands skilfully, but with a warm, confessional heart. The boy girl vocals really work, and I’m smitten by the second chorus.

Nicole Issa, a Sydney-based artist, leans into storytelling shaped by vulnerability and clarity. This release continues her focus on love and distance, pairing indie-folk textures with a refined pop sensibility. Check it out below, it’s great.

THIS WEEK’S ROCK BOPS

We’re really rocking and a rolling this week, with a selection of bops that lean into scale, grit and direct songwriting. From arena-sized hooks to classic rock revivalism, these tracks push energy and intent to the front. Let’s get stuck in.

Eddie & The Wolves – See Me Fall 2085

Eddie & The Wolves deliver a towering rock anthem built on layered vocals, cinematic scale and driving, future-facing production

See Me Fall 2085 surges forward with the best kind of mysterious synths, thunderous drums, and expansive vocal layers that build into a widescreen, high-impact chorus. The track balances raw urgency with a polished, modern edge. It’s genuinely huge.

Eddie & The Wolves, a husband-and-wife duo, draw on classic rock chemistry while pushing towards a more futuristic sound. This release reworks earlier material into something bigger, leaning into both personal and broader thematic weight. More of this please!

Versonic – Man in the Arena

Versonic craft a resilient, hook-driven rock track that blends driving melodies with purposeful, emotionally direct songwriting

Man in the Arena centres on steady guitar lines and a strong rhythmic backbone, building into an hand in the air anthemic chorus designed for impact. And maybe the odd lighter held aloft. The arrangement keeps things focused, allowing the message to land clearly.

Versonic, based in Epsom, shape their sound around classic British rock influences with a modern finish. This release highlights their focus on determination and character-led songwriting. It’s really great.

Dirty Utility – Left This Way

Dirty Utility deliver a raw, high-energy rock track rooted in classic influences and driven by punchy riffs and unapologetic attitude

Left This Way hits with sharp guitar riffs, rolling drums and a tight, no-frills structure that keeps momentum high. The track leans into a live feel, capturing the band’s direct, performance-led energy. It’s a great vocal too, with some seriously impressive notes.

Dirty Utility, hailing from Australia’s Central Coast, channel classic rock traditions through a modern lens. This release builds on years of live experience, pushing their sound towards a bigger, more confident statement. It’s brilliantly crafted, a genuine rock bop.

David Alex-Barton – Crush

David Alex-Barton delivers a stunning, melodic, crossover rock track built on clean guitar lines and a polished, radio-ready vocal performance

Crush moves through crisp guitar tones and a steady groove, with a strong melody that’ll genuinely stick with you and a craft that will have your head nodding. The track leans into a lighter rock feel while keeping its core tightly written.

David Alex-Barton, now based in Nashville, brings a background in power pop and country rock into his solo work. This release reflects that blend, aiming for clarity and broad appeal. There’s a country song for everyone, and this might just be the one for you.

OpCritical – USA

OpCritical create a wonderfully confrontational rock track where punk urgency sits with genre-crossing production and politically charged themes

USA, drives forward with distorted guitars and a punchy rhythmic core, weaving in unexpected sonic elements that shift its texture. It takes some pretty impressive production skills to blend this stuff so powerfully, and I love the restless energy throughout.

OpCritical position themselves as a voice-led project focused on commentary and intent. This release leans into that identity, combining rock foundations with a sharper, message-driven approach. Essential stuff.

THIS WEEK’S ELECTRONIC BOPS

It’s a strong old week for electronic releases that balance a lovely sense of weight with forward-thinking production. From euphoric melodic builds to fractured experimental rhythms, these are the electronic bops to check out this week ❤️‍🔥

Sean Crazz – Just Be

Sean Crazz delivers a soaring, emotionally charged EDM cut built on cinematic textures and festival-ready melodic drive

Just Be opens with expansive synth layers before rising into a spirited melodic drop, driven by shimmering leads and steady kick patterns. The track leans into atmosphere while keeping its energy locked for the dancefloor.

Sean Crazz is an established electronic producer working across club and festival spaces, and this release sharpens his focus on melodic EDM. Built for large-scale settings, it channels emotional uplift through polished, high-impact production. It’s a real banger.

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Radical Man – Power Systems

Radical Man crafts a wonky, rhythm-led electronic bop that bends structure through repetition and controlled sonic disruption

Power Systems moves on a rigid rhythmic grid that gradually unravels, introducing off-centre melodic fragments and evolving percussive detail. The track resists a conventional drop, instead building intensity through subtle shifts, textures and a curiously fun approach.

Radical Man, based in western Colorado, approaches electronic production with a structural mindset, treating rhythm as architecture. This release continues that direction, exploring instability and repetition within an experimental framework. It’s great, check it out below.

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INDIE BOPS OF THE WEEK

A lovely and reflective selection of indie folk bops this weekend, rooted in storytelling and stripped-back arrangements. So let’s get stuck in ✨

Stevie Lee Woods & The NRL Band – Where I Find God

Stevie Lee Woods & The NRL Band deliver a powerful, faith-driven rendition grounded in warmth, conviction and classic country soul

Where I Find God carries a steady, gospel-tinged arrangement with rich instrumentation and a vocal that is genuinely touching. It feels a bit like a classic this one, allowing the message to really take centre stage.

Stevie Lee Woods & The NRL Band, based in Branson, Missouri, bring a seasoned presence to this cover. Backed by a full band and rooted in country gospel traditions, the release reflects a deep connection to themes of faith, community and lived experience. It’s a great track.

The Sven Curth (Huge) Trio – How Come? (Live)

The Sven Curth Trio capture a wonderfully warm, human live performance built on sharp musicianship and expressive, free-flowing songwriting

How Come? unfolds with a natural, unpolished charm, blending acoustic textures with a loose, live-band energy. And before I can work out the ‘huge’ in their name, I’m enjoying performance too much to care. It immediate, played beautifully and I definitely feel like I’m there in the room with them.

The Sven Curth Trio, led by the German singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, present this as part of a broader live project. Rooted in craft and curiosity, the release leans into genre fluidity, balancing humour, reflection and musical precision. It’s great fun.

Bailey Grey – More Of Us

Bailey Grey delivers a driven, bold and socially conscious track with a clear, rallying sense of purpose

More Of Us builds on a steady acoustic base with subtle indie and folk elements, allowing its message to come through with clarity. The tone is direct, with a sense of political urgency and sharpness running throughout.

Bailey Grey, hailing from New Jersey, positions this as both a personal and political statement. Drawing from protest song traditions, the track reflects on contemporary issues while encouraging unity and collective action. It’s a great track, delivered at exactly the time we need it.

Vincent J. Rigney – Sun & Moon

Vincent J. Rigney blends blues and indie influences into a groovy, reflective track shaped by personal storytelling and soulful delivery

Sun & Moon moves with a wonderfully gentle rhythm and guitar work, creating a warm, introspective atmosphere. The track serves up a lovely melody, with a steady build that supports its emotional core. And the vocals are genuinely touching.

Vincent J. Rigney, originally from Corby, Northamptonshire, draws on personal history and a background in blues and alternative rock. This release continues his focus on storytelling, with themes rooted in relationships and lived experience. Essential stuff, check it out below.

Fish And Scale – Tapestry

Fish And Scale crafts a cinematic, emotionally open track that transforms personal history into expansive, intimate indie folk

Tapestry starts with delicate piano and guitar before opening into a fuller, anthemic arrangement. The contrast between quiet moments and swelling sections gives the track a strong emotional arc. It’s a real journey this one, in all the best possible ways.

Fish And Scale, the project of German artist Roland Wälzlein, channels deeply personal experiences into his songwriting. Drawing from childhood trauma and reflection, this release leans into vulnerability while maintaining a sense of resolve and healing. It’s stunning, check it out below.

THIS WEEK’S HIP HOP BOPS

It’s Saturday, and we’ve got a wonderfully sharp, self-assured pair of hip hop bops this week, balancing raw UK energy with polished, global ambition. Check out these two hits below ✨

WTTM AK – Icl

WTTM AK delivers a raw, freestyle-driven track that captures his energy with direct, unfiltered intensity

Icl hits with a stripped-back beat and urgent flow, keeping things immediate and instinctive. The freestyle approach gives the track a loose feel, with momentum driving each bar forward.

WTTM AK, emerging from Leicester, positions this as a defining early statement. Drawing from a journey that spans Bulgaria to the UK, the impressive release reflects both resilience and ambition, marking a clear step into a new phase. It’s a big track, and we can’t wait for more.

Exzenya – International Power

Exzenya continues to command attention with a powerfully poised, genre-blending track built on authority confidence

International Power, opens with a stark vocal before expanding into a clean, modern production that balances a compelling hip-hop flow with melodic phrasing. The track moves with precision, letting its message land without just the right amount of attitude.

Exzenya, a US-based independent artist, frames this release as a statement of identity and leadership. Blending influences across hip-hop and R&B, she leans into themes of self-definition and presence, delivering a sound that feels intentional and globally minded. It’s great fun.