10 Cool New Pop Songs to Get You Through the Week: Kevin Abstract, beabadoobee & Bananarama

Joe Lynch, Jason Lipshutz and Lyndsey Havens
·4 min read
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Looking for some motivation to help power you through the start of another work week? We feel you, and with some stellar new pop tunes, we’ve got you covered.

These 10 tracks from artists including Kevin Abstract, beabadoobee, Griff and Bananarama will get you energized to take on the week. Pop any of these gems into your personal playlists — or scroll to the end of the post for a custom playlist of our favorite cool pop songs of this year.

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Timbaland and Anna Margo, “My Way”

Following a buzzy Nelly Furtado/Justin Timberlake collab, Timbaland teams with an L.A. singer by the name of Anna Margo for “My Way,” a funky slow-burner that samples elements of his iconic Aaliyah production “Are You That Somebody.” Goes without saying that this baby-boosted reimagining isn’t gonna replace the original, but it’s still a delightful spin. – Joe Lynch

UPSAHL, “No Hands”

Taken from Side A of UPSAHL Presents: The PHX Tapes, “No Hands” shows UPSAHL weaving a seductive, spooky tapestry of dark-pop that suits the season. “I wanna be cold, I wanna be hard, I wanna be ruthless / I wanna be hot, I wanna be soft, I wanna be stupid,” the singer-songwriter moans on a bridge that’s almost as much fun as the anthemic chorus. – J. Lynch

Moyka, “Never Say Sorry”

Norwegian pop star Moyka’s new album Movies, Cars and Heartbreak features plenty of flourishes that demand a close listen — chief among them the moment on standout track “Never Say Sorry” in which the drums crash in to throttle the chorus, adding depth to an atmospheric track. “Never Say Sorry” finds Moyka comparing her relationship to a cinematic romance, but the hook here delivers plenty of real-life drama. – Jason Lipshutz

Griff, “Into the Walls”

“Today, I think I’ll disappear into the walls / Only for a day or two, at most,” Griff declares on “Into the Walls,” an ode to wanting to escape main-character status and watch the world without emotional response. With its relatively sparse production, “Into the Walls” could have been an icy affair, but Griff’s voice animates the environment, floating from withdrawn to impassioned with self-assured skill. – J. Lipshutz

Kevin Abstract, “What Should I Do?”

Throughout his time in Brockhampton, Kevin Abstract always demonstrated a confident handling of pop hooks, and the solo single “What Should I Do?” (which precedes new album Blanket, out next month) features a full commitment to that melodic craft: the guitar strums, chirping backing vocals, Auto-Tuned singing and sunny instrumental breaks swirl into a wholesome, almost twee product. “What Should I Do?” shimmers with light and affection, a powerful sign of what else might be coming. – J. Lipshutz

Bananarama, “Feel the Love”

Bananarama will always be known for ‘80s staples like “Cruel Summer,” “Venus” and “I Heard a Rumour,” but “Feel the Love” allows Sara Dallin and Keren Woodward an opportunity to bring their spirit into a new pop era with bright colors and sweeping synth movements. The single never flags in pace across its run time, as Bananarama’s shiny harmonies encourage longtime fans and new listeners to flood the dance floor. – J. Lipshutz

The Veronicas, “Perfect”

Australian sister duo The Veronicas have successfully hoisted their winning pop-rock formula from the mid-2000s and plopped it into the 2020s — first with their back-to-back 2021 albums Godzilla and Human, and now with “Perfect,” the proud middle-finger lead single from next year’s Gothic Summer album. Created with John Feldmann and featuring Travis Barker on drums, “Perfect” rejects social norms with guitar chugs and calls to “F–k designer / Start a riot!” – J. Lipshutz

beabadoobee ft. Laufey, “A Night To Remember”

Indie singer-songwriter beabadoobee and modern jazz breakout Laufey sound like long-lost sisters on the sultry “A Night To Remember.” The way in which they bring their distinct personalities to this song, yet manage to harmonize in gorgeous synchronicity, makes this team-up just as memorable as the night they sing of. – Lyndsey Havens

MK.gee & Two Star, “Are You Looking Up”

“Are You Looking Up” may sound familiar to some (speaking to you, indie-alt fans) thanks to the intentionally strained, lo-fi vocals, but make no mistake — the artist known as Mike Gordon is paving his own path. Gordon made waves in 2021 as a key member of Dijon’s band, working on the artist’s breakout debut album Absolutely. Now, Gordon — as Mk.gee — along with Two Star is building on that creative foundation and creating a world all his own. – L. Havens

Barry Can’t Swim, “Always Get Through to You”

Electronic artist Barry Can’t Swim delivers a dance-pop jam with “Always Get Through to You,” complete with a slinky bass line and repeated falsetto that elicits the question: “Can I always get through to you?” There’s a subtlety in the way the title drops any sense of question, arriving as a self-assured statement, only for the song itself to unpack that uncertainty — as if the artist is trying to win the “you” in question over with each twinkling beat. – L. Havens

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