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.