Looking for some motivation to help power you through the start of another work week? We feel you, and with some stellar new pop tunes, we’ve got you covered.
These 10 tracks from artists including Lauran Hibberd, Ariana and the Rose, Shygirl and more will get you energized to take on the week. Pop any of these gems into your personal playlists — or scroll to the end of the post for a custom playlist of all 10.
Shygirl feat. Cosha, “Thicc”
“Thicc” thumps, ceaselessly and irresistibly, in the way that all great club music pulses through your veins; British producer Shygirl has experimented with dance’s pressure points throughout her career, but her new single featuring Cosha delivers a straight hit to the listener’s pleasure center. The track should be a staple of crowded dance floors in the coming months, as well as an immediate pick-me-up in your headphones after a long day. – Jason Lipshutz
Biig Piig, “Watch Me”
“It’s a song to feel yourself unapologetically and to strut to,” Biig Piig explains in a press release for new single “Watch Me.” “Telling the world, ‘I am that bitch, watch me.’” While the Irish artist showcases that confidence in her commanding vocals on the track, “Watch Me” adopts an industrial whirr that turns hypnotic in its back half, particularly as the drums kick back in to emphasize the darkly lit, alluring production. – J. Lipshutz
Lauran Hibberd, “Mary”
UK pop artist Lauran Hibberd has bulldozed her way back into our lives with three minutes of undeniable sunshine: “Mary,” a pop-punk anthem of the highest degree, swivels through hooks and blurted-out double-date details with aplomb, and Hibberd tosses out plenty of charisma along the way. Can the Warped Tour return solely for “Mary” to serve as its authoritative new soundtrack? – J. Lipshutz
gglum, “Easy Fun”
Having recently signed to Secretly Canadian, gglum’s first few singles present a bold new vision of indie-pop, mixing guitar fuzz, sweetened hooks, classic emo flourishes and drum-n-bass undertones. “Easy Fun” takes a few listens to wrap its arms around you, but the attention to detail sets the track apart, with each moment containing carefully considered pieces of instrumentation moving in conjunction with each other. – J. Lipshutz
Ryder Beer, “Can’t Take It”
Ryder Beer, the younger brother of Madison, makes an attention-grabbing studio debut with “Can’t Take It,” an emotionally charged slice of synth-pop that demonstrates his gentle voice and ability to attack spaces of silence within complex production. The highlight comes at the very end, as the track concludes with the dangling question, “Where do we go?”; Beer will provide an answer soon following this strong start. – J. Lipshutz
Crawlers, “Call It Love”
British rock band Crawlers took off in 2021 thanks to their viral hit “Come Over,” and the British rock band has sustained momentum since; as it gears up for the February release of its debut album, The Mess We Seem To Make, second single “Call It Love” proves why. The aching alt-rock song sounds like how it feels to be the last pair on the dance floor — a sign of time well spent, and also of a bittersweet impending end. – Lyndsey Havens
Lloyiso, “I Hate That I Care”
The latest from rising soul-pop artist Lloyiso is reminiscent of the 2010s amped-up electro-pop hits à la Disclosure’s “Latch” — and much like that song’s vocalist Sam Smith, Lloyiso possesses the same passion and soul that makes his vocal delivery all the more convincing, especially on lines like, “Don’t care if I lose / I’ll fight for you.” Just one listen is all it takes to believe him. – L.H.
Frost Children, “Marigold”
Frost Children’s 2022 LP Spiral was a genre-hopping affair touching on electro-pop, hyperpop and bratty emo, but the sibling duo’s 2023 album Hearth Room is as soft and inviting as the furry pups on its album cover. Accessible doesn’t mean predictable, though, and songs like “Marigold” demonstrate that you can balance sweet harmonics with compelling sonic flourishes, creating sturdy indie-pop delights that deserve repeat listens. – Joe Lynch
Ariana and the Rose, “Cosmic Lover”
As staccato, arpeggiated synths a la “I Feel Love” dance around the speaker channels, Ariana and the Rose urges you to “f—k the noise, come on boy” and hit the interstellar dance floor on “Cosmic Lover.” The video arrives with a remix from Initial Talk that transports you back to NYC’s famed Danceteria circa 1983 – a time-travel loop we’re happy to get lost in. “The music video, remixes and tour feel like a perfect way to close out this [Lonely Hearts Club] album, I cannot wait to be singing these songs with everyone at the shows,” says Ariana. – J. Lynch
Evanescence, “Breathe No More”
Twenty years has passed since Evanescence released its 2003 debut, Fallen, and now a few vault tracks have been given their chance to shine amid the record’s 20th anniversary re-release. The newly remastered version of “Breathe No More” is one of them — originally relegated to a B-side, the piano-driven track channels the greatness of the tragic yet touching ballads “My Immortal” and “Hello,” allowing Amy Lee’s crystal-clear vocals to delicately soar over twinkling keys. Whereas the prior two tracks found Lee grappling with painful memories and death from a child’s point of view, “Breathe” is a hard look in the mirror following a toxic relationship, as Lee wonders if she likes the person she has become. – Starr Bowenbank
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