We’re having a big pop week here at Activaire, filled with tracks from the next generation of rising pop stars from all corners of the music world that you need to know now.
Ledbyher - SEE YA
Named after a line from one of the most famous English romantic poems, William Wordsworth’s The Prelude, Indonesian-Scottish rapper/singer Ledbyher is a part of one of the internet’s most captivating music scenes in the last year. The UK Underground rap scene has become a sprawling space for genre-bending and artistic crossovers, making the genre one of the country’s most important modern exports (as we have seen from Timothee Chalamet and Esdeekid’s recent crossover). Ledbyher is spearheading this movement with her lo-fi and indie rock-inspired raps, earning herself the nickname “The Elephant,” coincidentally becoming the name of her latest EP. One track from her new project, SEE YA, is a hazy and drum-driven indie rap cut defined by Ledbyher’s nonchalant attitude, a breezy rock-influenced instrumental, and vocal passages that effortlessly transition between rapping and singing, setting her apart from her contemporaries while pushing her ahead in her lane.
Baileyrp - Halo
Bitcrush became the favorite tool of every bedroom pop producer over quarantine, but few can write the wispy melodies that define Colorado-based songwriter Baileyrp. The singer has been steadily growing a following online for her 8-bit renditions of pop songs and original tunes, featuring colorful pieces of hardware, and has developed a steady and loyal following interested in hearing her textured worlds. Halo, the internet singer’s newest offering, is a beautiful indie rock song built on its scattered background textures, noisy yet minimal drums, hooky guitar passages, and Bailey’s floating voice, tying the whole track’s dreamlike aesthetics together with a gentle touch that perfects the song.
Frost Children, Ninajirachi - Sisters
Perhaps two of the most sought-after EDM festival-worthy names in Electronic music right now, Frost Children and Ninajirachi are capturing the earnestness and unapologetic emotionality that gave EDM so much cross-genre audience power. Frost Children have made waves in online circles for years now, with their emo-tinged dance music capturing the hearts of once scene kids globally. The sibling duo's newest album, Sister, was labeled as an important landmark in the EDM revival scene, going all-in on stadium-sized pop hits that will stick with you for the rest of the year. Australia's Ninajirachi hails from similar digital circles, having won accolades last year for her genre-defying and passionate album I Love My Computer, a record dedicated to the internet and all its power in Nina's life. On this new remix of The Frost Children's title track, the Siblings Angel and Lulu team up with Nina to redefine the guitar ballad, now titled Sisters, into a rising and passionate, drop-heavy dance track that captures the dedication these three musicians have to the art of EDM.
Hemlocke Springs - Moses
Hemlocke Springs was one of the first indie stars to navigate true TikTok fame. The once librarian became an overnight sensation after posting a snippet while at work for her song Girlfriend, and has become a full-fledged pop sensation ever since. On her debut album, the apple tree under the sea, Hemlocke develops her indie synth rock sound into a fuller version of herself and her ideas, creating catchy and groovy tunes that showcase her dedication to her craft. On one of the songs, titled moses, Hemlocke builds into Trip Hop rhythms, steady, driven guitars, and titillating acid synths, with a gospel-choir opening and neat new wave breakdowns.
Lykke Li - Lucky Again
Swedish Pop sensation Lykke Li is back and ready to offer her newest album, The Afterparty, set to release this May. The first wave indie pop star saw newfound popularity on TikTok last year for her track Little Bit, off of her 2008 album, Youth Novels, bringing in a new audience of young people who fell in love with her catchy hooks and tender songwriting. Her newest release, Lucky Again, takes these elements of Lykke's writing style and matures them, creating a soft, bass-driven groove that is somber but an inescapable earworm, perhaps what she is best known for.
You can find all these songs and many more in our “Now Playing At Activaire HQ” playlist on Spotify. We update it weekly, so be sure to hit that heart button.