Sam here! Dropping in to introduce my new daily podcast The Pop Pod, which covers all things pop music from artist interviews to album deep dives. Here is a quick preview.
Fear not! This is not a Flopstars replacement. Flopstars is returning. Nic and I have been plotting the return and will hopefully have news for you within the month.
Follow or Subscribe to The Pop Pod here: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/popsamcampoppod
It's the Pop In and our agenda this week is:
What’s been happening this week? / Coming Up
Our wrapped
Best albums/songs of the year Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, Billboard
Taylor Swift Time Person of the Year
Charli XCX has finished her new album
WELCOME BACK TO THE POP IN!
What’s been happening this week? / Coming Up
The rise and rise of Tate McRae - could she clinch a Billboard #1?
Spotify Wrapped is out - unpacking the global Top 5 songs and artists
Dua Lipa's Houdini - our 4 week late review
Nicki Minaj album next week same week as Tate McRae and SZA deluxe what a time
Quick unpack of what the rest of the year looks like on the pod
What’s been happening this week? / Coming Up
Dua Lipa wipes Instagram for new era - what do we know, who’s involved, and all that jazz
Charli's BACK BABY
Troye album's coming this week & Nic interviewed him - hear the full thing here
Sam saw RAYE live in New York and it was one of the most lucid shows he's ever seen
Tems is selling out huge venues & releases a triumphant single
Omar Apollo's new single
The Pop In now gets a game: YEAR OF THE SONG!
Billie Eilish's second album 'Happier Than Ever' was a big turning point for her. Her first album was a streaming giant but this album marked a pointed move to establish herself as an artist without worrying about the hits. The result was a cohesive, mature and startingly honest album that's both wildly experimental while also being classic.
In this episode, we talk about how important this album was for positioning her as an artist and also why it perhaps didn't garner the same success as her debut.
This week on The Pop In:
Ariana Grande makes her Flopstars debut with her divisive fourth album which came after a traumatic time and signalled the start of a creatively fluid period for her. It's an important album in her discography, one that sees her stepping into her own and learning to react to very personal situations in real-time. It wasn't for everyone but it was for us and we explore that on this week's pod.
This week on the Pop In:
Kim Petras drops Problematique - why now?
Kylie Minogue and Doja Cat release two of the most anticipated albums of the year this week
Let’s talk about Madison Beer
Drake/SZA - Slime You Out
Tate McRae is having a huge time on streaming with Greedy, but has she had her proper mega hit yet?
What’s been happening this week? / Coming Up
Sam went to Taylor Swift's Eras Tour in Mexico City
Nicki Minaj teasing new single ‘Last Time I Saw You’
Ashnikko album out. What happened to her popularity?
ELTON JOHN HAD A FALL (HE'S OK)
THEY CANCELLED THE IDOL
Bop or Flop
Selena Gomez - Single Soon
Miley Cyrus - Used To Be Young
Conan Gray - Winner
Omar Apollo - Ice Slippin
Alright - Victoria Monet
Ashnikko - dying star (feat. Ethel Cain)
Joel Corry & Rita Ora with MK - Drinkin
Selena Gomez's 'Rare' came after a period of experimentation for one of the most popular people on earth. She had collaborated with dance producers and had a string of excellent standalone releases so 'Rare' could've been anything. 'Lose You To Love Me' instantly became her first #1 - a startingly honest ballad unlike anything she's ever done before - and the bar for 'Rare' was set high. Was it met? Probably not but we get into it all here.
Welcome back to The Pop In! The adjacent podcast to Flopstars running through the big releases and music stories of the last 7 days.
Coming Up
Miley Cyrus is teasing a new single on the 10th anniversary of Wrecking Ball
Oliver Anthony - who???
We're doing our first ever live show at Beyond The Valley Festival
Joel Corry & Rita Ora have a song coming out this week which feels very our brand
Addison Rae EP unpacked
Bop or Flop
Addison Rae - 2 die 4
Charlie Puth - Lipstick
Doechiii - Booty Drop
Renee Rapp - Pretty Girls
HEMLOCKE Springs - enknee1
Olivia Rodrigo - bad idea right
Fred again - adore u
Chappell Roan - Hot To Go
also sam saw lana in mexico
Ryan Beatty is someone we've needed to talk about for a while. 'Boy In Jeans' is one of Nic's favourite records of all time and it's an important jumping block to discuss a really interesting career. It's a record about embracing queerness and joy while also unpacking trauma from the past and it's done so in a nuanced masterful way. If you're not already on the Ryan Beatty train, this is your invitation.
What’s been happening this week? / Coming Up
Dua Lipa teases her new era's sound and release date
Olivia Rodrigo single coming Friday - what sound can we expect?
Doja Cat is headed for a great chart moment this week - but is she really not doing pop?
Bop or Flop
Halle - Angel
David Guetta & Bebe Rexha - One In A Million
Doja Cat - Paint The Town Red
Jorja Smith - GO GO GO
Gretta Ray - Dont date The Teenager
Nao - Balance
We finally talk about an artist that we’ve been fascinated by for a while on this episode. Bebe Rexha’s third album ‘Bebe’ is the focus. A cohesive, strong pop album that is overshadowed by a behemoth hit that is bigger than the artist herself. We discuss what needs to happen for Bebe to be finally given her flowers and much more on this week’s episode.
Welcome back to The Pop In!
What’s been happening this week?
Halle's debut single coming Friday called ‘Angel’ - what can we expect?
Huge numbers for Travis Scott's UTOPIA - where are we at with him?
Kylie's Vegas residency announced
Bop or Flop
Carly Rae Jepsen - Psychedelic Switch
Travis Scott & Beyonce - Delestro (Echoes)
Sam Smith & Calvin Harris - Desire
Post Malone - Enough Is Enough
Tkay Maidza - Ring-A-Ling
Holly Humberstone - Superbloodmoon
Tori Kelly - Cut
ADDITIONAL VIEWING
Calvin Harris with Roman, Sian & Chris on Capital: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLfL9nrqX5A
Vice Australia with Tkay Maidza: https://www.instagram.com/p/CvWg1X2pZRz/
We turn to Kelly Clarkson's fourth album 'All I Ever Wanted' in this episode, a record that was a chart hit but perhaps a personal defeat. After 'My December' this saw Clarko back on the charts but giving up some of the intimacy of the previous record. It's a varied but ultimately triumphant album.
What’s been happening this week?
Britney & Will.i.am is happening and Sam makes a discovery about will.i.am's name
New Zayn and Tinashe on the way this week - does time heal everything?
Carly Rae Jepsen's new album is coming
Troye is doing some of his all time best numbers, but do we need to talk about the bodies in the video for Rush?
Bop or Flop (featuring our First Ever Guest, Friend Of The Show Jono)
Troye Sivan - Rush
Billie - What Was I Made For
Pinkpantheress & Destroy Lonely - Turn Ya Phone Off
Disclosure - Talk On The Phone
Jung Kook & Latto - Seven
Joel Corry, Icona Pop & Rain Radio - Desire
Blusher - Limelight
Post Malone - Overdrive
What’s been happening this week? / Coming Up
Speak Now Taylor's Version chart records & first reactions
New Britney and will.i.am coming this month?
Demi Lovato’s “Sorry Not Sorry (Rock Version)” featuring SLASH is coming this Friday
Ava Max proves she's the perfect popstar on the Barbie pink carpet & Nicki Minaj reviews Barbie (Part 1)
Bop or Flop
Taylor Swift - I Can See You
Fifty Fifty & Kaliii - Barbie Dreams
Anne-Marie - TRAINWRECK
Tkay Maidza & Flume - Silent Assassin
Dominic Fike & Weezer - think fast
TXT & Jonas Brothers - Do It Like That
Kamille, Tamera & Bellah - Options
NewJeans - Super Shy