To spherical out my mid-year countdowns, I’ve bought a highlight on a few of my favourite songs from music markets that aren’t Korea or Japan. To simplify issues, I simply name this class “pop.” It’s been a really sturdy yr for pop music thus far, although you won’t understand it for those who’re solely trying on the charts. We’re at present seeing a revolution of indie pop artists, providing a bit one thing for everybody.
What had been your favourite singles and albums through the first half of 2025?
Barbara Bobak – Stan Na Dan
That is so new that I haven’t even had an opportunity to characteristic it in a worldwide round-up but, however Stan Na Dan does the whole lot I really like about Serbian dance-pop. The bombast of its refrain truly jogs my memory of Infinite’s The Chaser!
Comanavago – Say Much less
There are a minimum of 4 or 5 songs I favor on their newest album, however that is the one which was promoted in 2025 so it makes my record as a result of I simply love their work a lot. It’s a incredible early-2010’s membership monitor.
Erika Vikman – Ich Komme
It’s been gratifying to see Queen Erika Vikman break by way of outdoors of Finland this yr with what may simply be her finest music. Ich Komme is wild and peculiar and fueled by pure, unadulterated star energy.
Girl Gaga – Abracadabra / Shadow Of A Man / Vanish Into You
Clearly Abracadabra is likely one of the finest songs of the yr, however I’m additionally posting my two different favourite tracks from her nice comeback album as a result of in an ideal world there’d be like eight singles from this marketing campaign.
Madison Rose – Daydreaming
She’s experimented a bit this yr, however no sound matches Madison Rose higher than this immense EDM pop. She is aware of the way to write whole anthems and that is one other mega-hit.
Maria Jane Smith – I Hate San Francisco
Nation music is in the course of an enormous resurgence. It’s not my favourite style, however this Swedish tackle the sound works wonders, buoyed by an explosive, emotional refrain.
Metteson – Starvation
Choral vocals collide with icy electronics for a dense, extremely distinctive dance sound. There’s a way of scope driving this monitor we don’t hear usually in right now’s pop local weather.
Neea River – Nightmares
She’s been honing her expertise for years and all of it led as much as this excellent, glistening Eurovision dance banger. The music is nearly a case examine of this explicit type.
Nelli Matula – Hitaammin hautaan
Finland’s UMK competitors completely killed it this yr and this evocative, layered dance monitor was a significant a part of that. It’s merely attractive and builds towards a whopper of a climax.
Punchbag – Fuck It
A rambunctious burst of power melding anthemic electro with clobbering punk power, all tied to a sentiment most of us can most likely get behind!
Rebecca Black – Twist The Knife
Rebecca Black of “Friday” fame on my mid-year record? I wouldn’t have believed it both, however her new EP is simply too good to not qualify. Twist The Knife does Gaga-esque pop simply in addition to the originator herself.
Sleigh Bells – This Summer time
A unusual mix of digital and rock, at instances pensive however largely in-your-face aggressive. Its melodies are so sturdy and match the chant-along power completely.
Tom Aspaul – That Woman
With so many artists persevering with to mine the 80’s for inspiration, Tom Aspaul captures a selected soft-rock/dance sound not often heard as of late to forge a monitor with distinctive perspective.
TPCX – Sin.
The Parity Complicated rebranded to TPCX and delivered one in every of their most intense songs but. Sin merely explodes, providing pummeling catharsis in one of the simplest ways doable.