100 Gecs, Switches, Girlhouse – Billboard

Looking for some motivation to get you through the start of another work week? We feel you, and with stellar new pop tracks, we’ve got you covered.
These 10 tracks from artists like 100 Gecs, The Interrupters, Girlhouse and Oakman will give you energy to face the week. Add any of these gems to your personal playlists – or scroll to the end of the post for a personalized playlist of all 10.
The switches, “In the mirror”
A song like “In The Mirror” is likely to draw comparisons between The Interrupters and No Doubt thanks to its combination of Aimee Allen’s slippery pop hooks and the band’s third-wave ska embrace, but thinking about self-destructive tendencies sounds both singular and lived-in, its lyrical power creeping over the listener and potentially offering an even greater breakthrough for the veteran band. – Jason Lipshütz
Phoebe AXA, “Panic”
Phoebe AXA (stylized as Phoebe ∆X∆) is a self-taught, self-produced singer-songwriter from East London whose technical skills soar on a song like “Panic”, a savory piece of pop-rock that stomps , squeaks and slips in equal measures. The best part of “Panic”? Listen to its multiple movements and discover delicious new details with each reading. – J. Lipshutz
Oakman, “Night”
The latest single from French trio Oakman can be called a carpe diem bop, as “Night” implores its audience to enjoy the emotion of a fleeting moment because tomorrow is not promised. The music video captures the vertigo of the song – karaoke! Fireworks! Mid-show choreography! — and will likely have you saving “Night” to a playlist ripe for a hot summer night. – J. Lipshutz
Lyn Lapid, “Pager”
“If you got a problem with me / I can hear about it later, you can send it to my pager,” Lyn Lapid shrugs on the chorus of “Pager,” an ode to a long-forgotten technology that consists in fact from unwarranted doubt and criticism as an unopened message. Lapid, who released his new EP the stranger last week works with concept and scores. – J. Lipshutz
Sparkle, “Divinely”
Sparklet, originally from Cape Town, created his first upcoming project in his hometown, South Africa, Berlin and Dublin; it’s a globetrotting origin story, but “Divinely” sounds incredibly intimate, with the singer-songwriter’s falsetto skating over twists of seething beats and corkscrew guitar riffs. The result is a song so sweet it should last over three minutes. – J. Lipshutz
100 Gecs, “Doritos & Fritos”
Although their Coachella 2022 set was cut early on the festival’s opening weekend, 100 gecs – the duo of Laura Les and Dylan Brady – picked up a win earlier in the week with the release of their new single , “Doritos & Fritos”. Continuing their genre-blending style, the musicians manage to infuse elements of pop-punk, techno and ska for the instrumental while singing lines that read like a hilarious stream of consciousness. – Starr Bowenbank
MØ, Rebecca Black, “New Moon”
MØ’s Motordrome the times are still going strong: after releasing the album’s last single, “New Moon”, at the end of January, the Danish singer-songwriter returned two months later to put a new spin on the track with the help from viral pop sensation turned hyperpop powerhouse Rebecca Black. Black adds a smoldering verse to the track, relishing in his former lover’s jealousy at the sight of his fulfillment with someone new. – S. Bowenbank
Alfie Templeman, “Color Me Blue”
If you’re feeling blue, English singer-songwriter Alfie Templeman’s “Colour Me Blue” is a surefire pick-me-up. With clanking guitars, a syncopated beat and a winning quick vocal hook, “Blue” is three minutes of distilled indie-pop sunshine from the 19-year-old talent, whose debut album sweet moon falls on May 27. –Joe Lynch
Kill Jasper, “Better4U”
Compton-born rapper Kill Jasper dives into his meditative side on ‘Better4U,’ a soulful confession where he admits he knows ‘there’s someone much better for you’ for his partner on a guitar vibrant acoustics and a moving vocal sample in the context of this two-minute ambient piece. – J. Lynch
Girlhouse, “Cool Guy”
The girlhouse of Lauren Luiz’s bedroom pop project sends a nod to a “Cool Guy” on this laid-back slice of slacker rock that harkens back to early Liz Phair with its lo-fi sound and snarky turns of phrase . “If it makes you happy to be the Greatest Gatsby, by all means pour a drink,” she said funnily, later adding, “You’re not a tastemaker, but I want your flavor.” – J. Lynch