Kicking into the week with some incredible pop bops that stretch across glossy R&B textures, groove-led songwriting and emotionally direct storytelling. Here are five new pop releases worth spending time with ✨
Ricky Earlywine – move like this
Ricky Earlywine delivers a stunningly sharp pop R&B moment that balances vocal agility with polished, modern production
move like this pairs fluid R&B phrasing with sleek pop production, built a smooth rhythmic pulse that foregrounds precision and control.
Ricky Earlywine is an independent singer based in Lacey, Washington, shaping a sound that bridges commercial pop and technical R&B. Drawing inspiration from artists like Tori Kelly, Kehlani and Rihanna, this release reflects a self-directed creative phase following a period of personal recovery.
Working from a bedroom studio setup, Earlywine focuses on vocal craft and harmonic layering, proving the strength of disciplined, independent production. Look forward to more this year.
Gregg Kofi Brown – The River (Remix)
Gregg Kofi Brown brings global groove and afro-swing energy together on a stunning, rhythm-driven remix built for movement
The River (Remix) rides a warm afro-swing groove with crisp percussion and bright guitar patterns that give the track an easy, flowing momentum.
Gregg Kofi Brown is a singer, songwriter and guitarist with a long international career spanning collaborations across pop, jazz and afrobeat circles. Known for work with artists including Sting and Billy Cobham, Brown blends heritage influences with contemporary rhythm on this remix.
Interestingly, the track was co-written with Ed Sheeran and continues Brown’s run of groove-focused releases rooted in global pop traditions. Great stuff.
Gareth Davie – Ruin My Life
Gareth Davie delivers a warm, wonderfully uplifting pop groove shaped by bright horns, melodic guitar lines and an infectious sense of rhythm
Ruin My Life blends pop songwriting with funk-inflected rhythm, layering punchy horn parts and bright guitar melodies over a danceable groove.
Gareth Davie is a Welsh guitarist and vocalist whose music draws from jazz, pop and funk traditions. Performing with a dynamic seven-piece band, he has built momentum through festival appearances and live shows across the UK.
The track captures Davie’s focus on melodic hooks and energetic arrangements designed for a full band setting. It’s great fun, and worth your time this week.
The Ingrid – Mother
The Ingrid explore emotional ambiguity and connection through atmospheric songwriting with a beautifully introspective indie pop texture
Mother unfolds through spacious instrumentation and restrained melodies, combining soft keys, guitar textures and wonderfully reflective vocal delivery.
The Ingrid are a collaborative band shaped by themes of emotional connection and personal reflection. Produced with Greg Walsh, the track explores memory, distance and the fragile tension between closeness and uncertainty.
Built around thoughtful songwriting and understated arrangement, the release leans into mood and atmosphere rather than spectacle. It’s genuinely touching, and I’d love to hear more from this lot in 2026.
LEEDY – Green
LEEDY blends contemporary R&B influences with emotionally open songwriting on a stunningly smooth and immersive pop release
Green moves through mellow production and warm vocal layering, pairing reflective lyrics with a slow-burning rhythmic foundation. LEEDY is an emerging artist originally from the Midwest and now working within the Los Angeles music scene. Drawing inspiration from artists such as SZA, Billie Eilish and Summer Walker, her sound sits between alternative pop and modern R&B.
The track was developed with a team of producers including Olivier Bassil, placing LEEDY’s lyricism at the centre of the arrangement. It’s a great track that’s been stuck in my head this week. More please!