These LITM Pop Picks range from heartbreak to humour, coming to you from artists like Couloir, Zach Outman, Jacqueline Ranieri, and more!
1. Couloir – Walk Away
Diving deep into what it’s like to be heartbroken while trying to move ahead with your life, Couloir’s Walk Away, featuring Sephony and Leah Monteiro, is laden with emotion and does a great job at ensuring you feel it too. With lines like “I don’t wanna wait up for things never coming our way / But when you look at me, I feel your body on mine, though I know you’re not mine,” the song establishes a sense of momentum, of leaving something – or someone – you know isn’t good for you. Subtle and smooth, the track builds confidence, and this emotional trajectory makes the song a must-listen.
2. Zach Outman – Carpe DMs
You can tell from the wit of the title alone that Zach Outman’s Carpe DMs is going to feature some rich songwriting, and it doesn’t disappoint. Taking you through the anxiety-ridden process that modern dating has become, Outman explores ghosting, rejection, and performativeness with a self-aware twist. Its punchy energy, established by the drums (credits to Aksel Coe) and melodic, ever-present guitar, never drops throughout the track, giving you a listen that’s easy to get lost in. What makes this track different from so many others of the same theme is its emotional balance between sass and sincerity, creating a grey area that’s uncomfortable while still telling you something about the world we’re in. Listen here!
3. Jacqueline Ranieri – Our Angel
Jacqueline Ranieri’s Our Angel carries a depth and sincerity that immediately tinges everything around it. The song explores grief and remembrance with a delicateness that shows Ranieri isn’t expressing something superficial, but a lived experience that she’s wrestled with. Through this depth of experience, Ranieri stays restrained: sometimes, simple, direct language hits harder than flowery, over-the-top metaphors, and that’s definitely the case for this track. Airy production creates space for the vocals and their vulnerability to remain the emotional core, while prioritising remaining quiet and intimate over elaborate arrangements. This is a song that’s sure to touch your heart; listen to Our Angel here.
4. Rusty Reid – All Through My Days
Rusty Reid has established a sound that’s effortless, relaxed, and balanced, and his version of the ‘90s All Through My Days from his latest album Lone Stardust (Masterworks of Texas Songwriters) only furthers this identity. The way Reid approaches this reimagination completely transforms the song from brisk and sprightly to something softer, more inward-looking, and this effect entirely shifts the listening experience. With a vocal delivery that holds weight and complexity balanced with maturity and directness, the track prioritises simplicity in production over something that could potentially drown the gentleness of the rest of the elements. Give the song a listen here!
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