LITM Pop Picks Tunes To Turn Your Weekend Around Featuring Ariyel, 8lanco, ST. NIKLAS and More!

LITM Pop picks tunes that will definitely turn your weekend around with the ultimate playlist brough to you by Ariyel, 8lanco, ST. NIKLAS, Dr. Evangelos Viazis and Grey Tower Heights.

Ariyel - How To Be Loved

Ariyel's "How To Be Loved" is a deeply personal exploration of human vulnerability and the unfiltered complexity of connection. Inviting listeners into its dreamy landscapes of atmospheric pop, the song is akin to reading the listener's most intimate journal page- splattered with pain, hope, and self-awareness. Ariyel's delicate, poised vocals lend every lyric sorrow, much like Taylor Swift's Folklore and Phoebe Bridgers' lyrical heartbreaking.

The delicate interplay between hazy guitars and slow, thudding drums mirrors the emotional push and pull of a relationship marked by trauma. Lyrics like, “.you’re sleeping under my skin and making a mess out of me,” convey a soul caught between yearning and the painful reality of unmet emotional needs. The crescendo builds to a sonic catharsis, capturing the bubbling frustration and heartbreak.

This is a benchmark for any one who has ever wrestled with the complexities of love. Its callous candor cements Ariyel's reputation as a compelling read in dream pop.

2. 8lanco - Hell Of It

"8lanco - Hell Of It" is an thrilling beginning to his EP HILLS N' BACK, setting the stage for a seductive mix of euphoric pop excellence. A colorful mixture of sugary melodies, rejuvenating tempos, and awe-inspiring motifs, the song elegantly combines sonic ecstasy with emotional profundity.

8lanco's exuberant voice rises above rich production that is as vibrant as a kaleidoscope. The pop sensibility of the song today is met with subtle details- small shifts in texture and vocal quiver that enhance the listening. Its "luscious sonicality" and powerful beat encourage movement, one cannot help but be moved.

It's what makes "Hell Of It" stand out from the pack: the track's authenticity and not the use of clichéd tropes but the creation of a new, contemporary sound. The ability of 8lanco comes through every note, offering a song that resonates on a personal and global level. It's the kind of tune that you would want on repeat, evidence of 8lanco's ability to create sticky pop anthems.

3. ST. NIKLAS - Habits of a Complex Mind

ST. NIKLAS presents us with a film noir gem in the form of Habits of a Complex Mind, an album heavy with introspection, synths through 80s-tinted glasses, and poignancy of coming of age teen angst. The debut LP is akin to being in a world of oneiric nostalgia, with heartache and awareness set against twilight streets and dissolving memories.

The title track sets the tone for the rest of the album, with tormented vulnerability and overanalyses masked in rich, resonating guitars. "ICSTWYWHN," the opening track, immerses you in misty surroundings, slowly evolving from foggy soundscapes to a frantic yet controlled crescendo. Its hook, "I can't say the words you wanna hear now," stays with you like the pain of unsaid words.

Those who know and love Sam Fender and Del Water Gap will be thrilled by the talent of ST. NIKLAS, but his music is deliciously unique. Habits of a Complex Mind translates the madness of early adulthood into poetry, describing the intricacy of human feeling with elegance as well as toughness.

4. Dr. Evangelos Viazis - Africa's Heartbeat

In Africa's Heartbeat, Dr. Evangelos Viazis creates a scorching tribute to African life and rhythm. The tune is a celebratory one, mixing soulful vocals into the music that sounds alive- drums, flutes, and melodies imbued with the power of African heritage.

The song carries a raw feel of momentum, forcing the audience to get lost in its catchy energy. Dr. Viazis sings with ease over the rich soundscape, an ambassador taking the listener through the world of culture he wishes to give respect to. The integrity of the song makes it stand out; it doesn't merely romanticize Africa but rather gives respect with affection.

Listening to Africa's Heartbeat is like being enveloped in a hug that glorifies life, rhythm, and humanity. It's not a song that merely yearns for attention but for interaction. This isn't a song; this is a cultural experience delivered through music.

5. Grey Tower Heights - Dolly

Grey Tower Heights' Dolly is a unsettling excursion into the depths of experimental music, conjuring an unsettling loveliness that lingers long after the final note has evaporated. From the pounding metal at the beginning to the fractured melodies that dissolve into nothing, Dolly is a lesson in tension atmospherics.

The vocals, retaining spoken word and singing in equilibrium, are theatrically charged but not melodramatic. Each and every word matters, so there is an aura of urgency and threat throughout the exercise. As layers peel off in the song, there is a sense of observing a memory degenerating while the emotions remain.

By artists such as Nick Cave and Björk, Dolly straddles the ground between danger and beauty. It's unsettling and impossible to ignore, dragging you into a world where sound and feeling become indistinguishable. To those who are famished for music which transgresses the boundaries, Dolly is essential listening.

Grey Tower Heights · Dolly

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LITM Pop Picks tunes that Will Put A Smile On to Your Face Featuring jazzygold, Larry Karpenko, Wonderful and Mulahbae!

LITM Pop picks tunes featuring jazzygold, Larry Karpenko, Wonderful and Mulahbae!

1. Jazzygold - we’re alright
   Jazzygold’s "we’re alright" is a velvety blend of jazz and pop that feels like sipping a caramel latte on a rainy day—warm, smooth, and comforting. The song kicks off with a jazzy piano riff that dances around a tight rhythm section, setting a sophisticated yet approachable vibe. Jazzygold’s vocals are the star of the show, effortlessly weaving silky harmonies with a touch of soulful grit. The lyrics—hinged on hope and resilience themes—are a soft reminder that there could be patches of beauty in the eye of a storm. The instrumental interlude is the standout, with solo saxophone playing that is vintage but new. The eclecticism renders the song universally appealing without watering down its artistic sheen. It's a banger of nostalgia with precisely the right degree of grit, ideal for lounging or dancing around your living room.

2. Larry Karpenko - Little Things New
Larry Karpenko's "Little Things New" is the auditory analogue of a walk through a forest bathed in sunlight—earthy, invigorating, and deeply introspective. The melody makes a tip of the hat to indie folk convention with the acoustic guitar being the central instrument, supported by minimal percussion and Karpenko's gentle, evocative singing. The lyrics deal with rediscovery and embracing life's little miracles, weaving lovely images that leave an unforgettable impression in one's mind. Karpenko's narrative is most effectively brought out in the chorus when a dash of melancholy is infused into hope. The tender harmonies in the background provide emotional resonance, elevating the arrangement into something totally spellbinding. It's a song that gets under your skin, pulling at the heartstrings as it provides a warm, soul-hugging experience. Ideal for quiet evenings or quiet moments, this is indie folk at its stripped and purest

3. Wonderful - Just So Beautiful
Wonderful's "Just So Beautiful" is a shimmering dream-pop gem that's like soaring above an inky black night sky filled with stars. Shimmering synth textures wrap the listener in a starry blanket, providing a sonic landscape that's as hypnotic as it is enchanting. Ethereal and soft vocals whisper like a distant galaxy. Lyrically, the song is in wonder at life, nature, and the sheer beauty of love, with poetic flourishes that are sentimental and celestial. Production is heavy on tumbling melodies and a straining rhythm that never wants to end. There's something cinematographic about it—close your eyes, and you can almost imagine a montage of life's most lovely moments spooling out. It's the kind of song that is ethereal and extremely intimate at the same time, to be listened to by ethereal, atmospheric sound enthusiasts.

4. Mulahbae - Tattoos
Mulahbae's "Tattoos" is a gruff, in-your-face track that exudes swagger and sexuality. Combining hip-hop grime with R&B sheen, the song is a nocturnal epiphany on a quiet morning in an easy rhythm. Mulahbae's performance is one of interactivity—slicing between rhythmic rap and melody vocals that wrap themselves around the listener. Strength, identity, and love are searched for in lyrics that borrow from the metaphor of tattoos as indestructible bond and lasting scar. The album is smooth, with a sequined bass slithering low beneath the texture of threatening synths. The hook is more infectious than sin, nigh on necessitating repeat plays. It's the type of song that needs to go on both your gym mix and your late-night drive mixtape. Mulahbae achieves a mood that is sensual yet contemplative, and "Tattoos" is a standout track of modern hip-hop/R&B.

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