Harry Styles in "Aperature"

January is all about new beginnings: new year's resolutions, new hobbies, new songs—and arguably the most important—a new issue of The Pop Drop, rounding up the most notable releases of the month!

1. Madison Beer - locket

26M monthly listeners

Every time a pop girl gets nominated for a major music award, you can hear Madison Beer banging on the door of the Khia Asylum in desperation, begging to have a Zara Larsson-esque renaissance. While I'm not sure that her fourth studio album, locket, will get her there, I thoroughly enjoyed this release.

The album isn’t a far departure from her past work, but certain tracks like “yes baby” and “complexity” lean further into the electronic-pop sensibilities of her hit song “make you mine,” a sound that fits her remarkably well.

Madison Beer’s vocals sparkle throughout locket, with buttery-smooth transitions and elegant runs that feel reminiscent of Ariana Grande and Billie Eilish. While comparisons to other main pop acts still feel inevitable, this album may be her most personally identifying yet. It’s dreamy and pensive, with ethereal production choices that lend the project a transcendent quality. Even on a technical level, I’m starting to recognize patterns like her tendency to sneak a haunting chromatic seventh chord into her progressions. For the first time, I feel like I have a real grasp on Madison Beer’s sound.

Standout favorites for me were “angel wings,” (the switch to the club beat at the end?! I was gagged), “for the night,” and “you’re still everything.”

2. GRESLEY - “How?”

25K monthly listeners

If bright acoustic strums and sunset vibes are what you’re looking for, I implore you to check out GRESLEY’s debut single, “How?” While some may know GRESLEY from his time as one-third of the British pop trio New Hope Club, “How?” reveals a more personal, vulnerable side of his artistry.

The track opens with punchy drums and dives into themes of longing after a breakup and regret for putting his partner through so much. “How?” finds its peace in simplicity. It never does too much; instead, it carefully balances all the right elements to let the emotions speak for themselves.

3. Louis Tomlinson - How Did I Get Here?

3.8M monthly listeners

Louis Tomlinson’s third studio album, How Did I Get Here?, takes on a sun-drenched, summery, alternative-pop sound—a full one-eighty from his first two albums, which leaned heavily into Britpop and felt more reminiscent of acts like Oasis and Blur. In multiple interviews, Tomlinson has stated that this is his most confident work yet, and while I’m not sure it’s his strongest album overall, I do agree that he sounds the most self-assured here and takes his biggest creative risks to date.

I was less instantly obsessed with this release than I was with his previous albums, as I still feel that his voice is best suited for alternative-rock music. That said, I really respect How Did I Get Here? for its sonic cohesion and the genuine happiness infused throughout. “Sunflowers” was a standout to me, carrying an electro-edge while still feeling distinctly Louis.

Ironically, my least favorite track on the album is the lead single, “Lemonade,” which feels slightly overbearing. Some of the tracks on How Did I Get Here? are growers rather than instant hits, but considering everything Tomlinson has been through, it’s moving to see him release such a bright, positive body of work. This album feels like something he needed to make, not just as an artist, but as a person.

4. STELLA LEFTY - “Thinking ‘bout You”

2.4M monthly listeners

“Thinking ‘bout you” was my introduction to STELLA LEFTY, and what immediately stood out was the track’s refreshing acoustic production paired with her inviting vocals. Diving into the giddiness that comes with having a crush, the song feels wholesome and effortlessly charming. Unsurprisingly, as it was written by the trifecta of acoustic pop girls, Sadie Jean, Grace Enger, and STELLA LEFTY. The chanting vocals and layered harmonies in the chorus add a delightful, girlhood flair to the song.

5. Harry Styles - “Aperture”

66M monthly listeners

I need Harry Styles to go back to making rock music like YESTERDAY. Release “Medicine” and then we’ll talk.

But in all seriousness, I’m not sure how to feel about “Aperture” as a lead single. The techno beat pulsating through the entirety of the track is intriguing and has potential, but ultimately, the melody falls flat. The vocal mastering is also a point of contention, as it sounds unintentionally distorted in parts. That could very well be a stylistic choice, but on first listen, I found it distracting.

I’ll give it a few more plays in hopes that it grows on me, but for now, I’m just hoping that this track isn’t foreshadowing the rest of the album’s direction.

6. KATSEYE - “Internet Girl”

35M monthly listeners

I’m going to sound like a broken record when I say this. KATSEYE’s “Internet Girl” is yet another painful attempt at Camp and a reminder of why, despite my love for them as a group, I rarely find myself streaming their music.

With every release, it becomes increasingly clear that these girls have little to no say in the music they put out. With “Internet Girl,” the label strategy was obvious: make a second “Gnarly.” Outlandish lyrics, avant-garde production, and heavy vocal effects dominate both tracks. But that’s where the plan falls apart. “Gnarly” was an anomaly. A song with objectively horrendous lyrics that still managed to succeed thanks to its interesting production, choreography, and internet virality.

“Internet Girl,” on the other hand, should have stayed buried deep in KATSEYE’s vault, never to see the light of day, right alongside the Ice Spice remix of “Gnarly.”

What’s most frustrating is this relentless push towards virality, especially when KATSEYE is made up of six extremely talented, well-rounded women who could absolutely make better music in their sleep if given the chance.

To end off my January issue of “The Pop Drop,” here’s a few more tracks I’ve had on repeat this month—not all released in January, but all worth a listen:

1. Hotel Fiction - “Margot”

2. Liang Lawrence - “the pilot”

3. Holly Humberstone - “To Love Somebody”

4. BENEE - “Cinnamon”

5. Luke Hemmings - “Shakes”

Check out the full playlist here: The Pop Drop: January 2025 (Issue #10)