This blog is usually about looking to the future – New Pop on the Block, The Next Big Thing etc. but sometimes I love to look back at the pop of the past. I often find myself wondering what an old favourite singer or band is up to these days, and can’t rest until I… Continue reading Whatever Happened To…

I’ve been blogging about Rachel Furner for about a year now, but last night was the first time I had seen her perform live. It was a great opportunity to see what it was about Rachel which had led Mercury to make this new signing a priority artist for the year ahead. I’d already enjoyed… Continue reading Loving It, Loving It, Loving It!

The School are a band who will not appeal to all of my readers – they certainly won’t do anything for those of you who like your pop (in the words of Amy Studt) shiny and perfect. But for those who like a DIY attitude with their catchy melodies, The School are a very interesting… Continue reading School Report

Tove StyrkeYippee! At last the coolest teenage girl on the planet has a single out. Tove was fantastic on Idol 2009, and I knew her music after the show would be great. I was right – she’s turned into Robyn with a hint of Lykke Li! Go and listen to Million Pieces now because you’ll… Continue reading The Next Big Thing?

McFly – Party Girl (Listen)When McFly claimed their new single was Lady GaGa-esque, I thought they just meant it was a bit more electro in contrast to their usual acoustic-pop sound. But no, it actually does sound like GaGa – well, it rips off Bad Romance’s “woah-oh”s anyway. McFly started off as a sweet retro-pop… Continue reading New Pop on the Block

Over the past few years I have written about many acts in my Next Big Thing features, and some have gone on to be megastars already – Pixie Lott, Lady GaGa and Florence and the Machine are just a few examples. However, others remain almost unknown, still preparing for their first release even after being… Continue reading The Next Big Thing? – Time for an update!

Lucy Woodward – Slow Recovery (Watch)Well, this is upsetting. Lucy Woodward was a brilliant pop-rock songstress of the early ’00s, but unfortunately never made it big, despite being far superior to Kelly, Avril, Pink and the rest. Lucy’s kept on making music, but never had a breakthrough hit, and now she’s resorted to desperate measures… Continue reading New Pop on the Block

Olly Murs – Please Don’t Let Me Go (Listen)This is a rare treat – an X Factor contestant who’s actually releasing exactly the kind of single he should be! It’s a mid-point between Will Young and Swedish singer Vincent and could also be compared to Tyler James (remember him from the mid-00s?). It’s a good… Continue reading New Pop on the Block

Believe it or not, we’re already half-way through 2010! To celebrate, I have compiled a Spotify playlist of some of the best songs of the year so far. These are all the tracks which made the top 10 of my monthly chart so far this year – well, the ones that were available on Spotify… Continue reading Spotify Playlist: Best of 2010 so far

Here are my top 30 singles of June: 1. Erik Hassle – Isn’t It Obvious (UK release)2. Eric Saade – Break of Dawn3. Ola – Overdrive4. Darin – Can’t Stop Love5. Taio Cruz – Dynamite6. Fefe Dobson – Ghost7. Maroon 5 – Misery8. Scissor Sisters – Fire With Fire9. Love Generation – Love Generation10. Alexandra… Continue reading Top of the Poptastic!