Hey!
Hope you’re doing well and enjoying this glorious sunny weather, if you’re in the UK. It just makes everything feel that little bit brighter, doesn’t it?

I’m super excited to share these songs with you. It’s been another brilliant month of music, and the longlist was extensive. Going forward, I won’t be sharing the entire playlist—just the top 20 tracks I’ve been enjoying. That’s probably still quite a lot, but I couldn’t narrow it down any further!

I’m hoping there’s something here for everyone. Lots of Pop, of course, but also Soul, R&B, indie-pop, Country, and Folk.

I really, really appreciate every visit and read.

Love as always,
Marc

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THE SHORT LIST

David Archuleta – Crème Brûlée
A flirty, funk-pop delight that channels Espresso-like sass through smooth male vocals and irresistible grooves.

Leon Thomas – Mutt
A classy, nostalgic R&B/soul fusion with golden production and vocals, sampling Enchantment’s Silly Love Songs to brilliant effect.

Little Simz – Free
A chilled, minimal track which explores the liberating power of love, paired with stripped-back instrumentation.

Ariana Grande – warm
An ethereal, euphoric dance track from the Eternal Sunshine deluxe edition, complete with dreamy harmonies and shimmering production.

Brett Eldredge – Forget About You
A beautifully simple and heartfelt country tune featuring only guitars and a warm vocal delivery that’s effortlessly charming.

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THE LONG LIST

David Archuleta – Crème Brûlée
#funkpop #summertune #gaypop

What would Espresso sound like if performed by a man? This sultry, effortlessly catchy funk-pop number gives us a pretty good idea. Over fluttery synths, funky guitar licks and a punchy bassline, David Archuleta’s syrupy smooth vocals explore the thrills of casual sex, playing on the same food-as-desire theme as Sabrina Carpenter’s Espresso. Joyful, cheeky and perfect pop.​

Leon Thomas – Mutt
#neosoul #vintagegroove #soulvibes

This is just brilliant. Sampling Enchantment’s 1977 soul track Silly Love Songs, this R&B/soul gem feels classy, nostalgic and silky-smooth, yet still fresh and energetic. From the bouncy drum track and lush piano chords to Leon Thomas’s rich vocals, everything here is golden. It’s been a long time since I’ve heard an R&B/soul blend this good.

Little Simz – Free
#consciousrap #minimalbeats #lyricalflow

Just perfect. Over minimalist instrumentation—gentle drum beats, delicate guitar and the occasional flourish of strings—Little Simz reflects on the liberating power of love. Her delivery is poised and clear, pairing beautifully with the relaxed production. A chilled, thoughtful track that I’ve absolutely rinsed this month.

Ariana Grande – warm
#etherealdance #dreamypop #heavenlyvocals

I adore this. I loved Eternal Sunshine as an album, and the deluxe edition has only added more brilliance to the collection. This ethereal dance track features Ariana’s signature soft vocals, exquisite ad libs and, most notably, her heavenly harmonies layered over fluttering electronics, dreamy chords and a thumping beat. It manages to be gorgeous, euphoric and slightly eerie all at once. Absolutely stunning.

Brett Eldredge – Forget About You
#classiccountry #heartfeltmelody #acousticvibes

I’ve liked a few of American country singer Brett Eldredge’s songs before, but this might be a new favourite. Comprised of nothing more than acoustic and slide guitars with a bass line running beneath, it’s classic country—simple, heartfelt, and really rather lovely.

Miley Cyrus – End of the World
#discopop #retroglam #anthemicchorus

I really enjoy Miley as an artist, though her music can be a bit hit-and-miss for me. This one’s a definite hit. Incorporating disco influences (listen out for those ABBA-esque piano chords), this mid-tempo track also isn’t far from Dua Lipa’s recent ’90s-indie-pop sound. Uplifting and breezy, with anthemic choruses and Miley’s trademark raspy vocals—it’s hazy, dreamy and danceable. A total win.

Flyte – I’m Not There
#indiefolk #emotionaldepth #melancholymelody

I stumbled across this thanks to a lovely Instagram cover by Parekh & Singh. It’s a gorgeous folk-pop number with understated instrumentation, rich melodies, beautiful vocals and lovely chord progressions. Really special, this!

Sugababes – Weeds
#lofiR&B #harmonyrich #poeticlyrics

I’m still fuming that their last single—the phenomenal Jungle—didn’t chart in the UK. Weeds is the follow-up, and it’s quite a shift in tone. Swapping pounding house beats for lo-fi textures while retaining electronic elements, this is a stunning song about growing together. Lyrics like “Look at him, look at me, we’re the truth, we’re the sea, we’re the flowers where the weeds grow—have you ever seen something so beautiful?” are poetic and haunting. With their trademark harmonies and emotive delivery, this could be the most beautiful thing the Sugababes have ever recorded. Simply gorgeous.

Perrie – Rollercoaster
#dancepop #nostalgicbeats #catchyhooks

Remember when rollercoasters were all over pop music in the late ’90s/early ’00s? This feels like a nostalgic nod to that era. A buoyant slice of dance-pop, Rollercoaster explores the highs and lows of love while ultimately celebrating the good. The crisp production, punchy beats and ridiculously catchy “Too good, I can’t get over” outro make it hard to resist. If I’m nitpicking, I’d say the choruses could use a touch more depth—some pads or synths would really lift it. Still, I love this. Honestly? I think this has confirmed it—Perrie’s my favourite Little Mix solo act!

Bon Iver – Walk Home
#indiepop #ambienttones #falsettomagic

I really like Bon Iver, and I’m loving the new album. His trademark falsetto mirrors the piano melodies beautifully, with occasional digitally altered vocals adding an extra dimension. The warm piano chords, subtle ’90s soul keys and gently distorted hip hop beats give the track a rich texture. There’s a definite hint of Frank Ocean here too.

Louise – Love Me More
#discopop #selfloveanthem #jazzyintro

I’ve really enjoyed Louise’s output since her comeback five years ago. I wasn’t entirely sold on this track at first, but it’s grown on me massively. It opens with a jazzy intro before shifting into a sultry, self-empowering dance-pop anthem. Slick, fresh and a lot of fun.

Ariana Grande – twilight zone
#synthpop #dreamyvibes #emotionaldepth

Another dreamy addition from the expanded edition of Eternal Sunshine. twilight zone feels like a sibling—or perhaps Part Two—to the Robin-esque we can’t be friends (wait for your love). With twinkling synths, a pulsing beat and layered harmonies, it captures the disbelief and surreal quality of a fading relationship. Mesmerising.

The Knocks & Dolores Forever – LOVER
#funkpop #summeranthem #collaborationgoals

I’ve been a fan of The Knocks for a while, and this collab with Dolores Forever is a brilliant addition to their catalogue. Think steel-pan-style synths (à la Hard Times by Paramore), funky bass, rhythmic guitars and an addictive chorus. Dolores Forever described it as “Fleetwood Mac and glitter having a baby”—they’ve nailed it.

The Blow Monkeys – Digging Your Scene
#sophistipop #80svibes #socialcommentary

Sometimes, ’80s music just hits differently. This track, served to me by Spotify’s algorithm, is a sophisti-pop gem with jazzy undertones. Released during the height of the AIDS crisis, its lyrics confront the stigma surrounding HIV with surprising nuance and empathy. It caused some controversy at the time, but was critically acclaimed and became a hit. Rich in sound and substance.

Naomi Vaughan – Call My Mama
#modernR&B #relatablelyrics #soulfulmelody

This smooth, moody R&B track reflects on the trials of adulthood, using a playful “Call my mum” metaphor. Lines like:
​So can you please come and get me mama
Can you come and pick me up I’m done
Growing up is getting kinda old by now
strike a chord. It’s a bit SZA, a bit Mabel, a bit Kehlani—in the best way.

Gatton & Jacob Banks – Miles
#acousticduet #falsettovoice #intimatemood

A beautiful acoustic-led track, with fluttering falsetto vocals drifting over gentle guitar picking. Understated and heartfelt—just lovely.

Dr Packer & Elektrik Disko – My Lovin’
#nudisco #80soul #funkyhouse

Australian disco-house producers Dr Packer and Elektrik Disko breathe new life into Evelyn “Champagne” King’s 1981 classic, giving it a BPM boost and a touch of contemporary sparkle with classic house piano riffs and crisp production. A total banger.

Rachel Chinouriri – Can We Talk About Isaac?
#indiepop #upbeatlove #mid2000svibes

I really like Rachel Chinouriri, and I especially love that this song revives the indie-pop sound that dominated the mid-2000s. Can We Talk About Isaac? is a spirited, uptempo track about feeling safe and cherished in a relationship. It’s got great energy and a throwback charm.

Emma Sehested Høeg & Oilly Wallace – Somethin’ Stupid
#synthpop #jazzytwist #dreamycover

You probably know the Frank & Nancy Sinatra version as a jazz-pop classic. This cover flips it entirely—eerie, minimal, synthy and dreamlike. The saxophone-laced outro is especially stunning. It shouldn’t work, but it absolutely does.

Olivia Dean – Touching Toes (Live at Eventim Apollo)
#liveperformance #soulfulvoice #acousticset

I’ve completely fallen for Olivia Dean’s soulful sound. I like the studio version of Touching Toes too, but this stripped-back live recording is magic. Just Olivia’s warm, unfiltered vocals and acoustic guitar—simple, honest, spellbinding.

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Here’s the playlist in its entirety from start to finish: