Here at Swell Tone, we love a good pop song. Whether it is a sing-a-long chorus that hits just right or the perfectly articulated bounce of synth, sometimes a well-written pop song is all we crave. We wanted to find a home for all of our favorite pure pop hits. Thus, Pop Up was born. Every month, we bring you the songs that won’t stop spinning around our minds and making our hips shimmy. Enjoy round 4!
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pizzagirl – “dennis”
We don’t have an official count but we’d estimate we have listened to this instant charmer over 100 times and there’s no signs of us slowing down. pizzagirl has always known how to write a pop song but “dennis” is the sonically jubilant, lyrically pining trap your ears didn’t know they were lucky enough to get stuck in. All of the song’s parts are constantly moving so the there is always something new for the mind to follow. Even after many listens, lyrical pictures, guitar lines, bass runs, and more seem to bloom with freshness from this friendly and familiar single from pizzagirl.
pizzagirl’s debut album, first timer, is out October 11th on the wonderful Heist or Hit. Listen to more pizzagirl here.
Kosmetika – “Kraftneau”
Kosmetika are a former-duo, now collective almost impossibly from Auckland, Khabarovsk, and Melbourne and their pop is anything but ordinary. Cosmic, cool, crisp, and undulating would be better words to describe it. “Kraftneau,” the first single off of their upcoming debut record, is a carefully calculated jam that echoes with an invigorating peculiarity. Choosing just the right moments for layers to push forward together in unison or float amongst each other in opposing textures, Kosmetika have created a mysterious, energetic ride through a world of guitars on this tune. But, it’s singer Veeka Nazarova’s soft but confident, almost-spoken vocals that really send this track into outer pop space.
Their debut album Pop Soap is will be out November 1st on another label we love, Roolette Records. Listen to more Kosmetika here.
American Wolf – “Not Enough”
We’re headed up and over to Chicago on this synth-fully delicious track from American Wolf. If it isn’t the bright and buoyant opening that gets you, the refrain surely will. We’ve been drinking in the sputtering bass and full wall of synth sound that comprise “Not Enough” for weeks and it never gets less intoxicating. They’ve molded together all manner of heavy and light sounds with percussive snippets popping in between that insatiable refrain in a way that is big and small all at the same time. It’s perfect for the late night highway drive depicted in its cover or a slow and steady hip shimmy.
Listen to more American Wolf here.
Mauvais Oeil – “Afrita”
Arguably our most unexpected of today’s lot, this song is the enigmatic French pop song we never knew we needed. Sung entirely in Arabic, “Afrita” feels much like a slightly sinful invitation to a dark pop party that we’d really like to join. Mauvais Oeil have seamlessly woven Chaabi scales with an unrelenting beat and a lead guitar that rips through the entire track. It’s a bold tune that proudly embraces singer Sarah Benabdallah’s Algerian heritage and melds it seamlessly with the duo’s undeniable knack for entrancing, shadowy pop.
Dance amongst the full on party in the song’s video clip. Mauvais Oeil’s debut EP, ‘Nuits de velours,’ is out now and you can listen to it here.
Amber Mark – “Mixer”
We’ve always loved Amber Mark but this track is another level. It’s reminds us of everything we loved so much about 90’s R&B-laced pop. It’s a huge track where every moment is used to elevate Mark’s sensual vocals as they glide away into the cascading pre-chorus and that chorus that will burn into your brain. “Mixer” is filled with production subtleties that pause, burst, and ricochet between the big and almost staccato bassline and Mark’s silky voice to make the track bounce. It’s just irresistible.
This tune actually came out in April which means there is plenty more Amber Mark to listen to here.
Check out past Pop Ups here and here and here!
Stream all of our pop loves in one big playlist below:
