Photo courtesy of Grandstand HQ
What does a psychedelic pop-rock artist have to do with a K-pop idol from a world-renowned girl group? On paper, not much. But sometimes the most unexpected pairings make the most exciting music. In this issue of The Pop Drop, I’m switching things up and diving into six unexpected pop collabs that gave me everything I never knew I needed.
1. Tame Impala, JENNIE - “Dracula (JENNIE Remix)”
I had to start with the track that inspired this entire idea. Though its release was controversial, with many Tame Impala fans preferring the original without JENNIE’s vocals, I think her tone adds a compelling flair to the electro-pop track. Don’t get me wrong, the original is already fantastic, but there’s something so addictive about the way Tame Impala hands off the second verse to JENNIE. Her entrance almost feels like a second perspective entering the song and gives the track a fresh dynamic.
2. girl in red, Sabrina Carpenter - “You Need Me Now?”
Some people might argue that this track isn’t entirely unexpected, since both artists make pop-influenced music. Still, I was genuinely surprised when the collaboration was announced. girl in red’s melancholic bedroom pop—or occasional alternative-pop sound—doesn’t immediately feel compatible with Sabrina Carpenter's cheeky nu-disco pop anthems. Yet “You Need Me Now?” fits perfectly between both worlds. A punchy alternative-pop track that blends girl in red’s increasingly electric guitar-driven sound with Sabrina’s signature sense of humor. The most iconic moment comes right before the third verse, when Sabrina’s presence is dramatically summoned onto the track. I feel like this collaboration didn’t get the attention it deserved when it was released, even though it absolutely scratched an itch in my brain. For that reason alone, I had to include it.
3. SZA, Phoebe Bridgers - “Ghost in the Machine”
I mean, there’s a reason this collaboration won a Grammy. SZA’s eclectic instrumentation and vocals, combined with Phoebe Bridgers’ breathy, intimate delivery, create an atmosphere that feels existential. The track is lyrically poignant, describing feelings of isolation and the desperate search for connection in a world that feels saturated with inauthenticity: “I need humanity / Y'all lack humanity, drowning in vanity / Craving humanity.” The song finds a middle ground between both artists’ styles—SZA’s gentle rapping and R&B vocals with Bridgers’ slower-paced, pensive verse. Neither of the artists takes over the song; the power lies in the combination of both of them.
4. Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Future - “End Game”
I was hesitant to include this track on this list, since Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift are far from an unexpected duo, having collaborated four times. But adding Future, a rapper known for his mumble-style delivery? Now that’s unexpected. At 4:04 mins, it’s a long track, but the time seems to fly by. Each verse hits harder than the last, and the momentum never drops, which is always a challenge with three collaborators.
All three artists rap their respective verses (also unexpected), and yes, Ed Sheeran turns out to be a pretty competent rapper, at least for a British white guy. There’s a moment during the final chorus that perfectly captures why I love this song. Taylor Swift ad-libs an “End Game,” Future follows with a “me and you,” coated in his signature reverb vocal effects, and finally, Ed-Sheeran adds a “be your A-team now” (a not so subtle call back to his debut single). Moments like that make the collaboration feel intentional and balanced.
One issue I frequently have with collaborations is when the featured artist feels underutilized. Taylor Swift, especially in recent years, has become a little notorious for this. “Fortnight” featuring Post Malone, barely used his vocals, and “Snow On The Beach” ran into the same issue. But “End Game” gives all three artists space and plays to their strengths.
5. Bridget Mendler, Kaiydo - “Atlantis”
A rapper who seemingly fell off the face of the earth after 2016 and a singer who stepped away from music around the same time…maybe this collaboration actually does make a little bit of sense. But in all seriousness, a rap collab isn’t exactly what I would have imagined for Bridget Mendler. Still, “Atlantis” is completely underrated in her discography and is worth a listen.
Sonically, the track is a far departure from Hello My Name Is…, leaning instead into an ethereal, indie-pop sound. Kaiydo’s solo work consists mostly of upbeat, party-ready rap songs. But on Atlantis, both artists create something much more atmospheric. The distorted vocal layering and Kaiydo’s laid-back rap verse add to the song’s dreamy, almost hypnotic quality.
6. The Weeknd, Lana Del Rey - “Stargirl Interlude”
Besides their somewhat problematic reputations, I’m not entirely sure what Lana Del Rey and The Weeknd have in common, but I’ll give them this: they sure know how to make an album interlude. Their vocal styles are polar opposites, yet the track has a cohesive sound that feels simultaneously twisted and alluring, like it could soundtrack a moody dream sequence in a psychological horror film. Lana’s vocals are sultry, while The Weeknd’s are brighter and sit in his falsetto range, but somehow it works. Maybe it’s because his vocals are pushed towards the back of the mix, letting Lana’s voice take the lead. In any case, “Stargirl Interlude” is eerie, enchanting, and impossible to skip.
If you’re interested in checking out any of these collaborations, you can find every track I mentioned here: The Pop Drop: February 2026 (Issue #11)
