These LITM Pop Picks are all about the range of emotions that come with missing someone, from grief and yearning to patience and acceptance, and everything in between. Coming to you from artists like Nathaniel Earl, Leonie Sherif, The Kiss That Took A Trip, and more!
1. Nathaniel Earl – happy
Nathaniel Earl’s happy is cinematic, expressive, and almost weightless in its delivery. Beginning with a solitary piano layer hovering just beneath Earl’s ethereal vocals, the song continues on to effortlessly create a bridge between despair and acceptance. Opening with the lyrics “It’s already been too long to pen a proper breakup song / By the end, you’d probably find I’d already made up my mind / So it’s pointless…”, Earl looks inward throughout the decptively simple track, trying to untangle the knotted web of emotions that come with breakups, vulnerability, and growing and maturing through it all. Check happy out here!
2. Leonie Sherif – SUNBURN
SUNBURN situates Leonie Sherif in the moment from which there’s no turning back from a destroyed relationship. With light, layered vocals that tumble into each other, creating an alluring atmosphere, and the carefully utilised percussion that adds a controlled weight everywhere she wants, the song lands as warm and self-assured at first glance – when you peel the layers back, you realise how much pain is simmering beneath the surface, ready to explode. Sherif immediately connects with listeners with her openness and emotional honesty, inviting you into her world. The song is well worth the listen – give it a listen here!
3. The Kiss That Took A Trip – We are what we protect
We are what we protect is a lush, piano-driven track that surrounds you like a warm hug. The strings in the background that The Kiss That Took A Trip incorporates add a cinematic scope to the track, submersing you deeper into its universe. It’s a slow-burner: with a runtime of over six minutes, it takes its time to bloom open as you hang onto its every word. At its core, the song is reflective as The Kiss That Took A Trip reflects on resilience. From its opening seconds, the song promises to be something you won’t forget – listen here!
4. NUTRi3NT – Losing You
Built on electronic textures and a catchy, groovy beat, NUTRI3NT’s Losing You takes you through musical twists and turns to ensure you can never really predict what’s coming your way next. Daniella Goldfine’s airy, effortless vocals float above the base with a lightness that feels natural. This production gives each layer the space it needs to breathe and bloom, giving the track an authenticity that feels lived-in. Thematically, the song is centred around grief and loss, but never pushes itself on you – it leaves things open enough for you to interpret in whichever ways make sense to you. Listen here!
5. Campbell Downie – Sleeping on Your Side of the Bed
Opening Campbell Downie’s latest album Songbook is Sleeping on Your Side of the Bed, and opening this _____ song are Disney-like flourishes, upbeat instrumentals, and a driving percussion layer. “You’re not here, and the house just doesn’t feel the same / Three hours away is an eternity when you’re looking at the pouring rain,” Campbell Downie sings, perfectly going on to capture the feeling of missing a loved one, ‘counting the days’ until they come back, as he puts it. The beauty of the song lies in its nuances: it notices the little things that you miss about a person’s presence when they’re gone, distilling them into music that’s energetic and emotionally expressive. Check it out here!
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