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Pop music can take many forms and there’s merit to each one of them. Honesty, at least in pop, is a complex concept. In a genre where melody and spectacle can take precedence over overexposing lyricism, it’s a magical thing to find an artist who’s mastered all of the above – and delivers earworms so brutally real that they feel almost too intimate to have access to. When I first discovered Baby Queen over six years ago, I was struck by that immediate force of knowing an artist’s heart. Today, with the release of her sophomore record, I’m transported right back to that experience: being blown away by music that mirrors my own insecurities and deepest truths.
If you’re a regular OnesToWatch reader, chances are you’ve seen Sophie Truax pop up in your feed. She’s hard to miss—and once you discover her, she’s even harder to forget. That’s because Truax is a multi-talented artist whose infectious pop songs are brought to life alongside a colorful, motley crew of collaborators: puppets. A puppeteer since college, Truax has made these whimsical creations an essential part of her artistic identity. On her new EP, Can’t Split a Worm, she invites listeners into a delightfully quirky world where playful visuals and sharp, heartfelt songwriting go hand in hand.
Now LA-based, Brazilian popstar GIULIA BE is gearing up to release her second, eponymously titled album and the excitement is real. The singer, songwriter, composer, and actress won everyone over with her 2020 breakout hit “menina solta”, leading her to make a mark and be the youngest Brazilian to ever be nominated for a coveted Latin Grammy.
iKeda’s latest release is a carefree electro-pop thrill that feels tailor-made for all the unbothered women out there. Built on contagious chants, a Y2K club atmosphere and shimmering melodies, “Go!” emanates “getting ready with your girls” energy, capturing that shared sense of hype and support women naturally bring out in one another.
Heartbreak is a killer, but as everyone knows, nothing hurts worse than a friendship breakup. It’s a topic Devon Gabriella unpacks on new single “Miss Us,” where she mourns the platonic connection that’s lost when a lover leaves. Drawing you in from the very first line — “There must be something in the water // or tequila’s getting stronger” — “Miss Us” brings to mind old-school country with a modern twist. As Gabriella pours out her woes, you almost feel like you’re sitting down the bar from the artist, eavesdropping on her slightly-tipsy phone call.
You may already know Paris Paloma from her viral song, “Labour,” the feminist anthem that threw the alternative pop singer-songwriter into the spotlight. Since then, Paris has continued to refine her craft, putting her gift for weaving myth, longing, and modern womanhood into songs that feel both timeless and urgently of this moment on full display. Her latest single, “Pre-Raphaelite,” is the fifth from her sophomore album, Fatal Flaw, where through her use of 19th-century art history, Paris explores the female gaze, feminine beauty and the complexities of admiration, all within a modern context.
With a special guest host of our very own Nikkigirl, we chat with Love Spells on his latest album, LOVE IS THE LAW. Diving in, we cover everything from riding horses on Texas elementary school field trips to owing your personhood to the traits that marked you “weird” in high school.
Bella Kay took the internet by storm with addicting hit “iloveitiloveitiloveit” and is gearing up to release her debut album, My Reckless Abandon this month, making her our July Artist of the Month.
Press play on our #NowWatching playlist - with new releases from Master Peace, Denise Julia, Max McNown, and more.
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