This past month, the pop girls took center stage. From Reneé Rapp’s bratty pop banger to Laufey’s bitter ballad, May was packed with iconic moments in music. Whether you’re here for the cheeky digs, exciting debuts, or slightly unhinged lyrics (sorry KATSEYE), here’s a breakdown of five standout releases from the month:
1.Reneé Rapp - “Leave Me Alone”
Reneé Rapp may not have a Burn Book, but her new single “Leave Me Alone” is just as biting. As a massive fan, I was beyond excited when she started teasing her upcoming album BITE ME on Instagram, and her first single delivers a cheeky, Kesha-esque energy. It’s bratty pop with subtle rock influences, and honestly, it feels like a Regina George personal anthem.
That said, I was a little surprised by how short the track is—its abrupt ending left me wanting more. Even Reneé herself confessed in her interview with Zane Lowe that she wasn’t totally sold on the song at first, which makes it an interesting choice as a lead single. It’ll definitely be adding it to my playlist (I love a cheeky pop song), but I’m hoping that her next project leans more into the R&B-pop sound that we heard on tracks like “Tummy Hurts,” where her vocals really get to shine.
At the end of the day, even if it’s not my favorite Reneé track ever, it feels very her—sarcastic, brutally honest, and unapologetic.
2. KATSEYE - “Gnarly”
Okay, I know this one technically dropped on the last day of April, but it was released too late for me to include it in my last issue, and I’ve been dying to talk about it. On my first listen, I was genuinely appalled by the lyrics. It sounds like it was written by a room full of 40 year old men desperately trying to replicate the voice of Gen Z. I mean, “Now you be like, ‘Gang’ / gang, gang, gang, gang, gang”— is an actual lyric from the song.
But here’s the thing: as cringeworthy as the lyrics are, the production is surprisingly solid. There’s an earworm quality to the song that makes it oddly addictive. I keep finding myself going back for another listen. Not to mention that the dance is literally so fun. I kind of hate that I don’t hate it.
But seriously KATSEYE, please hire new writers.
3. Audrey Hobert - “Sue Me”
Audrey Hobert, who you might know as Gracie Abrams’ best friend and frequent collaborator, released her debut single, “Sue Me,” on May 9th. Now, I want to preface this by saying that I really like the song, but if she had said “sue me, I wanna be wanted” one more time, I would have thrown my phone at the wall. Similarly to Reneé Rapp’s “Leave Me Alone,” this song leans a little too hard on repetition, but (also like “Leave Me Alone”), there’s just something undeniably endearing about it.
What really sells the track are Hobert’s delightfully irreverent lyrics. Lines like “just me or does he look amazing / when he’s all in his Amazon Basics” and “sorry that I’m like your dream bride / you’ll go to heaven and I’ll go to hell in the meantime” definitely got a giggle out of me. Overall, it’s a fun, clever debut that’s more than earned a spot on my playlist.
4. Alessi Rose - “Same Mouth”
One thing I love about British singer-songwriter Alessi Rose is how her bold lyrics completely juxtaposes her rather soft, “coquette” branding, and her new song— “Same Mouth”— is no exception. “Same Mouth” explores the feeling of wanting someone desperately, despite seeing all of their red flags—“alarm bells are ringing / but I’m cool, calm, and collected / you turn me soft and so willing / guess I'm as doomed as expected.” Toxic love is a recurring theme in her discography, but I can’t blame her—Alessi Rose writes one hell of a toxic love song.
5. Laufey - “Tough Luck”
On May 15th, Laufey released “Tough Luck,” the latest single from her upcoming album, A Matter of Time. The track leans a little more pop than her past work—especially during the bridge, which instantly reminded me of Gracie Abrams’ work. But as a pop lover, this genre experimentation is a direction I’m more than happy to follow her into. I was hooked with this track from the first listen. The melody is intriguing, the lyrics are laced with bitter resentment towards a past love, and Laufey delivers it all with her signature velvet vocals, soft without taking away from her fury.
To end off my May 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 May, but all worth a listen:
1.The Wrecks - “Speed”
2. Hardcastle - “Paranoiac”
3. Laufey - “Tough Luck”
4. Grace Vanderwaal, Aliyah’s Interlude - “Babydoll”
5. Paramore - “That’s What You Get”
Check out the full playlist here: The Pop Drop: May 2025 (Issue #2)