With the year drawing to a close, Week in Pop presents a humble assortment of selections from just a few of our favorites and standouts from the creatives that inspired us with their expansive and expressive ingenuity. Presented in no particular order and not according to any arbitrary quantitative ranking system; this feature is a work in progress that showcases a rough draft compilation that highlights just some of those that shined a bright light into our collective worlds during this past trip around the sun. Not intended to be exhaustive or entirely definitive by any stretch of the imagination, we present to you a selection of some of the year’s brightest stars and their offerings of emanating brilliance with:

Week in Pop’s Year in Pop: 2023

Joy Postell, The Magician

The iconic Joy Postell; photographed by Joey Whitley.

Love is spiritual. Love is ineffable. Love is hope. Love is a new chance. Love is beautiful. Love is all the aforementioned and so much more. Love is The Magician, the inspired new EP from lauded Baltimore r&b pop icon Joy Postell. The artist has garnered attention over the past decade with a proliferation of singles, influential releases with the prescient Diaspora, Back and Forth and more that have uplifted the cultural consciousness with a higher message of celestial light for today’s turbulent times. Shining forth bright beams of truths in the face of systemic oppression and countering adversity with storytelling arts of earnest affections; Joy’s oeuvre of work intuitively precipitated the upheavals, uprisings and tribulations witnessed in recent years with a bastion of suave self-styled rhythm and rhymes that offer an antidote of unrelenting liberation in the face of global, local and personal points of conflicts and attrition.

Welcome Strawberry, Scared to Look (Cherub Dream Records)

Beyond the blur and whir with Welcome Strawberry's Cyrus VandenBerghe; photographed by Zachary Rodell.

Constrictions, life balances, better states of being, creative pursuits and more; these ideas and ascetic concepts factor in heavily to the world building bloom and plume of Welcome Strawberry’s brand new Scared to Look EP for the esteemed San Francisco imprint Cherub Dream Records. Led by Oakland musician Cyrus VandenBerghe, also of Still Ruins, the follow up to 2022’s self-titled debut places an emphasis on immediacy and introspection alongside the restrictions of excess. It’s an assessment of being the person we want to see in the mirror, the desire to curtail the things that no longer serve us and embody ideas, attitudes and energy in a fully realized sound that is present and tangible in all that we create. VandenBerghe–with the assistance of engineer/percussionist Daniel Baylis, vocalist Cheyenne Avant, Nick Bassett and Zac Montez on mixing and mastering–presents a prosperous place that surpasses the pit beyond all of our nagging fears; a sacred sanctuary where we can lay our burdens down; a point of respite; a proverbial safe space; the coordinates where the ego and superego intersect in a harmonious and ineffable congress.

Strange Men, "Hot Nights" (Big Pink Records)

San Francisco’s sensational Strange Men, from left, Róisín Isner & Ashley Clayton; photographed by Cassidy Frost.

As the story goes — a fateful wait for an 8 Bayshore Muni bus became the groundwork for San Francisco duo Strange Men's new single "Hot Nights" for the brand new SF/Seattle imprint Big Pink Records. Conceived by Róisín Isner who sounded out the phonetic percussive progressions to herself before conveying it guitarist/bassist Ashley Clayton; the two built a royal ruckus that shakes, sneers, trembles and quakes with a fury that rides high, tough and feisty all under a minute and a half. Strange Men abide by the intrinsic and psychic school of pop curation, edifying the economy of engineering and designing the perfect, succinct song that accounts for everything that you would ever want to experience.

C3zR, “B.B.B” ft. Ifeanyi Elswith

The inimitable and amazing Ifeanyi Elswith; press photo courtesy of the artist via Instagram.

Embracing the whole wide world — C3zR; photographed by Vanessa Valadez.

Introducing Chi-town’s new producer to know, C3zR, of whom today announces the breakout album Round Voyage for 600 Block Records with the stunning debut of “B.B.B” that features fellow local talent Ifeanyi Elswith. Born Cesar Pino, the multi-instrumentalist has built a style from the books of jazz greats, citing Bobby Caldwell, Ramsey Lewis to contemporary luminaries like Enny, Kaytranada and many more as guiding lights. Beyond these catalogues of favorites, C3zR has been busy fusing a brand new fashion and line of focuses that are all his own. Working alongside fellow rising star Ifeanyi, a new tier of rhythm and bops can be found from a collaboration that feels like nothing experienced before or since. Call it a mood. Call it a vibe. “B.B.B” bursts through to the surface from the underground with a coolness and suave that cannot be denied.

poolblood, mole (Next Door Records)

Toronto titan Maryam Said — aka poolblood; photographed by Jibril Yassin.

Giving us all this and more is the almighty Maryam Said of poolblood released of one of the year’s biggest and most anticipated albums ⁠— mole. The long awaited to follow up to the Yummy EP from 2019, we discovered the pop universe of poolblood via collaborators ranging from Annika Zee to Shamir and more of whom pointed toward Maryam’s rising star based out of Toronto. Working in conjunction with the aforementioned Shamir Bailey along with Louie Short; mole is a mystifying and grandiose album that materializes like a psychic cinematic production that reveals the soul’s own lullabies, swan songs and saudade symphonies from the connective corridors that travel between the heart, mind, body and human spirit.

Gabby’s World, Gabby Sword (Carrot All Records)

Pop icon Gabrielle Smith clad in Junya Watanabe, Comme Des Garçons.

Transcendence and transformation defines the trajectories of mercurial spirits that open themselves to unlimited change. Nothing ever remains the same, life and time are not static constructs, motion is a part of the human exchange as history moves us forward into new chapters and new paradigms. Gabrielle Smith leads us into the frontiers of the strange and terrains of new discovery on the much awaited Gabby's World album, Gabby Sword. Co-produced with partner and Lindsay Barrie (otherwise known by just their surname), Gabrielle presents a voyage of healing and hemming the threads of today and tomorrow's musical textiles that allude toward future creative progressions.

Model Clocks, It’s Going to Be OK (Technofunk)

Vancouver’s premier pop vanguards — Model Clocks; press photo / cover art courtesy of the artists.

Subscribing to the universal construct of unbridled hope are the northern dreamers at Model Clocks who present the much awaited (and aptly titled) EP It’s Going to Be OK. The group of Simon Lock of Terrace, Chad McLeod, vocalist Jane Lauren Storey-English and guitar ace Dan Dall’Acqua together create a chorus of indefatigable inspiration and light. After pandemic related delays and navigating remote collaborations and the like, Model Clocks gives the world a work of unrelenting joy. Together they raise a banner of determination, ballads about navigating love, dream journals on the journeys of searching for meaning, the pursuit of better things and combining analogous eras into a synthesis that lends itself toward creative stylistic hybrids of the celestial sort.

Miracle Sweepstakes, Last Licks (One Weird Trick)

Wonders of wonders….Miracle Sweepstakes; press photo courtesy of the artists.

Toward the close of the chaotic and traumatic year that was 2020, New York’s adventurous wide-eyed pop voyagers Miracle Sweepstakes blessed us with the beauty of Rorschached that brought an abundance of endearing and eccentric light into our hearts and quarantined homes. Through the turbulence of the past 3 years, the Sweepstakes team of Craig Heed, Ian Miniero, Justin Mayfield and Doug Bleek endured the upheavals and tragedies of personal loss that lead them to largely record their massive new album by themselves. With the passing of Ian's father, the group took to his basement in Valley Stream, NY where they recorded with gear that his dad left behind in the home where the band used to practice back during the formidable years of their youth. Through experiments, trials, errors, breakthroughs and more — we present the band’s mighty testament to perseverance and prog pop prognostications with Last Licks.

Past Palms, Portraits

Electronic/ambient pop’s new appointed leader — Past Palms; photographed by Nuria Rius.

Thus sets the stage for the latest release from Richmond, VA pop polymath Past Palms as we bring you Portraits. Standing as one of today’s most profound and prolific artists in the realm of ambient arts — Portraits follows up a string of releases that instinctively grows more and more organic and ethereal in ways that are as mysterious as the communication and communion between the flora and fauna. From lauded releases like Ambient Music for Watering Plants, Summer Prayer, Empyrean, Senescence and more; Past Palms has arrived as one of the foremost institutions for breaking new grounds in the fields of finding new atmospheric arts that imitate, emulate and are intertwined with the air, ether and atmospheres that embody the environments of our lives.

Suzanne Bonifacio, “Mistakes”

Manifesting new creative tiers of existence with Suzanne Bonifacio; press photo courtesy of Ken Axford.

Like the atoms whirling and fleeting about in the breeze, carried by the wayward winds; we arrive at our own conclusions and points of calm by finding fleeting moments and places of pause within the maelstrom of everything that we cannot fully define or grasp that exists beyond the scope of our own comprehension. Thus sets the tone and stage for Suzanne Bonifacio’s staggering single, “Mistakes”. A slow burning sacred chamber track, the Buffalo, NY artist moves the lens inward toward meditative spaces. Delicately developed over the course of the past few years in a world consumed by the inertia of ghastly proportions that historians will pine over for eons — Bonifacio speaks to the guarded vulnerability of how we live. How we learn. How we grow. How we fall down. How we pick ourselves back up. How we fail forward. How we cope. How we arrive at our personal truths. How we love. How we find peace. How we organize a sense of order from the landfill heaps of memories, the weights and pressures of the world and how we arrive at a higher state of grace.

Liska, It Girl

Embracing the extents of infinity with Liska; press photo courtesy of Charlie Young.

Cue rising popstar Liska who unleashes the ecstatic extents of perpetual indulgence and serotonin per semper with “Infinity”. Alias Annelise Steele, a multidisciplinary artist based out of Chicago, announces the follow up to Le Boom with the anticipated It Girl EP that pushes the parameters of what maximalism can be. Drawing from the playbooks of debutantes and matriarchs that have rocked the systems, ruled the scenes and laid the golden cobblestones of yellow brick roads toward the emanating light of immortal stardom — Liska is fusing together a fashion of sound, sentiment, sensibility and style of ethereality in perpetuity. Beyond channeling every icon of the 80s and 90s who ever dared to shatter the champagne glasses in the VIP room of every boy’s club imaginable, Liska embodies an entity that has broken through the trappings of the mortal coil, inhabiting a world without end.

Otracami, touching the stove coil

The ascent of Otracami; photographed by Sai Tripathi.

These visceral and personal streams of thoughts comprise the debut single “Fold” from rising artist Otracami. The Brooklyn by way of Davis, California multidisciplinary polymath Camila Ortiz presents the album touching the stove coil that delivers songs of heart. Songs of experience. Songs of observations. Songs of sentimental stories. Songs that traverse the roadmaps of life, spanning coast to coast. Songs that collect the aphorisms that arrive as we live our lives. Songs inspired by the moments that have charged meanings. Songs of transcending the people we once were. Songs about who we are now. Songs about the road ahead. Songs that look back at the tributaries and trails we left behind. Songs about how we alter ourselves to fit the schemes of others. Songs about how we find ourselves through the noise and narratives of life.

Anna Hillburg, Tired Girls (Speakeasy Studios SF)

Anna Hillburg returns to San Francisco with an incredible new record; photographed by Justin Frahm.

“Holdin’ On” is Anna Hillburg’s ode to coping and trying to figure it all out. The song captures the feeling of fright and startled fears of coming back to a world that has been altered, rendered into terrain that stands at the crossroads of transitions, turmoil, rehabilitation, restoration, transformation, et al. From the glimmering, hopeful keys to the sincere horns; Anna looks outward and inward, seeking answers that only offer unlimited lines of questions and thoughts that beget new thoughts and perspectives. “Holdin’ On” deals with the feeling of the material realm that fades into the void of the ether, worlds that become beholden to the machinations of erasure and the sentiment of how truly fragile our communities, environments and ourselves really are.

Featured off the Tired Girls album via Speakeasy Studios SF, Anna delivers musical movements that tackle humanity’s collective exhaustion, identity, femininity, observing a world in flux, coping amid the cornucopia of seismic upheavals and so forth. Upon returning to San Francisco after a pandemic-era sabbatical in Nevada City, Hillburg articulates what is different. The differences outwardly, environmentally, internally, the externalities, the epiphanies, the inceptions of concepts, the constructs that are long gone, the things and folks that remain, the newness, the not so new and everything in-between that is found on the plane of our shared existence.

The Garment District, Flowers Telegraphed to All Parts of the World (HHBTM)

Weaving textile tapestries with The Garment District; photographed by Nicole Czapinski.

Presenting The Garment District's Flowers Telegraphed to All Parts of the World courtesy of the esteemed imprint HHBTM that features a rogues’ gallery of contributing talents from the likes of Lucy Blehar, Dan Koshute, Shivika Asthana, Corry Drake, Gary Olson and Alex Korshin under the visionary auspices of Ladybug Transistor legend, photographer, museum academic and polymath — Jennifer Baron. Orchestrated largely from vintage instrumentation at the home studio of David Klug in Pittsburgh [of which Jennifer expounds upon in lavish detail later in this feature], The Garment District takes the toolkits of the past to present something fresh that is more than the sum of it’s anachronistic counterparts. The Garment District showcases brilliantly how the very fabrics of constructs created in previous eras can be synthesized into new artifices of unbridled splendor. The wax, tapes and compact discs from your siblings, parents, grandparents, step-parents, aunts, uncles and everyone you have ever known become melded together for something that is absolutely fantastical. Baron and the crew conjure together a strong sense of supernatural feels that are adeptly blended into the material realm of the human senses.

Looms, The Dogs of Doubt

Brooklyn’s own legends — Looms; press photo courtesy of the artists.

Indictive of this are Brooklyn’s own beloved Looms, who present The Dogs of Doubt EP with the illustrious “You Already”. Bandleader Sharif Mekawy and company have endeared themselves to the world over the years with lauded releases like A Different Variety of Same, The Way Up, How It Has to Be, Sleeping Days and Waking Days — specializing in a craft that stirs a familiar sense of warmth within the listener while entertaining echoes of an enlightenment that Looms prove to be self-evident. The Dogs of Doubt offers something to help us cope with a distressed world, a balm to keep us keeping on and believing in the beauty of the human spirit as we all strive to make sense of a world caught in the whirl of circling the proverbial drain.

Jordannah Elizabeth, “Borders”

Baltimore author, journalist, artist, everything — Jordannah Elizabeth; press photo courtesy of the artist.

Jordannah Elizabeth delivered a live acoustic performance of "Borders”, the title track from the 2015 album of the same name. The Baltimore journalist, author, artist, academic, professor, media mogul, manager, model, publicist and so much more shares an intimate view of a song about the imaginary demarcation points that try as they might to keep us within the lines or defined by criteria that has no bearing or relevance. A prolific polymath who has spent years uplifting marginalized voices and talents, one of the world’s leading cultural critics who operates with strong fearlessness and grace, always spotlighting the esoteric and underappreciated undergrounds of extreme import and so much more than can fit within these humble pages — Jordannah shares a stripped down take on a beloved song about the perseverance of spirit and individuality with intonations of new works that have yet to arrive.

Sedona, “Touch & Go”

The absolutely iconic Sedona; press photo courtesy of the artist.

Enter the era of Sedona, one of the brightest stars to cast a glow on the pop art circuits enamoring fans and fellow artists alike. Week in Pop was one of the first media hubs to debut the artist/multihyphenate/phenom with the phone tag feels of “Call Me Up” that introduced one of the most beloved chanteuses to the world. Announcing a highly anticipated album debut in the works, Sedona follows up the recent single “Domino” with the red hot fleeting flight of fancy titled “Touch & Go”. A musical missive on the unbridled energy of infatuation, the track is an exploration of desire that grows from the fringes of fantasy and into the visceral realm of carnal congress.

Rob I. Miller, Companion Piece (Vacant Stare Records)

Denizen of all things pertaining to power pop DIY — Rob I. Miller; press photo courtesy of Nat McBride.

The Bay Area and beyond has been enamored by Blues Lawyer and the power pop offerings provided by Rob I. Miller as the much celebrated solo album Companion Piece proves that my, my, hey, hey — power pop is here to stay. "Clean" delves into the flannel garbed slacker steez where fuzz pedals light the way forward. A similar 120 Minutes mode is felt on "Bloodlust" that erupts into a beautiful blaze of unfettered oblivion, as "In Circles" operates with that Ardent Studios styled Big Star bombast that ponders the curious cases and shapes of interpersonal communication.

The Natvral, Summer of No Light (Dirty Bingo)

Artist extraordinaire — Kip Berman of The Natvral; press photo courtesy of the artist.

Created during the tumultuous period of the pandemic, former Pains of Being Pure at Heart bandleader Kip Berman presents the latest solo album Summer of No Light via The Natvral moniker. Sharing the debut of “Lucifer’s Glory”, Berman delivers tales of heroes and villains inspired during the stir-crazy days of being sequestered to the safety and sanctuary of home. Attending to family duties amid an apocalyptic backdrop of a pandemic and the feeling of a world that had entirely collapsed; The Natvral brings it all back to the basics by way of tunesmith testimonials like the ballads, novels, and sonnets bequeathed by old world troubadours.

The Parlor, You Are Love and I Am You

The expansive and embroidered pop realm of Jen and Eric from The Parlor; press photo courtesy of the artists.

You Are Love and I Am You is the ultimate abandon to the proverbial Steve Winwood penned "Higher Love". The record is all about a fusion of hearts that transcend beyond the mapped scope of our galaxies, delivered with the theatrical orchestral splendor of immediacy on "Now" that raises the curtain on the big show-stopping tune, "The Cloud of Unknowing". The song is designed for the festival stage, a fervent anthem of ascending toward an enlightened echelon in the new sacred spaces of the sublime that defy semantic articulation. Jen taps into the holy books of Saint Stevie Nicks on the glorious “Oceans (Carry On)”, traversing into the bouncy rocks & boulder beats of "Serpentine", careening along the catchy and glitchy cool cuts of "Ouroboros Loop". Mantras move upward on the hypnotic "Restless Life", the doe eyed devotional "My Only Ever Lady" that makes the multiverse feel like a warmer place of infinite love.

Total Slacker, "Freddy Krewger Sweater"

Time warps, hot pursuits and Total Slacker; video still courtesy of Nathan Kohler.

Tucker Rountree’s “Freddy Krewger Sweater” celebrates the styles of 80s throwbacks that mixes suspense and anarchic era specific sentiments that recalls all the campy media in conjunction with antiquated, modernist memories. Sitting pretty next to thriller classics like “Nightmare On My Street”, Total Slacker delivers a tribute to the Wes Craven franchise full of frantic phone conversations, creeping paranoia, stalker scares and more.

Forest Bees, Between the Lines: Stories and Sounds of a South Asian American Life (Dandy Boy Records)

The hive, mind and might of Forest Bees’ Sheetal Singh; photographed by Collen Eversman

Forest Bees debuted comfort and commiseration for the world in the initial wake of the global pandemic with the self-titled and recently Bay Area multi-hyphenate Sheetal Singh delivered the meditations and musings on culture and identity with Between the Lines: Stories and Sounds of a South Asian American Life. Featuring production by Maryam Qudus of Spacemoth, the new record is a magnificently transcendent pop cycle of narratives penned by Singh that ponders modern life experiences, conflicting connections and amplifying unsung narratives and heroines.

Miranda and the Beat, self-titled (Ernest Jenning Record Co. / Khannibalism)

La fête de Miranda and the Beat; photographed by Allen Ying

The story of Miranda and the Beat is something like a cult film favorite. With west coast beginnings, Miranda Zipse and Kim Sollecito made a dash for the Big Apple where they rounded out their punky pop posse with Dylan Fernandez and Alvin Jackson to make music in the vernacular of the viscous and visceral. Presenting their self-titled debut album via Ernest Jenning Record Co. / Khannibalism (a vanity imprint curated by legend King Khan), Miranda and the gang invite you to traverse NYC’s seemingly infinite expanses of electric asphalt on the world debut of “Concrete”. Catching the attention of the world with their Third Man Records single "Such A Fool”, the band trades freak beat psych frenzies for speedy leather clad punk dive bar devotionals.

Nova One, create myself (Community Records)

The inimitable and elevated world of mindfulness and majesty — Nova One; photographed by Maurisa Mackey.

Nova One gave the world a message of self-love, care and light with the lauded album lovable released during the throes of the pandemic that followed up secret princess and this year the Providence, Rhode Island artist Roz Raskin delivered the latest chapter with create myself via Community Records that takes on our current era of reconstruction with the liberating message of being free to be the person you want to be. If the previous offering was about learning to love yourself and others again, Roz presents an album dedicated to working on the self to be the realest and truest version of yourself. A record of actualization that treads rocky waters, swims through the depths of the seas and floats through the galaxies that meditates on human shortcomings, processing the pain, working through the hard stuff in the aims to arrive at a better state that embodies living a personal truth. The hardships and challenges are confronted head on in the hopes of being the honest superhero of the self that lives within the core of the human spirit.

The Leak, self-titled (Slang Church)

Get in the van and on the long and winding road with the Leak; press photo courtesy of the artists.

Seattle’s powerhouse of players The Leak presents a succinct cycle of big electric heavy hitters with their self-titled debut EP via Slang Church. The team of Taylor Clark, Sam Peterson, producer Dylan Wall and Niko Wood. the gang soak up some ultraviolet beams on "Weed in the Sun" with the vibe of baking in the solar rays while laying in the grass on the quad of an art school you flunked out of, "Congrats" exhibits some of the best presentations of modern day pop balladry, to elevating the power pop traditions with "Like a Shout". The playful side of the creative process shines through on "Poison the Sea", as the grandiose and boisterous "All Things" brings the record to a triumphant close.

Holly Waxwing, The New Pastoral (PC Music)

Heralding the pop praxis of Holly Waxwing; photographed by Molly Matalon.

Providing the world over a decade of enlightened electro touched tapestries from Peach Winks, remixes, Goldleaf Acrobatics and more; Waxwing hones in on the places where electronic adjacent compositions intersect within ecosystems of sensational splendor. These are works to further edify the unlimited landscapes found in the great outdoors, as well as offering elevated electro pop menageries for the introverted sorts that prefer the comforts of their cozy indoor domiciles. Holly Waxwing makes visceral music for ecologies and economies where even the most synthetic of rhythmic keyboard sequences feel holistically formed as if sprouted from the earth on its own accord.

Frankie Rose, Love As Projection (Slumberland/Night School)

DIY pop legend Frankie Rose; photographed by Esme Rogers Smith.

The bands have become canon: Vivan Girls, Crystal Stilts, Dum Dum Girls, Fine Place, et al. The artist stands as a singular force of visions and volition, the prolific Frankie Rose with the brand new album Love As Projection for Slumberland/Night School. Nearly six years since the release of Cage Tropical, Rose releases her most grandiose record to date in a full length that basks in the maximalist glow of big time productions and affectionate expressions. Projection shines at the top of every stylistic chart that it embraces, like an electro-emblazoned display of purpose, pride, presence and limitless persistence.

The Reds, Pinks & Purples, The Town that Cursed Your Name (Slumberland)

The grandeur and grace of Glenn Donaldson; press photo courtesy of the artist.

The Town that Cursed Your Name is like the novella about quandaries of settling into the arms of townie-dom or fleeing the coop for greener and brighter pastures and metropolises of illustrious promise & prosperity. Musings on mortality languish lavishly on the beautiful "Too Late for an Early Grave" that gingerly dovetails with the impulse to take flight for something/somewhere/anywhere/anything other on the timeless ballad of actualization and autonomy — "Leave it all Behind". The sound, vibe, prescient presence and utter immediacy of the record feels both rooted in the now while leaning toward the feelings from days of many futures past. "Life in the Void" is an anthem for every working stiff, the clock punchers of the world, those born with a plastic spoon in their mouths that missed the boat on all the suspect startup tech money luxuries, the every-person of whom were never handed anything but a nametag, a broom, dustpan and a corporate company polo shirt replete with insufferable color palette choice combinations.

Nima Kazerouni, self-titled (Shrimper)

Nima Kazerouni of So Many Wizards and more arts of wonder; press photo courtesy of the artist.

Expressing all of this and so much more is the righteous return of one of LA’s most influential artists, Nima Kazerouni, releasing his debut solo self-titled via Shrimper. Leader of the beloved So Many Wizards, Nima shares songs that revolve around leaning into fatherhood, ballads from the heart, songs from the lockdown and songs dedicated to new re-emergences and newfound affinities. Created in the confines of his own home studio (with an assist from Stereophonic Mastering’s Timothy Stollenwerk); the EP offers a more intimate side of the artist who has penned countless songs to dream on and fall in love in to/with. Nima rises from the chaos and worldwide wreckages of recent years with something that is composed with the deepest degrees of sincerities. Interpersonal relations are examined with raw honesty, reflections on the roads less and more often traveled, expressions of discovering a greater love and greater purposes in a cycle that curates the sentiment of a transcendent sanctuary with song.

Hibou, Arc

Peter Michel of Hibou, live at Bottom of the Hill, SF; photograph courtesy of Week in Pop.

The LA by Paris by way of Seattle bandleader Peter Michel composed Arc during a summer spent by the Canal de l’Ourcq, then recording his song cycle of sincere sentiments in the warmth of last autumn. The luster of days and evenings running their natural courses comprises the breathtaking "Night Fell", that feels like a dusk sojourn spent along the Seine with a bottle of rosé champagne shared with a dearly beloved soulmate. "June" exudes a sense of melancholia, like the transition of the solstices from spring that lead lionhearted into the life progressions and changes that arrive with the season of seemingly perpetual sun.

Figure Eight, drown

Abby & Nash of Figure Eight; press photo courtesy of the artists.

Giving the world the razor sharp economy of three blessed and blissed as all get out tracks with the drown EP, Figure Eight immediately captured the attention of the mind’s musical theater that seeks to witness crescendos of unbound melodic mountaintops awash in the aura and garb of unrelenting, uncompromising dissonance. Figure Eight themselves create case studies in the discipline of achieving indelible harmonies deep within the throes of chaotically controlled discord.

Foliage, "Can't Go Anywhere" (Club Mix)

Foliage’s Manuel Joseph Walker live at Bottom of the Hill in SF; photograph courtesy of Week in Pop.

The original track perfectly sums up our lives in the quarantine mode, locked in the confines of our own spaces and left with our own thoughts of a new better world, a new and better life, full of new, better and more meaningful exchanges with others. Just as the source material seeks for something beyond the mundane and menial claptrap jargon of unprecedented circumstances and mindless talk of the new normal — the Club Mix opens up a new level of catharsis in returning to the dark and dusty dives and dance halls that rejuvenate the human spirit among the company of fellow friends, acquaintances, contemporaries and everyone.

The Ian Fays, “Olive Says” (WWNBB)

The Ian Fays on the keys; press photo courtesy of Brian K Creative.

In this grand tradition of transformative art we present to you San Francisco’s The Ian Fays as they bring us a Valentine’s song for the holiday season with “Olive Says”. The core group of twins Lizz and Sara Fay follow up their recent wistful rustic single “Viola” with a magical torch song suited for smoky clandestine speakeasys, DIY spaces to the most elegant of jazz lounges. As a creative team that works in styles that span across myriad continuums of modern and post-modern constructs of musical sensibilities; “Olive Says” embraces baroque strings in a waltz that steps and sways inside of an endless melody that you never want to end.

…and so much more…

As the summer season's sun shines onward, our world continues to get weirder, the immigration battle continues, the 2018 World Cup concluded with France's big win—Week in Pop continues to keep you up to date with all the media-mania you may have missed. The latest news is that Soccer Mommy announced a tour supporting Kacey Musgraves, with a viewing of the grand Jonny Look video for the grandiose ballad "Scorpio Rising"; pop icon Jenn Champion released the anticipated album Single Rider via Hardly Art; S the Supplicant shattered the scholastic conventions with the sensuous disco of the little death "Aphrodite's School" off the Nicey Music concept release cycle Sex in Mechanicalville (see our interview exclusive here); Sports Coach delivered a listen to the spirit lifting river-rafter "tide rider" from the forthcoming Dream Sports EP available August 3 via Manimal Records; Future's Beastmode 2 broke records on the streaming charts; New Jersey pop institution Old Smile continues his unrelenting and unyielding streak of proliferation with the Falling Feeling EP; Glasgow's Fleet shared some rustic sentiments direct from the heart and world weary soul with "From Me To You" courtesy of In Black Records; also don't miss GOSH!'s emerald shining visual from Peter Nichols for "I'll Remember You" off their Nicey Music album Odyssey; Daddy launched a Kickstarter to help make the upcoming feature film Milkshake; Minneapolis ambient earth and element progenitors IE shared the moving meditations of "Amulet" off the Moon Glyph cassette Pome; Sara Marie Barron is prepping the album Sad, But True for release August 3 sharing a heart-pouring listen to the single "Does She"; Moonbeau dazzled, dazed and amazed with their freewheeling single "Hair So Wild" off their self-titled debut available September 7 via Old Flame Records; Ólafur Arnalds shared a warm look at the Thora Hilmars visual for "unfold" ft. SOHN off the album re:member available August 24; Rob Dickson delivered the earnest, subdued yet passionate power pop expressions of "Water Rushing In" off the album Looking Through Your Window; Orlando's own The 502s delivered the heart-penned and personal album of honest musings and expressions titled Because We Had To; Yungeen Ace delivered the Jacksonville representing David G visual for the block embracing "Jungle" ft. JayDaYoungan; The Ophelias delivered a look at the sporting football-focused visual for the beautiful single "General Electric" off the Joyful Noise album Almost; Lido Beach returned with a listen to the pop punk single "You Feel Hard" available July 27; Squadda B and Badluck delivered the East Bay atmospherics via Special Edition Instrumentals courtesy of Green Ova; Smino shared a remix of Drake's "In My Feelings" and "Coupe se'yearn" via the 4sport EP; Jay Rock delivered a viewing of the video-game styled Jack Begert and Dave Free visual for "ES Tales"; Jaden Smith delivered SYRE: The Electric Album via Instagram; Azealia Banks delivered the new sensational single "Treasure Island"; Acting Strange delivered the celluloid celebrity glam anthem "Hollywood" dedicated to tinsel-town decadence; HOLYCHILD presented the desires for solace with "Wishing You Away"; Madeline Kenney presented the Robert Kolodney office-space centered visual for the personal and whimsical "Cut Me Off" off the album Perfect Shapes via October 5 via Carpark; Kacey Musgraves presented a viewing of the office life anachronisms featured in the Hannah Lux Davis video for patriarchal hierarchy kingdom crasher "High Horse"; Tatiana DeMaria presented the truths and fallacies that informed the new single "London Don't Lie"; Marquee Mayfield presented the eccentric visual for the oddball romanticism of "Feelin' So Blue"; Utkarsh Ambudkar delivered the glamorous, reflective mind expansions of "Vanity" ft. Daveed Diggs, Rafael Casal, and The Olympicks; FMB DZ delivered the monetary-minded and wavy new single "Fast Money" off the upcoming mixtape In My Bag; Balako delivered the expressive and earnest single "Don't Give Up" via Greco-Roman; Ariana Grande delivered the feminist notions of deity with "God Is A Woman" off the upcoming album Sweetener; Houndmouth presented the anticipatory single "Waiting For The Night" off the upcoming album Golden Age; Marlowe, aka L'Orange & Solemn Brigham, delivered their Mello Music self-titled release; Lily Moore presented the assertive and reflective "I Will Never Be"; Tinashe delivered the expressive and evocative single of nostalgic pangs via "Like I Used To"; Henry Chadwick delivered the sweet and serene single "Bag of Chips" from the upcoming album available August 31; Tash Sultana presented a live rendering of the intimate illustrations heard on "Harvest Love" off the album debut Flow State available August 31 via Mom + Pop; Cape Cub delivered the evening embracing single "Moonglow"; Summer Magic delivered the sunny rocker "Hey!" from the forthcoming album Sharks and Other Danger available August 31; Nef The Pharaoh & 03 Greedo launched the Porter2Grape EP; Westerman shared the liquid asset indulgences of "Easy Money"; Alessia Cara presented a look at the self-made visuals for the earnest ballad "A Little More"; Transviolet presented the Patricia Gloum/Braw Haus visual for "Bad Intentions" about countering the the dubious intents and deeds of others; In The Valley Below delivered the vibrant chromatic visuals for "Desperate Dance” featured off the album The Pink Chateau available October 5 via Bright Antenna Records; The Dirty Nil presented the epic anthem of anguish and ecstasy with "Pain of Infinity" from the forthcoming album Master Volume; The Dill delivered the throwback summer glow of "Stop Time" ft. Max Kerman; Olivier St. Louis shared the universe trotting anthem "Wondering Wanderer"; The Cradle delivered the beautiful acoustic illustrations of "Cell Games and Beyond" off the album Bag Of Holding available July 27 via NNA Tapes; SF based/Slept On Records co-founder Nick Andre delivered the heavy singles "Guns" ft. Lateef the Truth Speaker and Hanni El Khatib along with "LA's on Fire" ft. Rob Sonic and Hanni El Khatib; The Cuban Brothers delivered the smack-down on xenophobia with the puppet-centric visual for "I Hate Hate"; Alan Sparhawk delivered a rollicking rhythm remix for Azalia Snail's "Field Rep"; Fauvely delivered the ebb and sea rising shoreline shared sentiments of "Tides"; Paulaa delivered the evocative and intimate expressions of "Fall In"; Sigrid delivered itinerary attentive energy of "Schedules" from the Raw EP; Cubicolor delivered the electric single "Counterpart"; Princess Nokia delivered the intoxicating Travis Libin co-directed visual for "Morphine"; peep the Chandler P of 12th St Media visual for THECLECTIK single of ecstatic discovery titled "I Found You" ft. Ze Rox and Jay Tablet; Frontperson, featuring Kathryn Calder of The New Pornographers, delivered the sunny and summery visual from Rob Leickner and Ryan Sudds for "Tick - Tock (Frontrunner)" off the upcoming self-titled available September 21 via Oscar St. Records; Meg Myers delivered a song about the toxic ties that bind with "Tourniquet" off the upcoming release Take Me To The Disco; Stronger Sex delivered the continuum of life with the expressive electro single "Dead Women" off the album There Is No Stronger Sex via BLIGHT. Records; No Mono delivered a listen to the evocative illustrations of "Fever Highs"; 

Abbi Press delivered the skating and free-wheeling visual made with Brian Vu and Breaking for the breathtaking single "Deep Breath" via CSCN; Teddy Glass delivered the grandiose single "Lean On" featured off their upcoming album Nights and Weekends available August 24; Chastity brought the Captured Tracks album Death Lust into the world; Dolores Haze doesn't want to see your "Banana" via the bright and self-assertive Saga West and Ville Gobi Andersson visual; Tom Ugly delivered the evocative single about adversaries and the like with the Noel Rodriguez and Jenny Chiu visual for "Villan"; The Chairman Dances announced the album Child of My Sorrow available September 7 via Black Rd Records with a listen to the grandiose single "No One Can Hurt You (Like a Friend Can Hurt You)"; Billy Moon presented an announcement of the forthcoming album Punk Songs available September 14 via Old Flame Records delivering the thrashing and banging singles "White Shoes" and "Dingus"; Iggy Azalea delivered the tookas-twerking visual for "Kream" ft. Tyga; MOLI delivered the cut of comforts and ease with "Comfortable"; Harrison Lipton cast the visual for the beautiful "Beacon" from the album Loveliness available May 18 through Yellow K Records; Sophie Meiers delivered the summer-smoked single "Something About You"; the iconic Tony Molina gifted the world recently with the sweet electric organ coasting single "Jasper's Theme"; Sao Paulo's Das Kope provided all the breathy insinuation and intimations of pure summer sun-stroked ecstasy with the single and visual for "Ready For Summer"; The Gloomies presented the album Romance courtesy of Thrill Me Records; United Ghosts delivered the oceanic swells with "Waves" off the album Saturn Days available August 24 via Cleopatra Records; Saul Williams shared the snazzy and sick rhythms and rhymes of "The Flaw You Worship"; King Who shared the melted melodies of "Ice Cream" off the Self Group album Giant Eye; PUSHER and Anjulie delivered the consciousness-lifting single and visual for "All We Can Do"; Valley Queen presented the gigantic constellation coursing wonder "Supergiant"; Gabrielle Sterbenz delivered a look at the intimate and interpersonal Fletcher Wolfe-directed visual for the evocative single "The Laundress"; Sense announced their Taste EP available October 19 via Nettwerk and shared the affinity expressions of "I Like It"; Ferentz and the Felons delivered the personal and earnest-hearted EP Hudson County; Jonathan Wilson presented the smoky street light streaked visual and single "Sunset Blvd" off the album Rare Birds; GRLwood delivered an exhibition of real and honest desires via the visual and single "Bisexual" off the release Daddy; Lemuria released the anticipated release Companion; LT Wade presented the grand ballad "We'll Never Be Those Kids Again" featured off the album Transient available July 27 courtesy of Dopeness Records NYC; World's Fair presented the new bossy new single "Dundas Street West" ft. Nasty Nigel, Cody B. Ware and Freaky Franz with the album New Lows arriving July 20 via Fool's Gold; benny blanco presented the Jake Schreier video for the reminiscent jam "Eastside" ft. Halsey and Khalid; Toronto's CMDWN delivered the saucy new single "Hit & Run" ft. Lil Wop off the forthcoming Atlanada 2; DeVotchKa gifted the world the new single "Straight Shot" with the announcement of the new album This Night Falls Forever arriving August 24 via Concord Records; Slothrust presented the laundromat gazing Josh Forbes visual for "Double Down" from the upcoming album The Pact available September 14 via Dangerbird Records; RYVOLI delivered the ethereal acoustic strung harmonies of their EP Theories; Elle announced the album Lover's Rock arriving this September with a look at the elevated and visceral visuals for "Better"; Cyril Hahn remixed EBHONI's single "OPPS"; Mac Miller announced thee new album Swimming available August 3 with a look at the visual for "Self Care"; Future Generations dropped the bright electro pop title track from their album Landscape available September 14; Dead Soft signed to Arts & Crafts with news of the upcoming New Emotion EP available in fall, sharing the electrified earnestness of "Kill Me"; Kin Hana delivered the atmospheric "Johnny" off of Au Sable via Black Meadow; The Veldt mesmerized yet again with the Yuko sueta visual for the earth and sea shattering single "Black and Blue"; behold the city strolling Travis Gogosian for GoodBaby Films visual for the uplifting "Probably Up" featured off Lawrence's forthcoming album Living Room available September 14; Samia delivered the scenes of solitude via the Tess Lafia visual for the earnest ballad of "Milk"; Honyock delivered the sentimental ballad "Heather" found off the upcoming El Castillo album available July 27; Sofi Tukker remixed Mr Little Jeans' single "Forgetter" with added rhythm-aided echoes and ambiance; Anderson .Paak delivered the remix for the track "Bubblin" ft. Busta Rhymes; The Coup delivered the righteous and radical new single "Oyahytt" ft. Lakeith Stanfield featured in Boots Riley's film Sorry To Bother You; The War and Treaty delivered that bridge between love and hate with the passionate pop of "Are You Ready to Love Me?"; MØ's album Forever Neverland will be available October 19 and delivered the solar-saturated single "Sun In Our Eyes" ft. Diplo; Whitney Ballen shared the endearing single "Go" off the album You're A Shooting Star, I'm A Sinking Ship from Father/Daughter available August 24; Save Face delivered their Epitaph album/visual album Merci; Creature Canyon delivered the inquiries of desire with "Did You Want That"; Jane Church shared the transportive Jono Bernstein, Abram Seaman and Matt Stevenson video for "This Here City" from the This Here City 7" available July 27 via Greenway Records, with a release show happening the same night at Our Wicked Lady in Brooklyn; Jake Shears shared the new single "Sad Song Backwards"; Metric delivered the weekend shaded super-pop single "Dark Saturday"; Pink Martini presented the powerful and iconic feminist anthem "I Am Woman"; Bay Area's own Garren Sean dropped the EP SUNDRIP; POLO & PAN presented the luscious Bleu Garou-animated visuals for "Canopée"; Boys Noize's Alex Ridha and Virgil Abloh dropped the Orvnge EP; Cruel Diagonals, aka Megan Mitchell, unveiled the album debut Disambiguation via Drawing Room Records; Oldermost shared the expressive new album How Could You Ever Be The Same? via AntiFragile; Jealous of the Birds presented the EP The Moths of What I Want Will Eat Me In My Sleep; Sophia Black delivered the fuego, smoke and flame of "Fire"; London's own CHILDCARE presented the Luckyucker EP; D.A. Stern covered "I Don't Know" and Jacuzzi Boys covered "Song For the Man" by the Beastie Boys via the split single Nosh Lately?: A Tribute to The Beasties Boys' Hello Nasty ahead of the iconic album's twentieth anniversary; Franz Ferdinand delivered the "Always Ascending" remixes; Mini Mansions delivered the cut of consistencies with "Works Every Time"; Denzel Curry presented the sideshow circus visual from Zev Deans for "Clout Cobain" off TA13OO; Lala Lala presented the cool carnival visuals for the even cooler cut "Destroyer" off the album The Lamb available in September via Hardly Art; Brodinski presented a look at the Pavel Brenner-directed visual for the wheel-gripping, hard rolling "Split" ft. Peewee Longway; Wiki presented the Ryosuke Tanzawa video for "Litt 15" ft. Your Old Droog;

Mary J. Blige presented the new affectionate single "Only Love"; Bon Iver’s own Justin Vernon with National’s Aaron Dessner are Big Red Machine, announcing their self-titled album available August 31 via PEOPLE; Bay Area's own Ah Mer Ah Su delivered the pursuit of something that is "Perfect" via the Roger Stack-directed visual off the debut album Star available July 27 via Dero Arcade; The Eye Of Time delivered the atmospheric and cinematic single "Foldings" off the album album Myth II: A Need To Survive available August 24 via Denovali Records; Vinyl Williams gave us the 360 treatment via the world immersive visual for "Aphelion" featured off the Opal; Vacation delivered the track "Deflector Head" from the forthcoming album Mouth Sounds #2699 available July 27 through Lets Pretend Records; Steven Moses delivered the release Love Me // Leave Me; Delhia de France released the echoing electronic hymns of Moirai EP through Robot Koch label Trees & Cyborgs; Sofia Reyes and Leroy Sanchez shared a viewing of an acoustic rendering for "1, 2, 3"; Paul Woolford remixed Hayden James' "Just Friends"; Tempesst shared the slow burning title track "Doomsday" featured off the upcoming EP of the same name; Honest Iago brought a boat of enchantment "Blue Fairy" found off the new album 29 Palms available July 27; La Force, featuring Broken Social Scene's Ariel Engle, announced the debut self-titled album arriving September 7 via Arts & Crafts with a listen to the expedient art thoughts of "Ready to Run"; LFZ announced the forthcoming release Name Plus Focus arriving July 20 via Castle Face Records, sharing a view of the consciousness melting visual for "Naturalistic" created by Wes Johansen; Louisville's own Quiet Hollers delivered an ode to dependencies with "Addicted"; Ciaran Lavery presented the intimate transformative Alexander Milo Bischof visual for "Bones 4 Blood" off the album Sweet Decay; Anne-Marie shared a backstage viewing of an acoustic performance of "2002" with Ed Sheeran; Giant Peach are currently on tour, sharing a view of their coastal dreaming visual for the lush and affectionate epic "Love Your Void" off the album But You Made Me Such A Beautiful Thing from Dead Broke Rekerds; More Giraffes delivered the a spirited performance of "Basement (Live in Highland Park)"; Ottawa's own Garçons delivered the delicacy and textile indulges of "Pink Dress" via Kitsuné; RL Grime delivered the single "Pressure" off the upcoming July 27 slated album NOVA; Jeremih and Ty Dolla $ign delivered "The Light" off the upcoming release Mihty; NOTHING delivered the visual for "Blue Line Baby" off Dance On The Blacktop available August 24 via Relapse; WHY? presented the jam "By Torpedo Or Crohn's (Dntel Remix)" with the Alopecia 10 Year Anniversary reissue available August 17 via Joyful Noise; Lord Huron shared the new singles "When the Night is Over" and a cover of Neil Young's "Harvest Moon"; Young Scooter delivered the regal remix "Jugg King" ft. Rick Ross & T.I. produced by Stack Boy Twuan; Couch Jackets presented the manic and meditative Rob Fitzgerald visual for "Don't Think Just Breathe" off the release go to bed available July 27; Moon Honey presented the stop-action creative visual of various faces and feelings from Jess Joy for "Mask Maker" from the album Mixed Media On Woman available September 4; Moon Honey presented the stop-action creative visual of various faces and feelings from Jess Joy for "Mask Maker" from the album Mixed Media On Woman available September 4; JPEGMAFIA unveiled the atmospheric and organic "Millennium Freestyle" ahead of a stateside and European tour; SAN CHA presented the rich and whimsical Graham Kolbeins visual for "Capricho del Diablo"; Kim Petras delivered the remixes for "Heart to Break"; Night Shop, Justin Sullivan from The Babies/Kevin Morby Band, announced the album debut In The Break available September 24 via Mare Records, alongside a viewing of the fun performance Kevin Gossett visual for "The One I Love"; BandGang delivered the single of solutions and solving matters with "Ain't No Problem" ft. SOB X RBE and ShredGang Mone off the upcoming tape In Too Deep; Kingdom dropped the new single "Getaway Kind" ft. Zalma Bour; The Buttertones shared a look at the performance captured Braedon Speakman visual for "Jungle"; Mirah provided a listen to the new single "Information" information featured off the upcoming album Understanding available September 7 via Absolute Magnitude; Parquet Courts announced the Wide Awake Remixes EP, sharing the Danny Krivit Re-Edit; Ian Svenonius' Escape-ism announced The Lost Record available September 7, sharing the Alexandra Cabral visual for "Nothing Personal"; Earth Girl Helen Brown presented the visual for "Set The Woods On Fire" via Four Satellites, Vol. 1 available July 20 via Empty Cellar Records / In The Red; Phantastic Ferniture delivered the single and visual for "Bad Timing" off the July 27 slated self-titled for Polyvinyl; Balloon Ride Fantasy presented a look at the mesmerizing video for "Arcadia" off the album BRF; Sean Henry shared a listen to the Double Double Whammy album Fink; Ólafur Arnalds presented a viewing of the piano-lead Matthias Maercks visual for "saman"; Champagne Superchillin' delivered the entrancing single "Gipsy Ferrari" off the Broken Circles release Beach Deep; Chris Stein of Blondie announced the upcoming photo book, POINT OF VIEW: ME, NEW YORK CITY, AND THE PUNK SCENE, slated for release in November; NNA Tapes tapes announced the NNA100 Centennial comp featuring artists like Guerrilla Toss, Tredici Bacci, Greg Fox, Olivia Block, Jefre Cantu Ledesma, Felicia Atkinson, Lea Bertucci and more available August 17; audiobooks delivered a look at the visual for "Hot Salt" via Heavenly Recordings; Holt 88 dropped the demented dance grooves via Hoo Dow EP; The Vamps delivered the visual for "Just My Type"; Astronauts, etc. shared the mind-melting beauty of "Shut My Mouth" off the Chaz Bear co-produced album Living In Symbol available July 27 via Company Records; We Were Promised Jetpacks signed to Big Scary Monsters; 2018 MTV VMA award buzz; the Deftones announced Dia de los Deftones happening November 3 at Petco Park; NYC's Les Poisson Rouge announced a one-night only concert tribute to Nico celebrating Nico, 1988 starring Marissa Nadler, U.S. Girls, Julie Byrne, Lizzi Bougatsos (of Gang Gang Dance and IUD), L'Rain and Tammy Faye Starlite; Paul Simon announced the new album In the Blue Light available September 7 via Legacy; Stephen Malkmus shared the acoustic rendering of "Solid Silk"; Bitchin Bajas announced their massive Rebajas boxset arriving in time for the holidays courtesy of Drag City; The Honey Toads changed their moniker to Akes; Suede released the new single "Don't Be Afraid If Nobody Loves You"; Lily Allen delivered the club-centric "Lost My Mind - Michael Calfan Respect Remix"; City Farm Presents announced Sequence Music Festival; YG got busted; we wish Glass Animals' percussionist Joe Seaward an expedient recovery; Offset versus his stylist; we remember Nancy Sinatra Sr.; and Pussy Riot crashed the World Cup Final party (resulting in Olga Pakhtusova's subsequent arrest, 15 days of jail and prohibited to attend sporting events for three years).

Keep up with all the latest of everything via Week in Pop's news section.

Capping off a weird week of trade wars, justice department hijinks, oddball international diplomacy, the continued unraveling of immigration policies and more—Week in Pop welcomes you to Father's Day weekend with all the buzz you missed. Delivering the latest top stories, big news as HTRK returned and messed up our worlds of normalcy royally with the tenebrous "Mentions" off the forthcoming album Drama available July 6 via Ghostly; Chromeo presented the snazzy Lauren Slick video for the hedonistic "Must've Been" ft. DRAM off the Head Over Heels album; LA artist Kingdom continues the VIP EDITION mixtape series by celebrating 7 years of the influential imprint Fade to Mind with the mix, VIP EDITION VOL. 2; NIKI presented the candid, cryptic, confidential and captivating visual for the enchanted "Spell" off the Zephyr EP via 88rising; MURS presented the visuals of connected interpersonal disconnects for "So Close So Far" where MURS plays the role of a relationship therapist/referee, produced by Michael 'Seven' Summers from the new album A Strange Journey Into The Unimaginable; VedeTT presented the performance visual for "It Seems To Be Natural" from Nathan Houée and Paul Liaigre off the Losing All EP; Let's Eat Grandma delivered the evocative, piano-lead wonder of "Ava" with news of the new album I'm All Ears available June 29 via Transgressive; Melody's Echo Chamber presented the inspired psych-pop animated odyssey for "Cross My Heart" from Dr D Foothead off the upcoming album Bon Voyage available June 15 via Domino Record Co. / Fat Possum Records; GoldLink delivered the confidence in confidants on the new single "Got Friends" ft. Miguel; Cruel Diagonals, aka Megan Mitchell, announced the debut album Disambiguation available July 13 through Drawing Room Records, sharing the self-directed visual for the cryptic cadences of "Soporific Return"; MovaKween presented a look at the trippy Kyle Yearwood visual for the "Downward Remix"; Troye Sivan delivered the sensuous dance floor sentimentality of "Dance to This" ft. Ariana Grande; Alice Glass presented the powerful, personal and stunning visual for "Mine" starring Violet Chachki; Death Cab for Cutie announced the new album Thank You For Today available August 17 through Atlantic, presenting a look at Ben Gibbard's city strolling video for "Gold Rush"; buzz for Blushh's EP Thx 4 Asking from Yellow K Records; NYC's Trees Take Ease graced the world with the natural essence and audio aesthetic intrigue of the Stevia EP;

Drawing Boards presented a look at the creative arts & crafts visuals from Steven Levine for the visionary rocker "Bee Into The Wave" off their Gentle Reminder self-titled; Madison, WI's Proud Parents are readying their debut self-titled album for release June 22 via Dirtnap Records, delivering the energetic freewheeling feels of "Flavordust"; Tuscany's own Piqued Jacks delivered the summer shimmering single to add some happiness to your holiday "Wildly Shine" with a majestic visual from Francesco Terranova for Kalispéra Production; don't miss Clean Spill's cool pop scuzz with the single "Doctor"; London's Calva Louise caught our attention with the aptly titled banger and rager "Outrageous"; LA's Ancestors returned with the evening cadences and sentiments of "The Warm Glow" off the album Suspended in Reflections available August 24 via Pelagic Records; Jane In Space brought the analog angst with the Permian Strata visuals for "Eat Your Face"; Gallant performed the "Doesn't Matter Remix" ft. A$AP Ferg on "Kimmel"; Fred Abong (of Throwing Muses, Belly) presented the expressive and earnest Homeless EP, with news that Fred will join Kristin Hersh on a UK tour; Guts Club presented a listen to the atmospheric and earnest epic "Metal Arm" from the forthcoming album Trench Foot available July 6; It's Sunday, fka Lucas and Dawnie of Lemon Swell, presented a listen to the harmonic echoes of "Projection on a Sheet" via Slimer Records; Christopher Haul brought the over-the-top amour adventure of discovery titled "If You Found Love"; Jessie Frye took us back to the future (and forward again) with the electro-adorned gem "Faded Memory" ft. Timecop1983; Charlotte's The Eyebrows announced their debut EP Volume available August 31 and delivered the single of dangerous entanglements with the grandiose "Suicide Love"; Sara Marie Barron's Sad, But True album arrives August 3, presenting the reflective and intimate Ryan Oh visual for "That Man"; Hologram Teen, comprised of Morgane Lhote of Stereolab, announced the debut album Between The Funk and The Fear arriving July 6 and dazzled us with the future forward electro-encrusted pop diamond "Bleecker Street! Chase Me!"; Anna Meredith announced the new album Anno available August 17 via Moshi Moshi with a listen to the illustrious "Low Light"; Pram return with the new album Across the Meridian available July 20 via Domino, presenting a look at the inspired and innovative Clare Evans animated visual for "Shimmer and Disappear"; Lexington, KY's Johnny Conqueroo delivered their nitty & gritty new EP Haint Blue via The Fir Trade; LA's Grand Canyon shared the summer shining single "Lucinda";

Smokescreens dropped the ultra-bright jingle and jangling title track for the forthcoming album Used To Yesterday available July 13 via Slumberland Records, with news of a Midwest tour with The Molochs; Eyas delivered the insightful expressions of "Circling"; Belfast's Gareth Dunlop delivered the visual for the intimate, organic and nature dwelling "Can't Stand Myself" off the upcoming Many Moons Ago EP available June 15 via Hudson Records; Big Dipper announced the debut album Late Bloomer arriving this summer, delivering a look at the Tobin Del Cuore and Julien Lormant cool and queer car-wash video for "Lookin"; France artist/producer Timsters delivered the electronically enriched "I Need to Know"; Sigrid presented the world with an animated look & earnest listen to "Focus (demo)"; 2 Chainz dropped the bossy and suave single "Bigger Than You" ft. Drake & Quavo; Darren Jessee announced the new EP The Jane Room 217 available August 24 from Bar/None Records with a listen to the generous and intimate ballad "Anything You Need"; Dan Mangan delivered the anxiety entertaining "Troubled Mind" single & lyric video from the new Arts & Crafts album; Million Miles delivered the economic and earnest new single "If Only" courtesy of Noon Pacific; Sudanese artist Kamal Keila delivered rich wandering pop wonder "Shmasha" off the album Muslims and Christians available July 6 via Habibi Funk; Nicki Minaj dropped the cushy and kushed-out single "Bed" ft. Ariana Grande; Grimes unveiled the new single "that's what the drugs are for" via an Apple commercial; Dipset dropped the workout theme "Stronger" ft. Drama; Gorillaz dropped the new single "Fire Flies"; Dirty Projectors presented the animated video for "That's a Lifestyle"; Sonic Boom delivered a weird-whirring remix of MGMT's "James"; The Bongo Club brought the performance-level energy for the "What You Want Us To Be" visuals; Christina Aguilera released the album Liberation; Linkin Park's Mike Shinoda released the solo album Post Traumatic; Drake brought "Degrassi" reunion via the Karena Evans video for "I'm Upset"; Light in the Attic 16th anniversary event; WeTransfer "Work in Progress" episode two documentary showcases the pan-Asian collective of international influence 88rising; listening party buzz for Nas's new Kanye West-produced album NASIR; Hova sued for Reasonable Doubt royalties; and Die Antwoord announced their final album 27.

Keep up with all the breaking buzz and hype via Week in Pop's news department.

From the bait and switch antics on the international stage to the deluge of GDPR notices flooding our inboxes—Week in Pop delivers you the biggest buzz we're following at the moment. We bring news that our heroes Downtown Boys continue to inspire us with a radical and styling cover of Selena’s "Fotos Y Recuerdos" ahead of headlining tour dates running June 1-9; Pusha-T released the Kanye West produced album DAYTONA that has captured the attention of the pop world; Azealia Banks takes the audience to a warehouse for an impromptu dance session in the Matt Sukkar visual for "Anna Wintour"; Goon signed to Partisan Records with a listen to the new sensational and serene single "Choke Throat" as they prepare to embark up their first ever tour this summer that will see the physical release of the Dusk of Punk/Happen Omen EPs arriving July 13; LA's Polyplastic announced the forthcoming EP Not No available June 29 as shared a listen to the spirited new singles "Next Slide" and "Memphian Circles"; Cuban Doll presented a look at the Sara Lacombe supermarket sweeping visual for "Bankrupt Remix" ft. Lil Yachty & Lil Baby; Liza Anne brought the world a look at the inspired forest dances seen in the video for "Kid Gloves"; CHICKN delivered a look at the decadent & wildly festive Marina Danezi visual for the equally energetic single "Am I Cher?" off their album WOWSERS! courtesy of Inner Ear Records; experience the ultra-economic big pop styles of AKA George with the new single "Blazing"; Sacred Bones will release Julee Cruise demos along with the 1993 album The Voice of Love on wax August 17 via Sacred Bones & shared the goosebumps-inducing demo for "Floating"; Arp announced the new album ZEBRA available June 22 via Mexican Summer, showcasing the video for "Fluorescences" filmed in NYC on Super8 film by Shawn Brackbill, Alex Georgopoulos and starring Monica Hofstadter that celebrates the aesthetics of life and the cycles of seasons; PC Music delivered more poppy maximalism with the bouncy single "Be Your USA" from EASYFUN; Zaytoven released the debut album Trap Holizay; Litte Snake delivered the Enter EP via Brainfeeder; Hatchie released the Sugar & Spice EP via Double Double Whammy that includes the glimmering previously unreleased single "Bad Guy"; Jenny Hval released The Long Sleep EP via Sacred Bones with a viewing of the decadent and exotic Constance Tenvik visual for "Spells";

YG delivered the money in the bank single "Big Bank" ft. 2 Chainz, Big Sean & Nicki Minaj; Rüfüs Du Sol delivered the electro paradise pop cadences of "No Place"; Norway's Pen Gutt delivered the liberating and self-celebrating single "Independent" courtesy of Terrible Records; Seattle's Mommy Long Legs just announced the new album Try Your Best available June 22 and rocked the world with the marital-mania of "Bridezilla"; Liam Gallagher delivered the Charlie Lightening mad-for-it video for "I've All I Need" off the album As You Were; LUI HILL provided a look at the evening visuals from Christoph Varga for the sentimental semantics of "Words Become Useless"; Stumptown Music Project: Workers Comp Vol. II dropped; Gurr delivered the sun & fun featured in the Maximilian Wiedenhofer-directed visual for "Hot Summer"; Moon Honey presented the lavish Jess Joy and Colleen Louise Berry art-house visual for "That Dog" from the upcoming release Mixed Media On Woman available September 4; Prefuse 73 released the new album Sacrifices; Denzel Curry delivered the rapid flow rhymes on medication and more with "Percs"; Ella Grace provided the inspiring graces of inspiration with "Run"; Oneohtrix Point Never unveiled MYRIAD; A$AP Rocky released the new album TESTING; The Mobros shared the Kelly Morris visual for the heart-felt ode "Carrie Anne"; Manchester duo Lost Under Heaven signed an international deal with Third Side Music; Pass Away, members of I Am The Avalanche and Crime In Stereo, dropped the new album The Hell I've Always Seen via Suburbia Records; Moses Sumney delivered the sensual, evocative & provocative EP Make Out In My Car: Chameleon Suite; The Flaming Lips unleashed the mighty "Enthusiasm For Life Defeats Existential Fear Part 2" featured on Greatest Hits Vol. 1 Deluxe Edition available June 1 via Warner Bros. Records; Ocean Hope finally released the debut album Rolling Days available now from Hush Hush Records; Jade Bird delivered the emotive expressions with "Furious"; Peach Kelli Pop released the lauded new album Gentle Leader via Mint Records; Jake Shears announced the self-titled solo album debut available August 10 & delivered the Mac Boucher video for "Creep City"; Billy and Dolly deliver the DIY art-pop arranged single & visual for "Can't Stay Calm" from the forthcoming album Five Suns Five Suns available June 8 via Shit Krystal Records; 

Soulwax delivered the smooth, slick and silky stylings of "Essential Three" from the Essential album available June 22 via DEEWEE / [PIAS]; Anohni delivered the sincere and supernatural "Miracle Now"; Queens electro-creative Eric Benoit gave the world the anticipated new EP Black Currant; Austin's Kady Rain penned an anthem for abuse survivors that is a testament to the strength of the spirit with "It Wasn't the Rose"; Smokescreens sent us some fresh new skronk with "Someone New" from the upcoming Slumberland album Used To Yesterday available July 13 on Slumberland Records; The Love-Birds unveiled their debut album In the Lover's Corner for Trouble In Mind Records with a look at the Winston Merchan and Tsering Norbu San Francisco-strolling visual for the power pop gem "Gerrit"; MIKE delivered Black Soap via Lex Records alongside the rooftop pontificating visual from Joygill Moriah, Camden Maalik and Michael J. Bonema for "Ministry"; James Blake presented the subdued collaboration with Dominic Maker from Mount Kimbie with "Don't Miss It"; Sleep unleashed a 16-minute massive doom droning jam with "Leagues Beneath"; Brazil's Balako delivered the infectious dance-floor burner "Jungle Music" via Greco-Roman; Clearance signed to Topshelf Records with news that their new album At Your Leisure will be available July 27, sharing the stylish performance visual for "Had a Fantastic"; LA's own Cape Weather gifted the world with the lovely and lush new single "Never Say" courtesy of Future Gods; Abel Tesfaye of the Weeknd announced the creative and digital incubator HXOUSE; buzz for Oakland's Feels 6 festival; J. Cole talked to Lil Pump; Common assisted with Starbucks' training video to combat racial bias; Ariana Grande commented on breaking up with Mac Miller; Vevo restructuring to focus solely on YouTube; and we celebrate the life and innovations gifted to the world by fuzz pedal engineer/inventor Glenn Snoddy.

Follow all the buzz and more via Week in Pop's news series.