Has Charli xcx done it again? Can ADÉLA be the next pop juggernaut? Has Tyla’s sophomore album confirmed her as the biggest name in Afro music? There’s plenty to debate in this week’s Wonderlist.
Charli xcx – “Camera”
Charli xcx changed pop music unequivocally two years ago with the release of her era-defining, sound-shifting masterwork BRAT. Can she do it again? Music, Film, Fashion is a direct juxtaposition to her previous album sonically and thematically, and early reviews have been mixed – with critics’ reviews ranging from tepid to overwhelmingly positive. Time will tell whether the impact will be in the same echelon, but for now, there’s no doubting the impressive individual cuts – few more so than the introspection and immersion of “Camera”.
ADÉLA – “Ain’t In LA”
ADÉLA has quickly established herself as one of the most expressive and essential pop stars to emerge in the past few years. We’ve been blessed with news of a forthcoming debut album, PRIMA, set for release via Polydor Records on 4th September, and a teaser single. “Ain’t In LA” is a miraculously effective pop cut with savvy sampling, stunning vocals, and one of the videos of the year from Fred Gervais.
Tyla – “MR. NONCHALANT”
Pop tigress Tyla is an A*POP star with the release of her sophomore album. On the 14-track project, bubbling and sizzling with bumping amapiano, sexy R&B and infectious pop melodies and lyricism, she beckons “MR. NONCHALANT”. It’s sexy and sharp, with an almost-isolated percussion-led melody; there’s an unexpected orchestral crescendo before it diminuendos into a static beat. This one will be a crowd gatherer…as most of the tracks on the record will. This one is more infectiously so.
KATSEYE – “Animal”
The ladies of KATSEYE unleash their inner “Animal” on this quintessentially pop track. Enlisting the help of the “A Team”, Ed Sheeran, Omar Fedi and Blake Slatkin – who all helped to co-write and produce – the HYBE girl group are amping up the sexy. On this track, they’re both the man and the woman, toeing the ever-growing fine line between feminine and masculine. It’s a fearless single, perhaps one of their best vocal performances yet, glossing a punky and pulsing melody.
Nines ft. Odeal & Skrapz – “Milan”
One of UK rap’s most legendary names, when Nines sold out the O2 and retired two years ago, it seemed like the perfect climactic chapter for the North West London general. But there’s room for an epilogue; he shares Lost Tapes, a collection of previously unheard cuts from various eras. “Milan”, with Odeal and Skrapz, is a particular standout.
Greg Freeman – “Indu”
Alt-country musician Greg Freeman has announced his third album, All Set The Bone, alongside the release of its lead single, “Indu”. Produced by John Congleton, the record follows the critically acclaimed Burnover and leans into Freeman’s signature blend of jagged indie rock with emotional storytelling. To celebrate the release, the Vermont songwriter has also announced a run of UK, European and US tour dates, including two London shows at MOTH Club this August.
Odette – “AAAH!”
Odette lets out a powerful “AAAH!” on this soulful, piano-led release. It transforms those unshakable feelings of existential dread into something ultimately empowering. Balancing sharp lyricism with her husky, jazz-fused vocal delivery, the track sits at that wobbly tension of anxiety and hope, breeding something sonically boundless and high-spirited.
Lexie Liu ft. Yves – “Pop Girl”
Lexie Liu’s new track “Pop Girl (with Yves)” is the new collaboration with the K-pop star that leads her newly released “Pop Girls Club” EP. The project also features remixes with BAYLI and Isabella Lovestory. Blending English and Mandarin with her signature genre-crossing sound, Lexie continues to push pop in new directions, celebrating individuality and proving there’s no single way to be a pop girl.
John Glacier – “Bond Girl”
John Glacier is back with her first new music of 2026, with “Bond Girl”, a club-ready single that marks a new chapter following her acclaimed debut album Like A Ribbon. Co-produced with Take A Daytrip, the track swaps the immersive atmospheres of her earlier work for pulsing Detroit techno-inspired rhythms and booming electronic production, while Glacier’s stream-of-consciousness flow remains firmly at the core of the track and is completed with a video where the artist becomes 007.
Nieve Ella – “Standing On A Pane Of Glass”
Prolific and potent, Nieve Ella has built a reputation as one of the UK’s best new songwriters. The West Midlands-born talent is gearing up to share her long-awaited debut album this autumn – 16th October to be precise – and further raises the bar with this sensational new offering. “Standing On A Pane Of Glass” is dramatic and daring, devastatingly effective alt rock goodness.
Slew – “MINION”
West London rapper Slew returns with an eerie and hard-hitting new offering, “MINION”. Atop an ominous, off-kilter instrumental, the artist prowls with his now-signature cadence and flow, braggadocios lyrically, the “talk of the town”.
Pabllo Vittar ft. Villano Antillano – “Rockstar”
Brazil’s Pabllo Vittar is entering a new era with “Rockstar”, the lead single from their upcoming seventh studio album, Lost In Lust, arriving this autumn. Featuring Puerto Rican rapper Villano Antillano, the track blends Latin percussion with an electronic production, offering the first taste of Vittar’s first-ever English and Spanish-language album.
Lancey Foux – “ROCKSTAR RIDER”
British rapper and producer Lancey Foux is back with his latest single, “ROCKSTAR RIDER,” shared via Human Re Sources/RCA Records. Plucked from his forthcoming third studio album, the new cut is Foux at his sleek and charismatic best, vocally unique atop the hectic, heavy-hitting instrumental.
Azena – “again & again”
On “again & again”, London-based musician Azena is breaking the cycle. On this irresistibly danceable track, she turns a playful slice of experimental pop into a proverb on self-renewal. Built around revolving rhythms, slick melodies and an infectious sense of momentum, the track captures the exhilarating moment between letting go and moving forward.
54 Ultra – “Tell Me”
54 Ultra has just been promoted to groove general. Following a Coachella knockout and a series of viral songs, the polymath is back with “Tell Me”, a smooth and silky new single, that swims with serenading guitar licks, gentle vocal work and a heartfelt hook. Lovely.
DAMEDAME* – “LUV MYSELF”
Soulful duo DAMEDAME* have worked with the likes of Jorja Smith and Tems, but now step out very much as their own artist on a stunning new album, Dreams on the Passenger Seat. The debut full-length record from the pair is gorgeously produced and performed, with “LUV MYSELF” proving emblematic of the wider LP’s rich, resplendent appeal.
SONGER – “4 THE RECORD”
After a breakout year where he amassed more than 100 million streams, Songer makes his mark with his latest album “What If I Say No?”. His usual topics of fearlessness and the harsh realities of the world bleed through in the track “4 THE RECORD!” as he samples the famous “Mariya” by Family Circle, just like J Cole in “Wet Dreamz”.
kid apollo – “ups/downs”
Marking their third release of the year following two singles, kid apollo returns with their latest track “ups/downs”. It’s a chaotic song with those same sentiments, delving into the turbulence of simply existing as humans will inevitably always go through ups and downs. As always, produced out of their living room with a laptop and little else.
Curiosity Shop – “Wandering Arrow”
With the announcement of their upcoming debut EP, “Bound For The Sky”, Edinburgh-based alt-folk five-piece Curiosity Shop are following the uncertainty of a “Wandering Arrow”. A heartfelt ode to perseverance in the face of life’s detours, the track blends warm, organic instrumentation with reflective lyricism, delicately tracing the highs and lows of chasing a dream and finding hope even when the path ahead feels unclear.
Naya Yeira – “raffle ticket”
Built upon atmospheric production and convicting vocal delivery – think falsettos and floaty riffs – Indonesian singer-songwriter Naya Yeira is taking a chance with her “raffle ticket”. The single is a dreamscape set up in an alt-R&B meditation exploring ambition, hope and trusting the unknown.
chlothegod – “That Can’t Be Normal“
chlothegod opens her account for 2026 with her new long-awaited single “That Can’t Be Normal”. A deeply personal track for the North Carolina-raised artist, we hear her raw, melancholy vocals atop hazy guitar patterns as she puts all her vulnerability out there, signalling a new chapter on the horizon for her.
Brennan Wedl – “Let’s Be Models”
Minnesota-raised, Nashville-based songwriter Brennan Wedl is basking in the magic of the everyday with “Let’s Be Models”. On this scrappy, feel-good anthem, she celebrates friendship, self-discovery and the beauty of life’s often beautiful messes. Blending her infectious punk spirit with an Americana warmth, the track pairs playful lyricism with grounded instrumentation, exploring the idea that growing up doesn’t have to mean growing out of wonder.
Reuben Aziz – “promised land (reimagined)”
Having gone viral with live performances on the tube, singer-songwriter Reuben Aziz flaunts his versatility further with the release of the full version of the rendition of his hit single “promised land”, pulled from his recent acclaimed mixtape “Mind the Gap”.
Juli von Lou – “Desert Hills Motel”
Juli von Lou’s debut single, “Desert Hills Motel”, turns heartbreak into something both expansive and very personal. The indie-pop song with strings and saloon-style piano is inspired by an imagined American Midwest that has long lived in the Swedish artist’s mind. Paired with artwork showing Juli walking away from a chapel in flames, this debut track introduces this artist with a knack for transforming emotions into stories.
Master Peace – “sucker punch !”
With his sophomore album nearing, Master Peace gives us another look into what we can expect with his latest single “sucker punch !”. It’s more melodic than what we’re used to from the London artist as he goes for a softer, more reflective mood – very á la Malcom Todd, one of his inspirations.
EMMMA – “Experiment”
Rising musician EMMMA treats heartbreak as the ultimate “Experiment” on this alt-pop anthem that unpacks the sting of being someone’s emotional trial run. Premiered on BBC Radio 1’s Future Pop, the track pairs shimmering production with her heart-tuggingly candid lyricism, capturing the disorientation of misplaced trust and the slow process of reclaiming yourself.
Kissmet – “Memory Star”
London trio Kissmet sound like they’ve come straight out of the post-One Direction pipeline with their anthemic latest “Memory Star”. Feel good, neatly performed, the new single is a pop-infused gem.
