Welcome back to your monthly dose of new pop releases, reviewed by a girl with a dependence on Spotify, an unhealthy addiction to TikTok, and severe anxiety (probably not relevant here). I’ll keep things short (n’ Sweet) and head right into my breakdown of some of the most notable releases of the month:
1.Chappell Roan - “The Subway”
I never thought I’d see the day when Chappell Roan finally decided to drop “The Subway” but thank god she did. The dreamy pop ballad comes in at a glorious 4 minutes and 12 seconds (yes, queen, free me from the shackles of 2-minute pop releases!), and explores a past relationship that haunts her everywhere she goes. The track builds into a breathtaking emotional peak in the outro, where layered harmonies and powerful belting create a cathartic final moment.
2. Justin Bieber - SWAG
Uh oh. Justin Bieber's back and he’s desperate to prove that he doesn’t despise his wife with another “I swear I love my wife” album, that I wouldn’t quite say lives up to its name—SWAG—but holds its ground. If you can look past the excessive vocal effects and random voice memo interludes, it’s a solid effort. The highlights, “DAISES,”“YUKON,”and “DEVOTION,”are truly worth a listen, but there are a few “filler tracks” that I wouldn’t worry too much about. Strangely enough, critics seem to be wholeheartedly loving this album, so maybe there’s something I’m missing.
3. Kesha - .
On July 4th, Kesha released her sixth studio album, . (pronounced Period), marking her first album release since escaping Dr. L**e. Honestly, I swear I heard Ke$ha peek through on some of these tracks, and I’m not mad about it. The production is bold, electronic, and experimental. My favorites from the album include “FREEDOM.,” “JOYRIDE.,” and “RED FLAG.”
4. Ally Salort - Change of Plans
If you checked out last month’s issue, you may have noticed the name Ally Salort make a brief appearance towards the end. I wanted to wait for the full EP before sharing my thoughts, and now that Change of Plans, is here, I can confirm: I really enjoyed this body of work. While I don’t think this EP reinvents the wheel, (nor was it meant to), it hits that sweet spot between catchy and clever. Fans of Olivia Rodrigo, Maisie Peters, and Alessi Rose will feel right at home. My favorite tracks: “Before and After,” “Pretty Face,” and “Swiss Army Knife.”
5. Alessi Rose - Voyeur
Speaking of Alessi Rose, the British singer-songwriter dropped her third EP, Voyeur, this past month. The title of the EP is…certifiably insane, but the tracks are absolute anthemic bops. My standouts have to be “Take It or Leave It,” “Same Mouth,” and “That Could Be Me.” “Everything Anything” may be the only skip for me, simply because the hook doesn’t quite land, and it bothers me a little too much that the riffs on the words, “clear” and “weird” throughout the song are identical to the ones on “tears,” “near,” and “course,” in her song “IKYK” from her last EP, for your validation. That’s truly just a me problem though (I might also be certifiably insane).
6. SIENNA SPIRO - “You Stole The Show”
SIENNA SPIRO has popped up on my Spotify Discover Weekly a few times, but I haven’t really given her a chance…until now. Her new jazz-infused pop ballad, “You Stole The Show” delivers jaw-dropping raspy, jazzy vocals reminiscent of artists like Amy Winehouse or Adele. Also, she’s only 19, which is incredible, and slightly terrifying. It’s a weird feeling being at the age where the “new artists” are either my age or younger 😳.
7. ADÉLA - “DeathByDevotion”
You may know ADÉLA as one of the original members of the global girl group competition Dream Academy/Pop Star Academy. And while she may have gotten eliminated, she’s proving that she shines even brighter as a solo act. Her fourth single, “DeathByDevotion” isn’t my favorite of her releases so far, (the first three are just so hard to top), but it still holds its own. The track leans more electronic than her previous ones, but stays true to her distinct style. The switch to a club beat at the end is also such a fun surprise. If you’re not on the ADÉLA train yet, now’s your time—this train is going far.
To end off my July issue of “The Pop Drop,” here’s a few tracks I’ve had on repeat this month— not all pop and not all released in July, but all worth a listen:
1.Michael Clifford, Waterparks - “give me a break!”
2. All Time Low - “Weightless”
3. JADE - “Plastic Box”
4. FLO - “Cardboard Box”
5. Del Water Gap - “Better Than I Know Myself”
Check out the full playlist here: The Pop Drop: July 2025 (Issue #4)