This month has been an eventful one for the pop music industry, to say the least. The most hyped up music festival of the year came around once again—Coachella—and many fans weren’t exactly thrilled about some of the changes. Sadly, I couldn’t attend (*cries in broke college student*), but I heard from friends, and, of course, TikTok (the world’s most reliable source) that Coachella was a beautiful disaster this year. From a chaotic security situation to the infamous “Coachella, Make Me Sweat” moment—which could have been a serve if Skilah’s mic had been turned down a few notches—and of course, who can forget about Megan Thee Stallion’s set being cut short?

But despite the bumps in the road, Coachella season remains one of my favorite events to consume from afar—scrolling through festival highlights on TikTok and wishing that I were a famous influencer so a brand would cover the bill for my ticket and hotel. 

Pop addicts were FED this year, with artists like Clairo, Lady Gaga, Tyla, JENNIE, Charli xcx, and MARINA, among others, gracing the lineup. Oh, and in one of the most unexpected, but iconic crossovers of the weekend, Benson Boone brought out THE Brian May, the legendary lead guitarist of Queen to perform “Bohemian Rhapsody” live. I’m aware that this is The Pop Drop, not The Rock Drop, but when it comes to Queen, the rules must be broken. Truly a historic moment for music lovers—and yes, Brian May can still shred like there’s no tomorrow. 

Speaking of legends, headliner Lady Gaga delivered jaw-dropping, maximalist performances, bringing “camp” back to the Coachella stage. She performed some of her most iconic songs like “Bad Romance,” “Judas,” and, of course, her most recent hit “Abracadabra.” It was Gaga at her most Gaga. 

Moving on from Coachella, here are some pop releases that have been on my radar this month:

Our melancholic queen of Americana, Lana Del Rey, released the first two singles off of her upcoming album: “Henry, come on,” and “Bluebird.” Both lean a little more country than her usual sound, but still contain her signature wistful touch. While they’re gorgeous tracks, I’m not as immediately captivated as I have been with her past releases—but I’m holding out hope for the full album. 

Did you know Miley Cyrus released a track this month? Don’t worry, most people didn’t either. On April 4th, Cyrus released her new single “End of the World,” a vibrant, disco-infused pop song that was horribly promoted, and debuted at 52 on the Billboard Hot 100. Not the best promotional start to Cyrus’ new era, but the track is definitely worth a listen!  

If you’ve been missing Lorde’s Melodrama era, fear not, as her signature synth-pop sound is back with her new highly anticipated release, “What Was That.” Released April 24, the track sees Lorde reminiscing on a past love: “Since l was seventeen, I gave you everything / Now, we wake from a dream, well, baby, what was that?”

British singer-songwriter Rachel Chinouriri, one of my current favorite artists, released her fourth EP Little House on April 4th. If you haven’t heard of Chinouriri, now’s your time to check her out before she starts playing arenas. If you love upbeat, emotionally intelligent pop, Rachel Chinouriri is your girl. My favorite off the EP: “Can we talk about Isaac.” 

TikTok queen turned rising electropop darling Addison Rae surprised me with her fourth single since her rebrand: “Headphones On.” The track, previously reviewed on the KSDT blog, feels like a nod to early 2000s pop and R&B, with its breathy vocals and smooth beats. I’ll admit, I was skeptical of Addison Rae’s music career—worried that “Diet Pepsi” would be a flower in a field of weeds—but Addison Rae is clearly in full bloom.   

Recently, I was introduced to Mercer Henderson, a San Francisco-based pop singer who writes diaristic songs about heartbreak, situationships, and secret relationships— and she’s quickly taken over my Spotify. Her new song, “Goner” follows in the footsteps of her previous work. While this release doesn’t quite dethrone my favorites, “Kissing A Ghost,” and “Almost, So Close, Maybe,” Henderson’s talent for crafting addictive hooks is undeniable. 

Lastly, Sadie Jean released her new track, “The One That I Want (But I Don’t Know Why)” on April 7th. I had the pleasure of seeing her perform it live for the first time at UC San Diego’s Epstein Family Amphitheater on April 18th, and maybe I’m biased, but I genuinely love this track. It’s the kind of song that’s perfect to scream in the car with the windows down. 

To end off my April issue of “The Pop Drop,” here are a few tracks I’ve had on repeat this month—not all released in April, but all worth a listen:

1. Towa Bird – “Rat Race”

2. sombr – “undressed” 

3. Adrian Lyles – “Formalize Me” 

4. Sadie Jean – “The One That I Want (But I Don’t Know Why)”

5. Mercer Henderson – “Almost, So Close, Maybe” 

Check out the full playlist here: