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 Mickey Guyton, Daya, The Lumineers, and Lily Kincade.
Join us inside…
Mickey Guyton – Lay It On Me
It’s been a long road to superstardom for Mickey Guyton, but her debut album, ‘Remember Her Name’ was more than worth the wait. Case in point, the anthemic ‘Lay It On Me.’ Built around tinges of steel guitar, echoing drums, and delicate strings, Guyton brings the Gospel mastery of Aretha Franklin and blends it with her unique powerhouse vocals to create a track that is truly pop transcendence at its best.
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Daya – What If I Told You
After previously releasing her songs ‘Montana’ and ‘Bad Girl’ earlier this year, Daya is back with her latest tune, ‘What If I Told You.’ Echoing synths, vocoder vocals, and a tempered beat pave the way for the singer to confess her yearning for a love that has long since past. Showing heartbreak in all of its shimmering glory, Daya does not shy away from the pain, and that is perhaps the song’s greatest strength. As brutal as it is beautiful, ‘What If I Told’ is some of Daya’s strongest work to date.
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The Lumineers – Brightside
Indie-pop band The Lumineers have just shared their latest track ‘Brightside’ from their upcoming album of the same name. Their first new music since 2019 had a lot to prove, and they delivered. A love story in all of its gore and glory, fizzy guitars, a thumping tambourine, and pulsating drums, push the song into new territory not seen in previous works. More than a return, ‘Brightside’ has blasted the group to new heights.
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Lily Kincade – Real
Rising pop superstar Lily Kincade has released her ‘LA Doesn’t Love Me’ project and casually one of the most emotional songs of the year. Built on plucking guitars, knocking synths, and a throbbing beat, ‘Real’ sees the singer exploring the damage done by a past relationship. Every word, every detail, is another needle to the heart as she drops lines such as: “You can tell everyone you know you’re so glad it’s over / that you were never in deep enough to need closure.” Each new line a visceral gut-punch more devastating that the last, Kincade proves that her talent is more than real, it is out of this world.
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Do you agree with our picks?
