These LITM Pop Picks are everything from gentle acoustics to electro-pop, love to breakups – featuring Katelyn Butcher, Roi Aknin, Briar City, and more!
1. Katelyn Butcher – You’re a Baby
Sharp and biting, You’re a Baby comes from Katelyn Butcher’s latest album, Something Has To Change. Breakup songs always have tinges of bitterness and anger, and on this track, those feelings are channelled into something that’s as funny as it is – unfortunately – relatable for many. Taking sharp aim at a dynamic where one partner takes on more responsibility than the other, the song uses lyrics like “You said I should be the one to have your baby / Well, why would I need another baby when I’ve got you?” making you laugh despite the unfairness of it all. The dripping, saccharine delivery only accentuates how ridiculous this situation is – listen here!
2. Roi Aknin – Will
Will is Roi Aknin’s latest single, delivered on top of gentle acoustic instruments that take their time to unfurl, rewarding your patience with a track that becomes more and more emotionally evocative as it progresses. Establishing a reflective atmosphere, the track faces a difficult question head-on: what happens to the future you imagine for yourself when the existence of a future itself seems uncertain? Emphasising imagery of terror and war, the songwriting masterfully combines visuals of the past and present to talk about the future, turning the simple act of writing into a tool that will help your legacy live on. Give Will a listen here!
3. Briar City – Armageddon
“Love is a war, and this is Armageddon,” says Briar City (brainchild of Irish musician Sean Francis) on Armageddon, his debut single under this project. Sometimes relationships fizzle out, while other times, they end with mutual understanding; Armageddon is a representation of the third type – a spectacular crashing down that comes from paranoia, betrayal, and hurt. Built on a gnarly pop-rock foundation, the track is gritty and angry. The moment of catharsis hits towards the final bridge, where Briar City makes peace with the fact that “you’re probably the greatest thing I’ve ever put behind me.” Check Armageddon out here!
4. Co.Lega – you.Love
Distinctly digital in both its production and thematic identity, Co.Lega’s latest single you.Love makes abundant use of experimental production methods to create a track that’s intriguing and hypnotising. Electronica and synth abound on this track about love – a seeming paradox between human and machine that works not despite the contrast, but because of it. This tension makes for a listen that constantly pushes and pulls at you to engage with it on a deeper level. Subtle rhythmic changes and smooth transitions between the trance-like, garbled electronica and the melodic vocals make a point about negotiating emotions in an increasingly digital world – a point worth the listen!
5. Crispin Brooks x Shara Vallée x Willo – Runaway
A bright pop track with an infectious rhythm, Runaway by Crispin Brooks, Shara Vallée, and Willo weaves a tale of rebellious love – the kind where you choose each other, no matter what. Propelling the track forward from what could have been a simple dance-pop track is the warmth behind the delivery and production of each element: from the vocals that carry a shining depth to the layers that surround it, each element is crafted with care. The accompanying music video isn’t just an extension of the track either, but rather a woven-in tool that gives you a deeper understanding of the same universe. Listen here!
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