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 5 Seconds of Summer, Rina Sawayama, Jackson Wang, Nightly, Faouzia, and Mwanje.

Join us inside…

5 Seconds of Summer – Take My Hand

As Aussie pop-punk group 5 Seconds of Summer gears up to release their forthcoming fifth studio album, they have shared the latest single from the project. Entitled ‘Take My Hand,’ they trade in their usual roaring guitar riffs for more subdued synth-pop. Make no mistake there is still the anthemic quality to it that is felt throughout their many hits; proving that they have not lost their signature sound. Rather, they have just merely matured into the band they were always meant to be.

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Pabllo Vittar featuring Rina Sawayama – Follow Me

It’s been two years since the release of her critically-acclaimed debut album ‘Sawayama,’ and as fans hunger for new music, she has fed them with her new song ‘Follow Me.’ An epic collaboration between Sawayama and Pabllo Vittar, the pair delivers a club anthem for the ages.

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Jackson Wang – Blow

GOT7 member Jackson Wang is back with his explosive new single, ‘Blow.’ Serving as his first English release of the year, it also sees Wang exploring a new direction sonically. The perfect melding of pop melodies with punching rock production, Wang proves his mastery over music spans genres, a mastery that could land him among the greats.

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Nightly – Hate My Favorite Band

Indie-pop band Nightly have been making a name for themselves over the last couple of years thanks to their catchy melodies and infectious lyrics. Their latest single ‘Hate My Favorite Band’ is no different. A pulsating pop tune that contains as much heartbreak as it does shimmer, ‘Hate My Favorite Band’ is among their best work to date.

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Faouzia – RIP, Love

Global superstar Faouzia is back with her latest song ‘RIP, Love,’ a preview of what’s to come from her EP ‘Citizens’ due out in May. Across the tune, she bids a final goodbye to a love that never was. Incorporating elements of Moroccan and Arabic music into the song she not only brings flare and intensity to the song, but it also proves her prowess as a global powerhouse.

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Mwanje – Call 2 The Diaspora

R&B/Neo-Soul singer Mwanje is ready to take the world by storm on her latest track, ‘Call 2 The Diaspora.’ Meditative and soothing, the song is cloaked in layers of rich, honey-like vocals and silken grooves. Taking listeners on a journey, she repels any previous inhibition and focuses on the future ahead. Rarely have songs been this complex and spellbinding. On ‘Call 2 The Diaspora,’ Mwanje proves that there is still art in artistry.

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