Just what the world needs; another exhaustive, self-aggrandizing end of year “best of”/”roundup” listicle for the masses to consume. Surely the media landscape is inundated with these comprehensive, competitive rank systems and schemes that attempt to convert the quality of international artistic works into quantified gatekeeping that are more pretentious, lazy and lousy than the pomp and circumstance of any awards programme administered by the various respective worldwide academies and outlets of discerning taste. Week in Pop proudly presents just a brief snapshot from some of our favorite releases (albums, EPs, singles, et al) that does not pretend to be complete or absolute by any means. 2022 saw artists step it up in major ways to release some of the wildest arts into the world that we have witnessed yet. As the 2020s prove to be some of the most challenging, bizarre, difficult and transformative eras that we have experienced in our lifetimes — this year reinvigorated us with a new sense of hope, a chance for a higher state of grace, happiness, humility and a vibrance that inspires and shines brighter than 10,000 suns. The future is yet unwritten and if the whirlwinds of this year are any indication — we are very much here for 2023. So without further ado we give to you:

Week in Pop’s Year in Pop: 2022

Ricky Lake, Altered (Text Me Records)

The rise of Ricky Lake; press photo courtesy of the artist / Text Me Records.

Emerging out of the harrowing throes and smoldering ashes of the global pandemic we have witnessed the dawning of pop polymath radical Ricky Lake. Featured on the pages of our media hub from local artist showcases to our debut of “Choka” — Ricky has traversed the North American trails from Los Angeles, to Southern Nashville before setting up shop in Oakland to find a creative home among contemporaries and friends from Taifa Nia (Same Girls, OCD), Steezxxz, TheMobsJEDi, Stoni, Studio Dad among the expansive Text Me team of genre defying creatives. Surrounded by some of the world’s greatest pop art luminaries, Ricky Lake shatters the conventions of style into a musical blender of sparks that lighten up a messy and cloudy planet. Ricky resists any semantic attempts of reductive containment, tackling the contemporary artistic conundrums of what aesthetics can be that draw from the textile canons of rhythms, blues, beats, rhymes, rhythms, life, trad poetics, fusing and synthesizing art into the double helix core of thesis / synthesis permutations into new terrain and new stratospheres of sensations and sentiments.

Linqua Franqa, Bellringer (Ernest Jenning Recording Co.)

Activist, artist, icon ⁠— Linqua Franca; photographed by Sean Dunn.

From the zeitgeist of the fever and fight rises the fearless genius and might of Linqua Franqa. A multi-hyphenate with talents more potent than the semantics of a polymath could ever describe; the Athens-Clarke County Commissioner, linguistics PhD candidate and grad school teaching assistant at the University of Georgia is the queer artist and activist the world desperately needs. Following on the heels of their lauded debut Model Minority (of which we had the pleasure of debuting back in 2018) ⁠— Mariah presents the next chapter with the alarm sounding call to consciousness and proactive arms with the release of Bellringer. One of the year’s most monumental albums, it is a necessary interruption from the pratfalls of apathetic complicity to awaken the masses to the systemic issues of reality that are all too self-evident.

Josh Stokes, Bobette (Internet & Weed)

Baltimore artist Josh Stokes bringing the big beat and so much more; press photo courtesy of the artist.

In the maternal tradition of infinite inspiration is the new Josh Stokes’ album Bobette, taking its name from Stokes’ mother who left the material world on December 20, 2006 but a spirit that lives on in perpetuity. Her lessons of creativity, imagination, individuality, self love and love for others shines on in one of Stokes’ most staggering works to date. Incorporating styles that span the world over and back again to the Baltimore beat — Bobette is a dedication to an inspirational figure whose influences live on in infamy; eternally. Bobette stands tall as a remarkable dedication to Josh Stokes' mother and greatest inspiration and shines as one of the most ambitious works in the Baltimore artist's catalogue.

Baseball Gregg, Pastimes (Z Tapes)

Presenting the crown princes of pop ⁠— Baseball Gregg’s Sam & Luca; photographed by Giacomo Manghi.

Developed over the course of the decade and borrowing its title from a James Joyce passage from Finnegans Wake [“Pastimes are past times.”] ⁠— Baseball Gregg have graciously blessed the whirlwind of 2022 with one of the year’s best albums with the indelible and beguiling maelstrom of holistic beauty that is Pastimes. Brought into full realization in Bologna by Italian wunderkind Luca Lovisetto and Stockton, California’s patron saint Sam Regan; the pair create a harmonious album curated by explorations of causality and the correlatives between the photo albums, diaries, picture books, old love letters, vintage social media posts and more from yesteryear and its curious relationship to the present and the premonitions that stand at the threshold of our mysterious grand tomorrow.

Zenizen, P.O.C. (Proof of Concept) (Topshelf Records)

Icon incarnate — Zenizen’s Opal Hoyt; press photo courtesy of the artist.

2022 is the year of Zenizen. The vision of NYC-based artist Opal Hoyt, the new album P.O.C. (Proof of Concept) is not only one of the year's most anticipated releases but a work of staggering genius that fans have awaited since the acclaimed debut Australia. The performer, producer, media boss, multi-hyphenate is your favorite's artist's favorite artist who has worked with everyone from Helado Negro, Suzi Analogue, Sadie Dupuis (Speedy Ortiz, Sad13) and countless more, readying her biggest creative statement to date. Opal’s new album is the most ambitious Zenizen outing yet that draws inspiration from her own life events from being adopted, living in Alaska, making moves to Australia, Las Vegas, Jamaica, DC, Vermont and so forth with New York serving as a home base (one of many). A creative polymath celebrated in the independent circuits and insider circles delivers their most sprawling and spectacular work with a style, attitude and ambition destined for the biggest and brightest lit main stages.

TOPS, Empty Seats (Musique Tops)

One of the world’s greatest bands — TOPS; photographed by Samuel F. Houston.

For over a decade, Montréal, Québec’s beloved TOPS have become an artistic intuition. A group that has lived up to all the hype and more, from word of mouth buzz among their fellow artists to gaining a worldwide following ⁠— the group of Jane Penny, David Carriere, Riley Fleck, and Marta Cikojevic have delivered an EP of universal healing and hope with the lauded Empty Seats via their own imprint Musique TOPS. Through an economy of five songs, the quartet paints portraits of our fractured world in all of its turbulent transitions. TOPS with their trademark sophisto-pop of grace and signature suave elements surveys the bad, the good, the anticipation, the hopes and prayers of our universe teetering on the brink of both perdition and a bountiful beauty beyond the measurement of standard metrics.

Total Slacker, ExtraLife (self-released)

DIY legend Tucker Rountree of Total Slacker; cover art from the album ExtraLife photographed by Lauren Underwood.

From cassette collaborations, the beloved Thrashin, Slip Away, Parallels and more — an artist that understands this degree of creative growth and geographical shifts is Tucker Rountree of legendary DIY pop institution Total Slacker. Moving back home to help out family, Tucker traded Brooklyn to work alongside his dad in Utah (his father a musician in the 70s/80s group The Western Reflections) where through the process of painting homes and soaking in the surrounding small towns inspired a new course of songwriting full of new heartfelt/heartland perspectives. On the new Total Slacker album ExtraLife; Rountree presents a new sound and style singing ballads about humble places and people that stand at threshold between antiquity and uncertainty. Tucker takes us to the main streets of everytown USA, extoling its rustic charm in the emotively tinged chords while observing the droughts and economic recessions and depressions that have left them in the dust. The record is dedicated to the pursuit of a much more meaningful existence and echelon of unrelenting grace. ExtraLife is about us. Our life in a muddled time, with infinite hope for a brighter path of better directions and unlimited possibilities of limitless beauty.

Fitting, Minutes (Research Chemical)

Sac town’s own Fitting; press photo courtesy of the artists.

The culmination of veteran independent pop talents Eli Wengrin, Greta Soos and Phil Barkel; Fitting gives us their debut EP Minutes courtesy of DIY imprint Research Chemical. The three piece explodes the minutiae of the moment, the temporality of time, forging the facets of fleeting seconds that make up the hours and measurements that comprise the days, nights, weeks, months and years that can fly by us faster than we can consciously acknowledge. Fitting makes music to find the meaning behind the otherwise menial, perfunctory and procedural actions of which we pay little to no mind that are a part of our day to day. Fitting gives the world something we can feel, embracing the shadow play and gestalt of all the moving parts that are acting and operating beneath the surface when we are just going through the motions.

Past Palms, Ambient Music For Watering Plants (self-released)

Past Palms’ Sam Friedman; photographed by Nuria Rius.

The prodigy artist’s latest work shines in a damn perfect union of ambient ASMR stems and opulent, electronic orchestration. NYC by way of Richmond, VA pop polymath Sam Friedman has found a way to somehow encapsulate the sensory field sound sample in the raw, articulating it's attributes into the consciousness opening rhythm cycle and spin of expertly applied electro touches. The opening movement of Ambient Music is the breathtaking "Meditation I: Palm" that is the fulfillment of the promise that all the witch house sales people never fully delivered. Think about the trill wave makers of hip hop and buzz band production fodder from back in the 2010s, envisioning another green world where Past Palms presents a new legacy in the electro-ambient canon. Sam demonstrates a methodical approach to atmosphere expanding mixing and sequencing that has long been in the works. Following intuitively along the path from the self-titled, Vernal, When the Sun Reaches Its Highest Point in the Sky, Senescence and Empyrean — we arrive at the lush landscapes of the beauty beholding majesty of Ambient Music for Watering Plants. Friedman invites the listening audience to venture deeper into the greenhouse of growing wonders.

Van Chamberlain, In the Sun (Very Jazzed)

The Van Chamberlain brothers; press photo courtesy of Kevin W. Condon.

Brooklyn based brotherly duo Van Chamberlain lean into existential meditations on their new album In the Sun via the chic cult boutique imprint Very Jazzed. Van and Jacob cut their teeth touring in Eternal Drag, Phantom Buffalo, following up their 2019 demo “L.Y.” (known as “Light Years” on the new album) with their full length debut delayed, like everything else in the world, by the global pandemic. Hunkering down in the Williamsburg studio Strange Weather with engineer/producer Garret de Block; Van Chamberlain creatively crystalize that curious liminal place where the past and present meet like intercepts and plots on a graph of grand vision. The concepts of heart and honest reflection are expressed through a robust sound that resonates like the eternal California sun met by the endless winters of New York.

Young Prisms, Drifter (Fire Talk Records)

SF’s own legendary dream gazers Young Prisms; photographed by Jared Silbert.

We here at Week in Pop have long felt a romantic kinship with Young Prisms. From our San Francisco-based connection, having both shared nascent beginnings among media hubs of our familiar, boutique imprints and mutually adored aesthetes of notoriety — they have always remained a group of great importance in our Bay Area offices. And today the band of Stefanie Hodapp, Matthew Allen, Giovanni Betteo and Jordan Silbert return with the following insightful curation and their brand new album Drifter; released through the fellow DIY institution Fire Talk Records and produced by fellow vision beach breaker Shaun Durkan (Weekend, Soft Kill).

Guerilla Toss, Famously Alive (Sub Pop)

Royal hyperpop majesties — Guerilla Toss; photographed by Ebru Yildiz.

Guerilla Toss are on another level. A different playing field. A different stratosphere. A different dimension and yet are very much an integral part of our shared universe. As the prestigious and lauded group signs to Sub Pop with the blazing glory of Famously Alive; we boldly embark upon the latest chapter from one of the world's most fascinating hyperpop art nouveau phenomenons. Pop writers, critics, editors and fans alike continue to trip over themselves in attempts to describe and pigeonhole, exhausting their lexicon in valiant efforts to describe the group’s style and sound that refuses to take the shape of any convenient (or conventional) descriptive signifier. While we here at Week in Pop have continued to chronicle one of the most beloved and beguiling aesthetic entities over the past decade, we stand in appreciation of Kassie Carlson, Peter Negroponte, Arian Shafiee and their dedicated commitment to maximalist experimentation and artistic excellence.

Death Parade, It Was Worth It to Love, Though It Hurt So Bad (Halfshell Records)

PDX proponents of goth pop nouveau — Death Parade; photographed by Sam Gherke.

Returning to the lush, raincloud corner of the pacific northwest marches the passionate, maudlin and mesmerizing pop act Death Parade. Lead by Laura Hopkins of Blackwater Holylight, the group [formerly known as Laura Palmer's Death Parade] takes you deep into the woods of a moonless night toward a transportive zone of reckoning with shadows and mirror visage representations and tulpa semblances of the self and the soul. Alongside the talents of Eirinn Lou Riggs, Danny Metcalfe and Robert Grubaugh; Hopkins and company present their ambitious new album It Was Worth It To Love, Though it Hurt So Bad courtesy of Halfshell Records that revels, rocks and roars in songs of triumph, songs of tribulation, songs of trepidation and songs of ecstatic heights. The album pulls back the red curtains from the stage to reveal poignant portraits of pain, testaments to the darkened corridors, twisted hallways and lost highways of candid tales normally reserved for esoteric folklore and nocturnal confessionals shared beneath a coal black sky like a lacy shrouded veil.

Maita, I Just Want to Be Wild For You (Kill Rock Stars)

PNW pop orchestrated by MAITA; photographed by Tristan Paiige.

Presenting a reflective work of nostalgic affinities, Portland pop phenoms MAITA, lead by Maria Maita-Keppeler along with Matthew Zeltzer, Nevada Sowle and Cooper Trail are one of the PNW's most important and exciting groups as of late. From a trajectory spanning pastoral operas and psalms from Waterbearer, the sharp rocking debut album Best Wishes, various covers, to the advent of the new album I Just Want To Be Wild For You; MAITA deconstructs the old worlds we once knew, the worlds we currently know in anticipatory hopes and praise for all that still can be.

VRITRA, VOID (BTM Records / Mint Songs)

The volition of VRITRA, aka Hal Donell Williams Jr.

You already know the portfolio and prestige. From the legendary Atlanta collective NRK (Nobody Really Knows), The Jet Age of Tomorrow, Odd Future, Pyramid Vritra and now just VRITRA — the multidisciplinary shaman pop prodigy Hal Williams delves into the bewitched fun house frequencies in the dizzying dimensions of VOID. A delicately and diligently designed media event is self described as an ‘exploration into fan/artist connection & access to an experience beyond listening / streaming a track.” Inviting audience interaction with access to the stems and other elements, Williams and the world are invited to mine an astral realm of ethereal, lavish experiments that oscillate between elegance and experimental abandon.

Annika Zee, Bleu ( Absurd TRAX / Vain Mina)

Designing the future of pop fashions and more — Annika Zee; photographed by Anika Larsen.

Returning with the follow-up to 2019's conceptual craft of majesty Factory Pageant is NYC by way of Toronto pop art designer of future musical fashions Annika Zee with the new album Blue. A joint release by Absurd TRAX with Vain Mina Records, the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music alum continues to challenge the tropes of style and concept of superstar with an azure saturated statement of unrelenting autonomy. Akin to fellow contemporaries Agua Viva, Zenizen to Luxe / S the Supplicant conceptual provocateur Sally Horowitz; Zee works in the new emergent art spaces that redefines how we see, hear and experience aesthetics. Redefining what it means to be an artist. Breaking the antiquated and obsolete pantheon pillars of preconceived cultural prejudices and gender biases, Annika elevates art and authorship to new enlightened levels and heightened hues of colors that have yet to be assigned with a name or corresponding signifier. Picking up where Factory Pageant left off; Annika Zee once again pushes past the tired shows of pageantry and mechanical motions to paint on new canvases from new palettes to embody the presence of a new kind of iconoclast for a new era of new discoveries.

[also check out Annika Zee’s latter 2022 releases A Faith Made of Silk & LOST DEMOS 2021-2022]

Maggie Gently, Peppermint (Refresh Records)

The suave, sincere and art savvy styles of Maggie Gently; photographed by Amayah Harrison.

Maggie Gently has been generating some buzz here at home in the Bay Area and far beyond for good reasons. A queer artist that is very much involved in her local/global communities, Gently has been making modern pop meditation cycles styled as sincere vignettes crafted with a pointed velocity and sharp volition. Maggie's art concerns the journey of reconnecting us to our selves, displaying the otherwise inner monologues and psychic dialogues as odes to loving our own interpersonal idiosyncrasies. Following up the 2020 debut Good Cry with Peppermint via Refresh Records, the San Francisco-based tunesmith presents a desperately needed creative panacea for our turbulent times. Enlisting fellow local luminaries Pllush and The She’s own Eva Treadway, Sinclair Riley and Maggie's brother Joey Grabmeier; Peppermint offers assuaging anthems of love, care and a profound concern for others, ourselves, with a deep empathy for the human experience along the mercurial plane of existence.

R. E. Seraphin, Swingshift (self-released)

Cult pop icon Ray Seraphin; press photo courtesy of the artist.

It has been postulated that Bay Area artists experience the world differently. From well read understandings of record store savoir faire, the modern and new contemporary canons and other respective troves of influential knowledge and limitless talents; these aesthetes conduct crafts guided by the enchanted breeze of the Pacific offshore winds to create musical paintings of unrelenting splendor. Beholden to this time honored tradition rises the solo works of Vallejo-based beloved cult pop wonder R. E. Seraphin with the release of the Swingshift EP. The latest offering from the former Talkies bandleader distills your favorite power pop phenomena into a DIY blender, riding high into a new stratosphere of new-new romantic revelry and grace unbound.

Joel Jerome, Super Flower Blood Moon (Dangerbird Records)

The prolific Joel Jerome; photographed by Julia Brokaw.

The back to basics approach often yields some of the most raw and realized work from a multidisciplined artist. For LA polymath Joel Jerome, their new album Super Flower Blood Moon for Dangerbird Records was assembled from a rudimentary ritual of recording phone voice memos, organized by way of a four-track application. Having worked with Cherry Glazerr, La Sera, LA Witch, Dios (Malos) and more over the years; Jerome shines a light on stripped down songs from the soul, further aided by atmospheric production touches supplied by Rob Schnapf. Famous for the home studio dubbed the Psychedelic Thriftstore; Joel Jerome leads the audience to lush pastorals of the spirit that lay between the rolling metropolitan valleys and hills and the seemingly infinite spaces of the galaxies.

Loco Tranquilo, “Summer Rain” (Text Me Records)

Love, light and Loco Tranquilo, aka Julián Gervasi; press photo courtesy of the artist.

“Summer Rain” basks in the mesmerizing glow of how wonderful our reality can be (while opening the door to new realities of grandeur and bliss that you never thought were even possible). Loco Tranquilo has blessed the world with one of the most gorgeous songs to commemorate the summer of 2022. Otherwise known as Julián Gervasi, the song is a collaboration with Mackenzie Bunch that was developed during the lockdown days of quarantine that accentuates the inherent bliss that exists in the here and now of life. A song that embraces healing and a degree of self-actualization that our world desperately needs now, more than ever before. The sun-kissed, morning dew christened anthem to inspire new degrees of carpe diem and higher levels of learning and loving has valiantly arrived (and not a moment later or sooner).

Sleap-e, Pouty Lips (WWNBB Collective)

The arts of Asia Martina Morabito, aka Sleap-E; photographed by Maicol Guidetti.

Sometimes a certain stylized bouquet of sounds can sweep you away to new places, rich with feeling and collage boards of thought. Such is the art house fashion chic of Pouty Lips ⁠— the new album from Sleap-e, aka Asia Martina Morabito of the illustrious Italy by way of the Bay Area WWNBB Collective (We Were Never Being Boring). Having been over two years in development with instrumental assists from Luca Gruppioni, Francesco Bonora, Natan Dall'Aglio, Jacobopo Finelli and other assorted members from Baseball Gregg; Pouty Lips is a record that exists in a Euro café or thrift store boutique of its own. Asia expresses brass inflected exhibitions of emotively charged observations, idea fragments and other miscellaneous short stories that are sung in motions that mist like the steam from a ristretto shot of espresso or the fog from a lit cigarette ember.

Lissie, Carving Canyons (Lionboy Records)

Modern pop legend Lissie; photographed by Lili Peper.

Over the course of the past decade, Lissie has valiantly risen to the illustrious heightened prominence as one of the singular spirits of the mystic North American heartland. From the quilted farmlands, valleys and fields of the Midwest; the Iowan homestead-chic artist makes triumphant hymns that survey our whole wide world as a vast stretch of farms, peaks, rivers, ranches, townships, forests and friendly cities. An organic, ethereal, earnest and commanding presence like a Stevie Nicks-esque bohemian raised on the range — the art of Lissie’s work is in the keen ability to transform the hectic world that we know into a quaint global village surrounded by the roaring splendor of the natural realm. A delivery that awakens the weary and dormant sprite from within and strums the electric chords and strings of the heart, Lissie’s songs make a lonely roadhouse dive sound like a magnificent amphitheater or a Royal Albert Hall sound like a humble wooded cantina outpost in the middle of Nowheresville, USA. Continuing in this tradition is the new album of conflicts, care, quandaries and catharsis titled Carving Canyons. A record developed in Nashville with fellow femme luminaries such as Sarah Buxton, Madi Diaz, Natalie Hemby, Bre Kennedy, Morgan Nagler, Kate York and production by Curt Schneider; Lissie delivers a rugged, raw and righteous epic of love, loss, healing and the limitless prowess of perseverance.

Wild Arrows, Loving the Void (self-released)

Communing in nature with Mike Law of Wild Arrows; photographed by Lindsey Law.

Wild Arrows unleashed an apparition of amour with “Here’s the Ghost” from the album Loving the Void. Lead by Mike Law of EULCID and New Idea Society, the NYC-based artist works under a thesis to make some of the most incredible art never before attempted. While elements might strike notions of familiarity of previous movements and anachronistic aesthetes and such, Law alongside assists from Stephen Brodsky (Cave In) and Alan Cage (Quicksand), Gary Atturio, Grady Walker and Nick Krill collaborate together to create the tones, note sequences and progressions that have never before been heard, felt or experienced before. Far from the futile task of a re-inventing the wheel, Wild Arrows takes aim at the arrangement of moods, textures and tonal landscapes that the world has never before witnessed.

Jennifer Hall, “Belonging Forever” (self-released)

Chicago’s own star Jennifer Hall; photographed by Matthew Gregory Hollis.

Chicago artist Jennifer Hall focuses on the infinite healing powers and properties of art in the face of all obstacles. Having recently graced these pages with the debut of “Why Cut Time” — Hall returns with a simmering synth studded symphony dedicated to the power of creativity and the mesmerizing properties of music with the premiere of “Belonging Forever”. The baggage of unbearable weights beset by the world’s overwhelming tilted whirl is countered with life affirming sung shouts that ring out and resonate to places beyond the material realms that we know all too well. Jennifer edifies the importance of the aesthetics and avenues that lead us toward the precipices of the eternal, stepping through the ineffable slipstreams of vision into new arenas and dimensions of the unknown and never before embarked upon.

Ecstatic International, self-titled (Sister Polygon)

DC’s own disruptors Ecstatic International; press photo courtesy of the band.

Introducing DC’s latest upstarts Ecstatic International, interrupting our regularly scheduled programming with something that is not a technocratic application nor a reproductive health supplement (as seen on tv and on the net, hawked by toxic wannabe demagogues). A group devoted to the radicalization of new riveting rhythms, G.L. Jaguar (Priests) Laura Harris (Ex Hex), Nikhil Rao, Anno (Olivia Neutron-John) and Jacky Cougar Abok (Des Demonas) have banded together under the self-styled banner of ‘radical optimism and energies sourced from Purple Music's outer reaches.’ Collectively EI blends the inner and outer tensions in a synthesis that takes on the conflicts and paradoxes that plague the mind, body, spirit, populous and other aspects of hive consciousness into a cathartic art form.

Katie Lass, Hypnopomp (HHBTM / Remove Records)

Detroit’s rising wonder Katie Lass; press photo courtesy of the artist.

Meet Detroit-based artist Katie Lass who has pressed some of your favorite records on wax and now steps into the spotlight with the debut album Hypnopomp for HHBTM / Remove Records. The gatekeepers of the world might lavish the breakout record with superlatives alluding to subversive artistic movements past, present and future, but what becomes abundantly clear on Hypnopomp is an ambitious approach to experimental world building. A fancy free dawning springs to form on "Can You Take Me Back", to the night riding shades of midnight of "Luster", rhythm collage experiments on "Hypnopompamus", the mesmerizing twinkle and shine of "Ctan6 - !", the echoing coastal balladry that comprises "Shadow on the Shoreline", to orchestrating new takes on the construct of genre with "Nonpop". Atmospheres are created in some unusual manners that oscillate the mind like the coolness of "Claw", the waterside psychotropic escapes of "Seaweedhead", to the further transcendent splashes heard and felt on "Pin & Ripple", weaving new textiles of new wonders with "Porous Rags", producing portals to new realms through "Long Window", as "Eidolon Orbit" summons specters from the netherworlds, concluding the song cycle with the experimental candied canyon warp of "Sugar Chasm".

Tiny the Dream, “Many Selves” (self-released)

The visceral vision realms of Tiny the Dream; photographed by Jeanette Chwan.

Introducing Tiny the Dream, the latest incarnation from Buffalo, NY artist Suzanne Bonifacio that bridges heart beat pulsing beats and evocative atmospheres. Presenting the debut of “Many Selves”, Bonifacio explores the multiplicities of being that re-imagines that infinite roles and realities of everything an individual can be. The moody EDM imbued ambience of the track takes on a subterranean feeling, like adventuring into a clandestine cavern, turned discreet makeshift club by a band of stylish partygoers occupying an abandoned subway station or an ancient repurposed water utility. The serious tone implies pensive and diligent dance step motions, with chopped vocal stem utterances that contribute to an otherworldly sense of awe and elevated headspaces. Tiny the Dream is a re-imagining of the self, the transformation of the artist on their own terms, on account of their own perceptions, thoughts, feelings, visions and more that manifests a rhythmic meditation on the myriad possibilities of personal and creative re-invention. Decidedly different from the emotive chamber guitar pop of Bonifacio’s single “Condense” from last year; Tiny the Dream takes kinetic forms of aesthetic fusions and syntheses to the far out places beyond the constraints of linguistic expressions.

Teen Daze, “New Spirits” (Cascine)

Wizard of wondrous waves — Teen Daze; photograph courtesy of Faked Potatoes.

For over the course of the past 12 plus years, thus has been the creative trajectory of Teen Daze’s Jamison Isaak. The Vancouver-based artist has spanned works that have been lauded with all sorts of innovative superlatives from every corner of the blogosphere to the last bastions and vestiges of print media in praise of Isaak’s breakthroughs of ushering in new degrees and valence levels of ambient rhythmic dimensions. The latest in a catalogue of countless releases is the fresh and fantastical beauty of “New Spirits”. Drawing from the European ambient works of the 1970s to Japan’s city pop movements of the 1980s and even deeper, dustier, record bin grooves — Jamison entertains the mystery of the sensations and worlds that we cannot fully define in the structures, syntax and logic of established lexicons and polytechnical schools of associated sciences. The newest Teen Daze compositions concern themselves with the worlds that are left to the writings, paintings, discourse, et al. of vague conjecture, ethereal questions with ambiguous answers that remain open ended outside the auspices of the experiential mind’s eye [and ear] of the beholder.

2022 releases of import & note:

Beyoncé, Renaissance (Parkwood Entertainment / Columbia Records)

Cites Aviv, Man Plays the Horn

Denzel Curry, Melt My Eyez See Your Future (PH / Loma Vista Recordings)

Alex G, God Save the Animals (Domino)

Cam Maclean, Secret Verses (self-released)

Mitski, Laurel Hell (Dead Oceans)

PLAINS, I Walked with You a Ways (ANTI-)

Sault, Air, 11, AIIR, Earth, Today & Tomorrow, Untitiled (God) (Forever Living Originals)

Steve Lacy, Gemini Rights (RCA)

Terrace, Just Say Maybe (self-released)

Toro y Moi, Mahal (Dead Oceans)

Weyes Blood, And in the Darkness, Hearts Aglow (Sub Pop)

From following the raging northwest fires, the NRA's financial disarray, earthquakes, waves of violence in Chicago, while the drama on the executive level intensifies—Week in Pop is proud to present a wealth of buzz beyond the endless Möbius strips of infinitely scrolling news feed streams. Delivering just some of the top stories we're following, Gabi announced the anticipated new album Empty Me available October 5 via Double Double Whammy and delivered the awe-striking single "Whole With You" along with the grand visual directed by Kenna Hynes; Pussy Riot continue their campaign of international autonomy with their ode to the authorities and more on the visual for "Track About Good Cop"; My Bloody Valentine debuted yet another new song; Connor Youngblood shared the breathtaking Johannes Greve Muskat and Arman Harutyunyan video for "Los Angles" starring Kine Sophie Berntsen from the album Cheyenne available August 17 via Counter Records; Ross From Friends provided some throwback euro footage edited to serve as the visual for "Pale Blue Dot" off the upcoming Brainfeeder album Family Portrait available July 27; Boulevards delivered a summer-styled look at the Sheeraz Balushi visual for "Remedy" ft. vocals from Laura Reed; Cat Power introduced us to the new upcoming anticipated album Wanderer arriving October 5 through Domino; G-Eazy presented the Bay Area-boating visual for "Power" ft. Nef the Pharoah and P-Lo with his "Endless Summer" tour with Lil Uzi Vert in toe; Teddy Glass delivered the electric crooning jam "Lean On"; June West delivered the femme isle illustrations of "Island of Women" from the self-titled album debut available September 14 via Broken Circles; Odina delivered the meditative new single "I’ll Carry You" that resonates like a slow hovering acoustic fog of fancy; London's Earhart delivered the angst energy of "Achtung Heroes"; NUEX shared the visual for the perceptive pop points of "Eyes" off the debut Affectus EP; Atlanta's Ruby Velle & The Soulphonics presented the performance visuals for "Broken Woman" off the State of All Things album; Jackie Venson delivered the styling and super snazzy visual for the super guitar shredding single "Never Say Die"; Mocha Bands delivered the boss visual for the throne claiming "Longevity" via S5studios; Fred Thomas announced the new album Aftering! available September 13 via Polyvinyl, presenting the trippy and grand Jeffrey Freer visual for the anthemic and heavy "Good Times Are Gone Again"; Eves Karydas delivered the diligence of etiquette and decorum with the arty visual for "Couch"; Oakland's own super swinging outfit Van Goat presented the spirited Alex Mallonee visual for "Follow Me Under"; Whitney Ballen delivered the incredible, world sharking single "Rainier" off the album You're A Shooting Star, I'm A Sinking Ship available August 24 via Father/Daughter Records, Substitute Scene Records; Summer Magic shared some sun with the new single "Hey!"; Sarah Sharp shared the passionate and pointed single "Right Through Me" from the Dream EP and also shared the intimate floral adornment visuals for "Pieces"; Wild Rivers presented the visual for rural and rustic visual for the holistic "I Won't Be Back" off their Eighty-Eight EP; Pond shared the planetary pop cadences of "Burnt Out Star"; Chris Orrick shared the innovative and introspective single and Malcolm Critcher & Symeon Platts visual for "Self Portrait" produced by Nolan The Ninja off Ambrosia For Heads available July 19; Spooky Cool dropped the new anthemic single "Old Hair Mine" from the Every Thing Ever EP available August 3 through Citrus City Records; St. Humain delivered the pensive pop pronouncements of "The Thought of You"; Helena Deland delivered the new electro-evocative single "Claudion" from the upcoming Luminelle Recordings release; Trevor Powers presented the new psychically sentimental singles "Clad in Skin" and "Squelch" from the upcoming album Mulberry Violence available August 17 via Baby Halo; Brooklyn's Darkwing signed to Good Eye Records and delivered the visceral and super-shredding new single "Ignorant Ghost"; Andrew Bayer delivered the inspired intimate gazing single "Your Eyes" ft. Ane Brun; Detroit's Ladysse delivered the personal pop of passions and life pursuits via the Not the One EP; RYAN Playground, aka Genevieve Ryan Martel, delivered a listen to the skyward pointed econo-pop of "Pie In The Sky" feat. Robert Robert from the debut album 16/17 via Secret Songs/Last Gang Records; Notthingham artist Nina Smith delivered the spirited sprinting single "Run"; No Dry Country brought the homeland rippers with the album Pandhandle Music; LA's own C C C V L T S S S delivered the almost 10 minute ambient odyssey "Xiphos" via Possible Motive; Louise Cole presented the deck chilling visual for the meditative "Things" from Daniel Sunshine off the Brainfeeder album Time available August 10; Erik Deutsche presented the enchanted and magical Josh Clark animated visuals for "Falling Flowers" ft. Victoria Reed from the album LoHi; Pussy Riot also unleashed the latest arts of dissent with "КОШМАРЫ / NIGHTMARES" along with the vintage video game inspired "Pong!"; James Bay delivered the performance pop for the indulgent "Just For Tonight"; Chicago artist Appleby presented the reflective intimate moments recalled via the StripMall Productions visual for "Young Lost Love" from the Happiness EP available July 27 via Haight; Brother Reverend delivered word of the forthcoming re-release of their album The Tables Turn Too Often; Brooklyn's Parrot Dreams delivered the illuminating single "Light Goes (In MInes)" off the forthcoming album of the same name available August 24 via Good Eye Records; BUHU presented the imaginative and grand visual for the enlightenment seeking "La Truth" from Wayne Dalchau and Holly Bronko from the album Tenets available September 5 via FMF Records; The Growlers announced the new album Casual Acquaintances and their Beach Goth pop up; Illingsworth's album You’re No Fun will be available September 28 via Mello Music Group, sharing the single of learned wisdom and dislikes with "Peeves" ft. Open Mike Eagle; Ex Mykah presents the face, head and mind warping visual for "Faceless"; Spirit of the Beehive announced the album Hypnic Jerks available September 14 via Tiny Engines and delivered the rhetorical rad rocking inquiry of "can i receive the contact?"; Nef The Pharaoh announced The Big Chang Theory debut album available August 10, delivering the title track that spans settings from the classroom to the club; Love Thy Brother delivered the arresting pop single "Arrested" ft. Norma Jean Martine; Rae Isla delivered the powerful messianic proclamation that "Jesus Was a Woman"; The Cradle shared the beautiful new album Bag of Holding via NNA Tapes; Tired All the Time dropped the thrashy, trashy and flashy single "Bone Dry" off Be Well via Flag Day Recordings; Solomon Grey shared the Little Dragon remix of "The Game";

Neneh Cherry presented the marvelous Jenn Nkiru visual for the new single "Kong"; Daniel T. announced the upcoming album Heliotrope via Cascine with a listen to the summer sensational single "Heat-Wave"; Human Touch, aka Natalia Rogovin of Social Studies, delivered the might and majestic mega-ballad "Swan Song"; Stones Throw Records brought back their Dungeon Sessions featuring LA's Kiefer; Mr Eazi presented the inspired visual of creating and sharing agency with "Property" from the forthcoming Life is Eazi, Vol. 2 - Lagos To London; Varsity presented the swim meet visual for "A Friend Named Paul" from Mark Pallman & Amanda Speva off the second album Parallel Person; Austin's Galapaghost provided a preview of the forthcoming innovative DIY album Sootie; The Brevet presented the passionate pop of "So Long" from their upcoming album LEGS available this fall via Pretend City Records; XYLØ delivered the assertive new shut-down anthem "I Don't Want To See You Anymore"; Quickly, Quickly presented the anticipated Over Skies EP via Ta-Ku’s 823 Records; Steven Page presented the lyrical visual that lays the smack down on proponents of hate and intolerance with "White Noise" via Discipline: Heal Thyself, Pt. II; Drake delivered the Karena Evans visual for "In My Feelings"; 6ix9ine delivered the colorful visual for "FEFE" ft. Nicki Minaj and Murda Beatz; Tyler, the Creator presented the Paris posting visual for "Potato Salad" ft. ASAP Rocky; ADULT. announced the new album This Behavior available September 7 via Dais and delivered the visual for the new single "Perversions of Humankind"; DJ Khaled presented the visual for "No Brainer" ft. Chance the Rapper, Justin Bieber and Quavo; Ciara's "Level Up" visual featuring the ReQuest Dance Crew and choreographed by Parris Goebel and also delivered the remix for "Level Up" ft. Missy Elliot and Fatman Scoop; Charli XCX delivered the new jam "Girls Night Out" produced by SOPHIE and Stargate; Miguel dropped the new serpentine single "Python"; Protomartyr and Spray Paint collaborated on the track "Corinthian Leather"; Jungle announced the album For Ever along with the new cuts "Cherry" and "Heavy, California"; Tom Morello announced the new album The Atlas Underground available October 12 via Mom + Pop alongside the tracks "We Don't Need You" ft. Vic Mensa and the track "Battle Sirens" ft. Knife Party; Blood Orange presented the Dev Hynes-directed visual for "Jewelry" starring Janet Mock and the Crack Stevens video for "Charcoal Baby", all from the upcoming album Negro Swan available August 24; Yves Tumor dropped the single "Noid"; Black Thought of The Roots delivered the Trayvon Martin inspired single "Rest in Power"; Kristin Hersh delivered the earth shattering new single "No Shade in Shadow"; Iron & Wine announced the Weed Garden EP available August 31 via Sub Pop and shared the single "What Hurts Worse"; Yoko Ono announced the new album Warzone available October 19 presenting a listen to the timely title track; Migos remixed Rae Sremmurd's popular single "Swang"; Oneohtrix Point Never delivered visuals for "The Station" and "We'll Take It"; Sheck Wes delivered the sinewy and slapping new single "N----s Ain't Close" ft. Lil Yachty; Lil B freesytled over Drake's "In My Feelings"; Arctic Monkeys delivered the visual for "Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino"; Fucked Up announced their new album Dose Your Dreams available October 5 through Merge/Arts and Crafts with a listen to spirit raising new single "Raise Up Your Voice Joyce"; ZHU and Tame Impala delivered the visual for "My Life" starring Willow Smith; Kodie Shane shared the new single and animated visual for "Love & Drugz II" ft. Trippie Redd; Devon Welsh, fka Majical Cloudz announced the debut album Dream Songs available August 24 and delivered the visual for the single "By the Daylight"; Chvrches covered Kendrick Lamar's epic single "LOVE." and dropped the visuals for "Out of My Head" ft. Wednesday Campanella; Vanessa Carlton covered Elliott Smith's "Needle in the Hay"; The Prodigy announced the new album No Tourists available November 2 with a look at the Paco Raterta visual for "Need Some1"; Death Cab for Cutie provided a listen to the new single "I Dreamt We Spoke Again"; DRAM dropped the anticipated That's a Girls Name EP; Jlin announced Autobiography and shared the jagged and dazzling "The Abyss of Doubt"; Waxahatchee announced the new EP Great Thunder available September 7 via Merge and delivered the Christopher Good visual for "Chapel of Pines"; Jack White dropped the Jodeb visual for "Corporation"; Travis Scott dropped new jams; Danny Brown on "Detroiters"; more M.I.A. doc buzz; a reworked rendering of David Bowie's "Zeroes" emerged, as well as a long lost first demo that has also appeared and news of the David Bowie VR Experience; the return of Jean Luc Picard; Faun Family prepare to take on California; Kendrick Lamar appeared on 50 Cent's "Power"; GØGGS announced the new album Pre Strike Sweep and dropped the title track; Deafheaven delivered the visual for "Night People" ft. Chelsea Wolfe; Neko Case presented the surrealist Xan Aranda visual for "Curse of the I-5 Corridor" ft. Mark Lanegan; Laura Jane Grace's band Laura Jane Grace & the Devouring Mothers announced their debut album available this fall via Bloodshot Records; Vampire Weekend and Danielle Haim covered Thin Lizzy's "The Boys are Back in Town"; elusive Aphex Twin posters have emerged promoting the new Collapse EP; Drake is producing a new HBO show called "Euphoria"; alt-J delivered the Osean video for "In Cold Blood (Twin Shadow version)" ft. Pusha T; Lauryn Hill's Woolrich apparel line; Chief Keef's hologram tour; Spice Girls' new exhibition; G-Eazy's "Endless Summer Fund"; Sky Ferreira versus Soundcloud and and covered 'Til Tuesday's "Voices Carry"; Alaska Airlines' Sub Pop plane; Sensoria Festival buzz; Brandi Carlile announced the female fronted lineup concert destination event "Girls Just Wanna Weekend"; buzz for Rolling Loud Bay Area 2018; NYC's Panorama fest canceled; Cherry Glazerr called out sexism in the industry; R. Kelly's 19-minute convoluted and baffling confessional "I Admit It"; sexual assault reported at a Wrigley Field Foo Fighters concert; Mercury prize hype; we send warmest our warmest regards and support to Demi Lovato; Target's CBGB storefront fail; Phil Elverum's clandestine marriage to Michelle Williams; Lisa Prank versus Elon Musk beef has been squashed; Dasher are done; Diarrhea Planet announced their final shows; Hoops are on an indefinite hiatus; Trust Fund threw in the towel; Minus the Bear announced their break-up tour; and we celebrate the life and works of Sam Mehran, Jonathan Gold, Rick "Zombie Boy" Genest, Mark "The Shark" Shelton, John Maus's brother Joseph Scott Maus and Dr. Julia Yasuda.

Keep up with all the buzz via Week in Pop's expansive news section.

So Many Wizards presented a look at the performance art-pop visual from Steven Tralongo for the vision steeped single "Millipede"; DRÆMINGS haunted the hollow halls of summer symbiosis with their new single "Siamese Flame" via Plag Records; Lauren Turk presented the moving piano painted new single "See You Again"; Melbourne beat-smith Christopher Port delivered the dance path seeking single "Find a Way" from the forthcoming Future Classic / Pieater EP; Leah Kate delivered the lavish pop ode to "LA"; Amazon to LeFrak delivered the enthusiastic innovations of the New Optimism EP via Phantom Limb; FMB DZ delivered the anticipated release In My Bag; BROCKHAMPTON dropped the new jams "1997 DIANA" and "DON'T BE FAMOUS"; Brazilian artist Das Kope delivered the cool soaring and coasting new single that takes a smooth landing at "L.A.X."; Dâm-Funk shared the new snazzy synth and sun soaked single "In the City" from the forthcoming Architecture II EP available August 3 via Glydezone/SAFT18; Calvin Johnson announced the Patrick Carney-produced album A Wonderful Beast available October 12 via K Records, presenting a listen to the intimate invitations to "Kiss Me Sweetly" ft. Michelle Branch; Clearance delivered the anticipated album At Your Leisure via Topshelf Records; Beacon presented a look at the earnest and intimate Jacob Gossett & Danny Scales visual for the piano based ballad "Losing My Mind" via Ghostly; Echlo announced the debut album Echolocation available October 26 via Kowloon Records, sharing a look at the sensuous and expressive single and visual for "Got Me Drinking"; Seattle's Spesh made a splash with their top textural and shimmering single "Teflon" with word of their forthcoming debut album Famous World available September 28 through Killroom Records; Object as Subject presented the visceral visual for the potent powder keg that is "Removal" off the album Permission available August 17; Silent Rival presented the performance visual for "Just One Voice"; Robyn delivered the Danilo Parra visual for "Missing U"; Tim Hecker announced the new album Konoyo available September 28 via Kranky and delivered the single "This life"; Geographer remixed STRFKR's "Maps" with Being No One, Going Nowhere (REMIXES) available August 17 via Polyvinyl Record Co.; Anna Calvi delivered the intimate expressions of the title track off the upcoming album Hunter available August 31 via Domino; Magic Potion announced the new album Endless Graffiti available October 26 via PNKSLM Recordings with a viewing of the summer styled visuals for "Shock Proof"; The Mommyheads present the cataclysmic visuals of apocalyptic everything for "First Baby Born of Cosmic Rage" featured off the upcoming Soundtrack to the World's End available September 7; Dead Ceremony presented the title track of earnest illustrations and exchanges off the Heartache EP; Lina Tullgren presented a look at the Shane Beam-animated visuals for "Always Fine" ft. NTHNL; Arthur Moon presented the vintage city-streaked visuals of equality and justice for all with "Wait a Minute"; Exploded View presents the A. Henderson bike-riding visuals for the electro-synth simmering "Sleepers" from the forthcoming Obey available September 28 via Sacred Bones; KingJet presented the romantic summer inspired visuals from Alec Basse & Max Moore for "Lifeguard"; Vallejo's KiingRod dropped the track "Bank Roll" ft. YBN Nahmir off Just the Beginning; Justin Courtney Pierre announced the solo album In the Drink available October 12 via Epitaph sharing the visual of madness and mayhem for the mighty title track; Swearin’ announced their anticipated new album Fall Into the Sun available October 5 via Merge with a listen to the radical new single "Grow Into a Ghost"; Spiritualized presented the new awaited single "Here It Comes (The Road) Let’s Go" off the forthcoming album And Nothing Hurt available September 7; Interpol dropped "10"; Wild Nothing delivered the intense Nathaniel Axel & David MacNutt video for the epic new single "Letting Go"; Marlowe, L’Orange & Solemn Brigham, presented a look at the organic final frontier visual for "Things We Summon” from Alexander Thompson; L.I.YA., aka Kaya Stewart alongside Jamie Lidell, delivered the west coast dreaming economic audio beat of "California"; Phosphorescent announced the new album C’est La Vie available October 5 via Dead Oceans and delivered a listen to the jubilant and thoughtful single "New Birth in New England"; Delta Will delivered a listen to the evocative audio illustrations that comprise the new EP Multitudes I; Jade Bird delivered the new single "Uh Huh" via Glassnote Records; Joey Sweeney & the Neon Grease delivered the classic ballad "Polaroids on the Floor" off the upcoming album Catholic School; North London rising star Sasha turned on the electric emotive "Waterworks"; Cosmic Strip sent us all the celestial vibes with "Heavenly"; Lily Moore presented a look at the expressive day strolling visual for "I Will Never Be"; Millie Turner delivered the mad moving Marta Brodacka visual for "She Was a Dancer"; Bungalow from Amsterdam delivered the lovely sensuous electro essences of "Loving It"; Nah. presented the summer sun enriching single of intimate engagements "Vitamin D"; Tiffany Young presented the big production visual for "Over My Skin"; Minneapolis band Bad Bad Hats presented the video screen Dan Stewart visual for the cool feeling fun of "Nothing Gets Me High"; United Ghosts shared the paranormal cool coasting pop of "Ride Baby Ride" featured off the Saturn Days album available August 24 via Cleopatra; NEW_ID delivered the cool-clubbing remix of Matt Simons' single "We Can Do Better"; Ro Ransom presented a look at the visual for the hedonistic meditations titled "Floetry" ft. Kensei Abbot; Miss Eaves presented the bright Shanthony Exum visual for the self-image embracing jam "Kiss Kiss I'm Fabulous" from the forthcoming EP ME AF; France's Dusty Mush announced the new Slimer Records flexy disc The Ostrich Effect; Moses Sumney delivered the powerful and awakening "Rank & File" off the upcoming EP Black in Deep Red, 2014 available August 10 via Jagjaguwar; $uicideboy$ dropped the hard rolling "Carrollton" off the forthcoming I Want To Die in New Orleans available September 7; Drake's visual for "Nonstop"; YG dropped the bootcamp for ballers visual for the single "Handgun" ft. ASAP Rocky; Migos & DJ Durel dropped the sunny shoulder shaking vibes of "Hot Summer"; Elvis Costello and the Imposters announced the new album Look Now available October 12 via Concord with a listen to "Unwanted Number" and "Under Lime"; T Barz delivered a listen to the nation dominating freestyle "1998"; Dev Ray delivered the anticipated new single that emerges from all senses of obfuscation with "Can’t Hide" via Dangerbird's new MICRODOSE Series; Eldren delivered the pop designs of desires with "Still Want More"; Drake delivered the Karena Evans visual for "In My Feelings"

As the world continues to spin with brands restructuring, strange pseudo-reconciliations and the bizarre G7 fallout—Week in Pop delivers a view of creative cultures in motion. Today's top news is that DC's Loi Loi debuted one of their most mesmerizing and hypnotizing singles to date with "Black Widow" off the upcoming BLIGHT.Records compilation arriving soon; Cool Calm Chrys dropped another Quickstrike single on us with the late night/early morning vibrations with the "4AM Calabasas Flow" (freestyle) produced by ELEVATE; Kanye West and Kid Cudi's Santa Clarita listening party to celebrate the anticipated release of Kids See Ghosts; wifisfuneral delivered us a listen to the Ethernet Mixtape ft. YBN Nahmir, Jay Critch, Lil Skies, etc; Death Grips announced that their new album Year of the Snitch will be available June 22 and shared the new tripped-out track "Ha ha ha"; Interpol dropped "The Rover"; Toronto's Wild Rivers delivered a listen to the organic expressions of "Howling" featured off their upcoming EP Eighty-Eight arriving later this year; lost John Coltrane album Both Directions at Once: the Lost Album will arrive June 29 and you can get a first taste with the lush brass and keys wonderland "Untitled Original 11383"; The Cabin Fever presented the visual for "The Brown Bunny" performed live in-studio; THEY. dropped the new radically r&b jam "Pops" just in time for Father's Day; Yasmine Hamdan dropped the Jamilat Reprise remix disc via Crammed Discs, along with a look at the warm, sunny and jubilant "Douss (George Bshoum remix)" video from Ingrid Bawab; Michael Blume dropped the expressive and evocative EP cynicism & sincerity; Silver Twins brought the power garage super-production buzz cut with the hi-kicks and hi-hats of "Bruce Lee"; Clean Spill announced the Nothing's On My Mind EP available this summer and shared a listen to sweet Santa Barbara slacker pop of "Doctor"; Vancouver's Yung Heazy presented a kicked-back look at the Christian O'Keefe, Michael Priestly and Kris Baldwin animated visual for "Zugzwang" from the debut album Whenever You're Around I Hate Everything Less; swim good announced the upcoming album Daylight available June 15 through Secret Songs with a listen to the day-tripping track "Previously" ft. Anna Wiebe, Japanese Wallpaper & CLLLAPS; Melii transforms their entire world into one big dance floor in the visual for "Charlie's Line"; Kraus announces tour dates with a look at the visual for televised distorted views for the dissonance indulging track "Bum" along with a captivating Niilas remix of Gundelach's "Slo Rock"; with news of west coast dates, The Ophelias presented the ethereal pop powerhouse "General Electric"; Berlin artist MIKEY. delivered the Paths EP; Chicago artist Marcus Atom released the thoughtful narrative tales, tribulations and progressions arranged in the key of life on "Son of a Bad Man"; Culture Abuse delivered the inventive and creative Ryan Baxley video for "Dip" from the album Bay Dream available June 15; Nashville's Palm Ghosts released the endearing dream textured album Architecture via Ice Queen Records/Flour Sack Cape Records; Vic Mensa delivered the cool-cruising single "Reverse" ft. G-Eazy; Social Station dropped the Try (Cross My Heart) remixes from Br'er, Hollowboy, The Holy Circle, Bleak and Red this Ever; Lauren Waller cast a UV electric ray with the fresh new summer saturated single "Sunshine";

Lil Baby dropped the fancy Sara Lacombe video for "First Class"; Paul McDonald delivered the fashionable video for the groovy single "Hold On" off the recently released debut solo album Modern Hearts; Taylor Phelan followed up the EP 1 of 2 with the anthemic, ceiling raising 2 of 2 EP; Miss Eaves presented the honest, humorous and real life salon quandaries "Bush For the Push" produced by KEISHH and directed by Shanthony Exum & April Maxey off the ME AF EP available August 3; Kate Renegade released the anticipated and radical new album New Unquiet Life engineered by Steve Albini at Electrical Audio; Kingston, Ontario's Deux Trois delivered the endearing and entrancing Health EP; LA pop royalty Deap Vally comprised of Julie Edwards Pirrone and Lindsey Troy delivered the delightfully distorted visuals from John Stavas to match the astounding and awesome attitude and energy of their single "Get Done"; Hockeysmith, the passion project from Annie Hockeysmith are back with the mind-twisting new single "Holy War"; Long Neck released Will This Do? via Tiny Engines with news of a summer tour with Fern Mayo; A Flock of Seagulls reunion is in full effect with a look at their eternal classic "Space Age Love Song" performed with the Prague, Philharmonic Orchestra; Reed Turchi & His Kudzu Choir shared the rustic and organic classic-choir title track "Just a Little More Faith" off the album of the same name; Gabe Gurnsey delivered the snazzy and stylish new single "Eyes Over" from the upcoming debut album Physical available August 3 via Phantasy with news of tour dates with Nine Inch Nails; Delhia de France delivered the lavish and intoxicating debut single "Waterfalls" from the upcoming EP Moirai available July 13 via Trees and Cyborgs; Nicki Minaj dropped the carnal and caviar dripping single "Rich Sex" ft. Lil Wayne; Japanese Breakfast announced the scoring of soundtrack for the video game Sable; Jon Spencer announced the solo album debut Spencer Sings the Hits! available early fall through In the Red Records and delivered the first single "Do the Trash Can"; Sufjan Stevens impact on a video game; Spiritualized announced the new album And Nothing Hurt available September 7 via Fat Possum/Bella Union and dropped the serenity sailing "A Perfect Miracle" and the Juliette Larthe video for "I'm Your Man"; Alexa Melo covered Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy" via the cinematic Daniel Garcia-directed visual ; Bart Davenport and the Bedazzled presented the nouvelle vague b/w Justin D. Frahm visual for "Halloween By the Sea" off the album Blue Motel available via Lovemonk, Légère Recordings / Burger Tapes; Cumulus, aka Alex Niedzialkowski, delivered the anthem of respect and kindness "Retreat" from the upcoming second album arriving this fall via Trans-Records; Joel Malka presented the single sleepy and dream laden single "Dead To The World" via Tenacity Records; Suicideyear announced the new album Color The Weather available July 6 via LuckyMe delivering a listen to the embrace of infinite moments with "Days Forever" ft. Georgia; Quebec's Scattered Clouds brought the rumbling earth and skies with the cool clamor of "Justice"; Deafheaven shared the new single "Canary Yellow" featured off the upcoming album Ordinary Corrupt Human Love available July 13 via ANTI- Records; Atlanta’s own Gringo Star delivered the laid back beauty of "Easy" off the album Back To The City available August 24 via Nevado Music;

Kristin Hersh delivered the dissonant breaths of "Breathe In" off of the Possible Dust Clouds album for Fire Records with news of a UK tour; The Slovaks' Adam Saylaby, Luke Allen, and Luke Barton rocked us righteously with the kinetic, cool and creative visuals for "101st" off their Jeffrey Drag Records album Get Down; Seattle's Future Shock delivered the cosmic constellation adventuring single "Starz"; Portland Maine's own Fyvr announced Forget available July 13, with 5554ever available August 17 via Young Heavy Souls, delivering the visual for the the title track "Forget"; Pure Bathing Culture to cover The Blue Nile's album Hats in full, delivering the weekend basking single "Saturday Night" ft. Ben Gibbard; buzz for The Growlers' Beach Goth 2018 taking place in LA August 5; audiobooks delivered the dance-floor du jour of "Hot Salt" from the Gothenburg EP courtesy of Heavenly Recordings; Houndmouth announced the new album Golden Age available August 3 via Reprise Records; Chromatics delivered the cinematic art-house Rene Hallen video for "Blue Girl" off the upcoming and anticipated new album Dear Tommy; Casiotone for the Painfully Alone are re-issuing Etiquette July 13 via Orindal Records, sharing the previously unreleased and catchy cut "White Corolla (version)"; Fling delivered the illustrious and illuminated new single "Extra Special" courtesy of Dance to the Radio; Best Coast announced the children's album Best Kids available June 22, delivering the upbeat and bright "Cats and Dogs" single; Kelly Willis delivered the b/w Spencer Peeples video for the ode to perseverance "Don't Step Away" off the album Back Being Blue via Thirty Tigers/Premium Records; Mirah announced the new album Understanding available September 7 via Absolute Magnitude delivering the elemental warmth and majesty of "Hot Hot"; FTRZ sent words of The Ocean Park EP available August 24 with a look and listen at the summer sensations of "Models"; Gabriel Garzón-Montano delivered a look at the Max Basch video odyssey for the spirit soaring track "Golden Wings" courtesy of Stones Throw; LA Jenny March followed up "California Daze" with the big radio pop decadence of "Talk To Me"; Low announced the new album Double Negative available September 14 via Sub Pop, dropping the new singles "Quorum", "Dancing and Blood" and "Fly"; Smashing Pumpkins returned with "Solara"; Joey Bada$$ re-released 1999 and announced lineup for STEEZ Day, happening in NYC's Central Park July 8; David Lynch's biography Room to Dreams will be available June 19 through Random House; Kanye West and Kim Kardashian West's "Family Feud"  business; Deftones' own Chino Moreno dropped the track "Brief Exchange"; M. Ward released the surprise album What a Wonderful Industry; Kris Gruen & Peter Morén delivered a look at the Martin Hedman-directed visuals of frontier images that stretch outward to the reaches of the city for "Everyday and Night Now"; Luke James Shaffer delivered some sentimental hand-raised to the sky pop with "How Sweet the Sound"; Dr. Martens x designer Peter Saville's Joy Division/New Order boot line; Moby is selling his record collection; LVL UP called it a day, gracing us with the gorgeous single "Orchard"; and we celebrate the life and work of iconic Village Vanguard owner/advocate Lorraine Gordon, Anthony Bourdain and Fleetwood Mac's Danny Kirwan.

Read up on all the latest breaking developments via Week in Pop's news department.

Amid all the drama on the world stage, has-been meltdowns, along with other geopolitical messes—Week in Pop provides a quick snapshot glimmer of the biggest buzz that the headline hype has drowned out. Exhibiting now a roundup of the latest emergent media, we present the latest news with word that Jay Rock delivered a look at the Dave Meyers-directed visual for the Kendrick Lamar collaboration "WIN"; Kendrick Lamar received his Pulitzer; Minneapolis three piece ahem announced their new EP Chutes and Ladders arriving June 22 via Forged Artifacts & rocked the world with the addictive and instantly infectious single "Air Supply"; Drake delivered the new single "I'm Upset" off the forthcoming album Scorpion (but more on Dreezy later); Kristin Hersh announced UK tour dates (that includes London's Meltdown Festival) with news of Fire Records signing for the upcoming album Possible Dust Clouds, delivering a listen to jet-setting single "LAX"; Sean Henry shared a look at the Ryan Schnackenberg vampirical visuals for the DIY ballad "The Ant" of the upcoming album Fink available July 12 via Double Double Whammy; Marlowe (L’Orange & Solemn Brigham) release their self-titled collaborative album July 13 via Mello Music Group and shared a demonstrative listen to hard hitting new single "Demonstration"; announcing an EU tour, The Soft Moon presented a look at the analog b/w video from Kelsey Henderson for the jagged single "Like a Father"; Broken Bellows shared the brightly arranged single "Dangerous Game" featured off the upcoming album I, Kaleidoscope available July 13 via Fervor Records; Marquis Hill started the day off proper with the meditative single that floats between the sky and outer-space with "Good Morning" ft. King Legend and Mic We$t off of Meditation Tape EP - King Legend & Mic We$t Takeover available June 22; Two Meters' new single "Captive Audience" completely captivated our hearts and spirits off the self-titled EP available June 15 from Very Jazzed; DJ Paypal delivered the full-length 174.2.2; Father John Misty debuted "Please Don't Die", along with the Chris Hopewell stop-motion visual for "Please Don't Die"; Boogie delivered the slick and surreal visual for the slapping single "Self Destruction" from Justice Baiden with AJR films; Loona yyxy delivered the single "love4eva" ft. Grimes; DJ Premiere remixed J Cole's "1985 (Intro to “The Fall Off”)"; Galway, Ireland band Dott lead by Anna McCarthy shared the Lakshika Serasinhe & Manolo Marceno video for "Bleached Blonde" that takes the audience on a surf-rocking adventure off the coast of Lahinch, featured off the upcoming Heart Swell album available June 8 from Graveface Records; Thom Yorke debuted the new song "The Axe" ; Perfume Genius's Reshaped will be available June 8 through Matador, sharing a listen to the electro-haunting King Princess remix of "Run Me Through"; Cardi B, Bad Bunny, J Balvin delivered the extravagant Eif Rivera visual for the equally extravagant "I Like It"; The Room in The Wood announced the self-titled for A Turntable Friend Records arriving June 22, sharing a look at the cryptic visuals for "Magical Thinking" along with a listen to the reflective sky-gazing "Greedy Stars"; American Pleasure Club released their TOUR TAPE; Kin Hana presented the sea-flowing single "Long Hair" featured off the debut album Au Sable available July 13 via Black Meadow; Thyla presented us with their new single "Blame" courtesy of B3SCI Records that delivers more of their beguiling electric pop wizardry;

Mac Miller dropped the new singles "Buttons", "Programs" and "Small Worlds"; Trevor Powers, fka Youth Lagoon, announced the album Mulberry Violence available August 17 through Baby Halo, sharing the singles "Ache" and "Plaster Saint"; Boy Bjorn presented a sentimental look at the home-movie visuals for "Anchorage" courtesy of the Communion Group Ltd; The Happy Fits presented the grandiose main-stage stealer "Grow Back" featured off their debut album Concentrate available June 15 with a release showing in Brooklyn happening July 5; Kamasi Washington delivered an ode to a certain Capcom game series with "Street Fighter Mas"; Denmark group AyOwA shared the expressive new subtle electro-enhanced single "Alt Det Du Ku” from the upcoming Goodbye EP; The Internet delivered the inviting new single "Come Over" off the upcoming album Hive Mind; DANI delivered the expansive and evocative oceanic "Blue" single; Innsyter delivered a lo-fi listen to the Magnetic Healing EP via Contort Yourself; Run the Jewels delivered the bossy and flossy Smiff & Cash remix of "Stay Gold"; black midi presented a listen to the head bouncing debut single "bmbmbm” available June 8 via Speedy Wunderground; Suicideyear & Yung Lean dropped the new collaborative mystic-vibes single "Spider Feet"; Omar Apollo presented the Mike Alfred of Illegal Civilization visual of ennui and amour for "UGotMe" featured off the EP Stereo; Jordan Thomas, aka gentle j, shared the desert adventure visual for the lo-fi frequencies of "Smoking"; Wild Pink announced the upcoming second album Yolk In The Fur available July 20 via Tiny Engines, sharing the bright and brilliant twang-tinged single "There Is A Ledger"; Nashville's one and only Bad Cop return with the new album Hello Mr. Sunshine arriving this Friday, June 1 via Jeffrey Drag Records with a listen to the inspired energy of "AlviCass" and the endearing vision-entertaining "Dreamer Man"; The Brazen Youth announced their second album Primitive Initiative available August 17 with a listen to the sentimental, serious and serene singles "Back of My Mind" and "Death:posed"; Shaman Elect delivered the dub arranged adventure pop odyssey "Hugo of Bath" featured off the debut album Mind the Ether; Lydia presented a look at the prestigious visual for the smooth and bright single "Sunlight" featured off the forthcoming album Liquor available July 13 via Sony label Weekday Records; Night Riots presented the heart-wrought single of high-stakes and high emotions with "On The Line"; Tucson group Mute Swan announced tour dates, delivered a look at the analog video for the fun and fuzzy pop gem "Enough Fun"; Nashville's own MONA dropped their dramatic and epic new single "Thought Provoked" off the upcoming album Soldier On available June 22 through Bright Antenna; Cozmic shared the sunshine-saturated sentiments with the big ultra-pop single "Not Ready for Summer"; playing Burger Boogaloo July 1, Subsonics unveiled the eye-blinking vintage looking video for "You Got Eyes" off the album Flesh Colored Paint from Slovenly Recordings; Krown & Lock delivered the club banger "Diplomatico" (Vernon Douglas PumpinDeep Dub); High Disciple (featuring members from Texas is the Reason, Jets to Brazil, 108) delivered a listen to their self-titled available June 1 via Ernest Jenning Record Co.; Ditches presented the subdued and smoky single "Setting In" featured off the San Diego group's upcoming album Not Your Mirror available in late 2018; Real Gone Music  are releasing the double LP set from Ben Folds Five titled The Complete Sessions at West 54th July 13;

Liz Brasher presented a look & listen at the rustic, radical and rugged jam "Hard Times On Me" performed live at JITVHQ in Los Angeles; Kevin Devine's digital split with Worriers as part of the Devinyl Splits: Unplanned Service Changes series available June 1 from Bad Timing Records sharing the Devine's brilliant ballad "Outstretched & Never-Ending" and the hymn in the key of good news flowing forever titled "No More Bad News"; Blushh delivered the latest ultra-amazing anthem from Shab Ferdowsi titled "I'm Over It" from the upcoming release Thx 4 Asking available June 15 via Yellow K Records; The Magic Numbers delivered the cool-motorcycle cruising visual of volition geared for the wild roads for "Ride Against the Wind" featured off the Outsiders album from Park the Van Records; GNUČČI gave us a karate lesson in kicking butts and believing in our own autonomy with the Sophie Vukovic video for "Little Girl" ft. Nire & Nani Castle featured off the album You Good I’m Good Let’s Be Great; Boston's AD.UL.T. annihilated our speakers with their blistering oddball ode "Pole Shift"  announced the upcoming EP A Dainty Bit available July 13; Foreign Poetry presented a look at the majestic town and country visuals for "MHL" by Apparat Lux from the forthcoming album Grace & Error on The Edge of Now available later this year courtesy of Pataca Discos; Gorillaz announced the new album The Now Now album available June 29; Sarah P.'s single "Golden Deer" ft. Hiras received a lyric video treatment from Dope Lyrics; Jeff Goldblum is slated to release a debut jazz album via Decca; Weezer covered Toto's "Africa"; Iggy Pop and Underworld collaborated on the new spoken-world track "Bells & Circles"; Ryan Adams' song for the station 105.5: The Colorado Sound; Belle and Sebastian announced a boat cruise music fest called The Boaty Weekender; Sub Pop's 30th anniversary celebration SPF30 with Seattle shows August 10-11; Goon's Kenny Becker along with Unscene's Jake Whitener announced the return of their curated Unscene Fest happening June 30 & July 1 at the Hi Hat in Los Angeles; Boiler Room launched the video site 4:3; Cage The Elephant's Matt Shultz will be curating Bonnaroo's "Happy Rooday!" hootenanny; Corona Electric Beach at Spring Awakening buzz; The Flaming Lips launched the podcast titled "Sorcerer's Orphan"; Vampire Weekend are back on Instagram; Mac DeMarco's turkey outfitted dance party; Kanye West's organization Donda's House Inc. is not apparently not in good standing; also the estate of Whitney Houston is "extremely disappointed" in Kanye's choice for the cover of Pusha-T's album DAYTONA; Pusha-T responded to Drake's "Infrared" response, "Duppy Freestyle" with "The Story of Adidon" that features the beat to JAY-Z's "Story of O.J."; Pusha-T discussed the Drake diss further, and the dialogues still continue; Bon Iver's manager Kyle Frenette withdrew his congressional candidacy; we wish SZA an expedient recovery; Charli XCX addressed the "Girls" controversy; BROCKHAMPTON kicked out Ameer Vann over sexual misconduct accusations; Kesha's legal entanglements with Dr. Luke continue; Kim Kardashian went to Washington; Wing Dam performed their final show at Baltimore's The Windup Space; and we celebrate the life and works of Anal C-nt's Josh Martin and Jonathan Fire*Eater’s Stewart Lupton.

Keep up with all the breaking developments via Week in Pop's news section.

From the bait and switch antics on the international stage to the deluge of GDPR notices flooding our inboxes—Week in Pop delivers you the biggest buzz we're following at the moment. We bring news that our heroes Downtown Boys continue to inspire us with a radical and styling cover of Selena’s "Fotos Y Recuerdos" ahead of headlining tour dates running June 1-9; Pusha-T released the Kanye West produced album DAYTONA that has captured the attention of the pop world; Azealia Banks takes the audience to a warehouse for an impromptu dance session in the Matt Sukkar visual for "Anna Wintour"; Goon signed to Partisan Records with a listen to the new sensational and serene single "Choke Throat" as they prepare to embark up their first ever tour this summer that will see the physical release of the Dusk of Punk/Happen Omen EPs arriving July 13; LA's Polyplastic announced the forthcoming EP Not No available June 29 as shared a listen to the spirited new singles "Next Slide" and "Memphian Circles"; Cuban Doll presented a look at the Sara Lacombe supermarket sweeping visual for "Bankrupt Remix" ft. Lil Yachty & Lil Baby; Liza Anne brought the world a look at the inspired forest dances seen in the video for "Kid Gloves"; CHICKN delivered a look at the decadent & wildly festive Marina Danezi visual for the equally energetic single "Am I Cher?" off their album WOWSERS! courtesy of Inner Ear Records; experience the ultra-economic big pop styles of AKA George with the new single "Blazing"; Sacred Bones will release Julee Cruise demos along with the 1993 album The Voice of Love on wax August 17 via Sacred Bones & shared the goosebumps-inducing demo for "Floating"; Arp announced the new album ZEBRA available June 22 via Mexican Summer, showcasing the video for "Fluorescences" filmed in NYC on Super8 film by Shawn Brackbill, Alex Georgopoulos and starring Monica Hofstadter that celebrates the aesthetics of life and the cycles of seasons; PC Music delivered more poppy maximalism with the bouncy single "Be Your USA" from EASYFUN; Zaytoven released the debut album Trap Holizay; Litte Snake delivered the Enter EP via Brainfeeder; Hatchie released the Sugar & Spice EP via Double Double Whammy that includes the glimmering previously unreleased single "Bad Guy"; Jenny Hval released The Long Sleep EP via Sacred Bones with a viewing of the decadent and exotic Constance Tenvik visual for "Spells";

YG delivered the money in the bank single "Big Bank" ft. 2 Chainz, Big Sean & Nicki Minaj; Rüfüs Du Sol delivered the electro paradise pop cadences of "No Place"; Norway's Pen Gutt delivered the liberating and self-celebrating single "Independent" courtesy of Terrible Records; Seattle's Mommy Long Legs just announced the new album Try Your Best available June 22 and rocked the world with the marital-mania of "Bridezilla"; Liam Gallagher delivered the Charlie Lightening mad-for-it video for "I've All I Need" off the album As You Were; LUI HILL provided a look at the evening visuals from Christoph Varga for the sentimental semantics of "Words Become Useless"; Stumptown Music Project: Workers Comp Vol. II dropped; Gurr delivered the sun & fun featured in the Maximilian Wiedenhofer-directed visual for "Hot Summer"; Moon Honey presented the lavish Jess Joy and Colleen Louise Berry art-house visual for "That Dog" from the upcoming release Mixed Media On Woman available September 4; Prefuse 73 released the new album Sacrifices; Denzel Curry delivered the rapid flow rhymes on medication and more with "Percs"; Ella Grace provided the inspiring graces of inspiration with "Run"; Oneohtrix Point Never unveiled MYRIAD; A$AP Rocky released the new album TESTING; The Mobros shared the Kelly Morris visual for the heart-felt ode "Carrie Anne"; Manchester duo Lost Under Heaven signed an international deal with Third Side Music; Pass Away, members of I Am The Avalanche and Crime In Stereo, dropped the new album The Hell I've Always Seen via Suburbia Records; Moses Sumney delivered the sensual, evocative & provocative EP Make Out In My Car: Chameleon Suite; The Flaming Lips unleashed the mighty "Enthusiasm For Life Defeats Existential Fear Part 2" featured on Greatest Hits Vol. 1 Deluxe Edition available June 1 via Warner Bros. Records; Ocean Hope finally released the debut album Rolling Days available now from Hush Hush Records; Jade Bird delivered the emotive expressions with "Furious"; Peach Kelli Pop released the lauded new album Gentle Leader via Mint Records; Jake Shears announced the self-titled solo album debut available August 10 & delivered the Mac Boucher video for "Creep City"; Billy and Dolly deliver the DIY art-pop arranged single & visual for "Can't Stay Calm" from the forthcoming album Five Suns Five Suns available June 8 via Shit Krystal Records; 

Soulwax delivered the smooth, slick and silky stylings of "Essential Three" from the Essential album available June 22 via DEEWEE / [PIAS]; Anohni delivered the sincere and supernatural "Miracle Now"; Queens electro-creative Eric Benoit gave the world the anticipated new EP Black Currant; Austin's Kady Rain penned an anthem for abuse survivors that is a testament to the strength of the spirit with "It Wasn't the Rose"; Smokescreens sent us some fresh new skronk with "Someone New" from the upcoming Slumberland album Used To Yesterday available July 13 on Slumberland Records; The Love-Birds unveiled their debut album In the Lover's Corner for Trouble In Mind Records with a look at the Winston Merchan and Tsering Norbu San Francisco-strolling visual for the power pop gem "Gerrit"; MIKE delivered Black Soap via Lex Records alongside the rooftop pontificating visual from Joygill Moriah, Camden Maalik and Michael J. Bonema for "Ministry"; James Blake presented the subdued collaboration with Dominic Maker from Mount Kimbie with "Don't Miss It"; Sleep unleashed a 16-minute massive doom droning jam with "Leagues Beneath"; Brazil's Balako delivered the infectious dance-floor burner "Jungle Music" via Greco-Roman; Clearance signed to Topshelf Records with news that their new album At Your Leisure will be available July 27, sharing the stylish performance visual for "Had a Fantastic"; LA's own Cape Weather gifted the world with the lovely and lush new single "Never Say" courtesy of Future Gods; Abel Tesfaye of the Weeknd announced the creative and digital incubator HXOUSE; buzz for Oakland's Feels 6 festival; J. Cole talked to Lil Pump; Common assisted with Starbucks' training video to combat racial bias; Ariana Grande commented on breaking up with Mac Miller; Vevo restructuring to focus solely on YouTube; and we celebrate the life and innovations gifted to the world by fuzz pedal engineer/inventor Glenn Snoddy.

Follow all the buzz and more via Week in Pop's news series.