Readers of That Grape Juice know how passionate we are about music – whether that be past or present.
However, unlike our other segments – Retro Rewind, TGJ Replay, and From The Vault – The Pop Stop is the most in-depth look at Pop songs that may have flown under the radar over the last week that you should know, rather they be from music’s biggest stars or those on the rise.
This week, we want to highlight cuts from Troye Sivan, Yola, Charlotte Cardin, and Ruth B.
Join us inside…
Troye Sivan – You
Troye Sivan is continuing his hot streak. After releasing a remix of his song ‘Easy’ with Mark Ronson and Kacy Musgraves, he once more teams up a superstar producer and singer. This time he is joined by Regard on production and Tate McRae as his duet partner. This 80’s jam is packed to the brim with colorful synths and distorted keys. But make no mistake, while it is destined for the dance floor, there will be crying in the club as the song sees both artists exchange lines about not moving past an ex. Brilliant from beginning to end, Sivan once again proves how he is this generation’s prince of the dance floor.
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Yola – Diamond Studded Shoes
There are few moments where one remembers when they first heard a particular artist. One such singer is Yolanda Quartey (a.k.a Yola). Her debut album ‘Walk Through Fire’ received widespread acclaim and it’s easy to see why. Now, she looks to follow it up with her sophomore album – ‘Stand For Myself’ – as she released the lead single ‘Diamond Studded Shoes.’ The soulful 70’s-inspired track is a potent take on the ongoing fight for equality. Yola’s husky vocals convey the strength in her message, one that will ring throughout the ages. If ‘Diamond Studded Shoes’ is any indication of how her sophomore album will turn out, there is certainly no slump in sight.
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Charlotte Cardin – Phoenix
If there is one clear message that rings true on Charlotte Cardin’s debut album – ‘Phoenix’ – it is the desire for freedom. Case in point, the projects’ title track. Across the trap skitters, soft backbeat, and haunting piano, she asserts her need for freedom as she grapples with two versions of herself. Just like the mythical creature, she must burst into the ash of the past in order to rise from the flames and into her future. While she had to “burn everything that I want just to come back like a phoenix,” she came back better than ever, lighting up the music world with this truly magical track.
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Ruth B. – Situation
It’s been nearly four years since singer-songwriter Ruth B. released her debut album ‘Safe Haven. Moments in Between.’ However, the wait appears to be worth it as she shared the first taste of music from it with the gloriously smooth production of ‘Situation.’ Comforting piano chords underline the chorus, but the production soon grows to a solid, mid-tempo basis that allows her honeyed vocals to really shine. While the lyrics detail a conflicting relationship where one does not know where they stand, Ruth B. seems to have found her musical footing in the process. Now, she stands taller and stronger than ever.
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Do you agree with our picks?