After years of the center stage of mainstream music being occupied by indie and alternative pop music, a beloved genre is once again stepping into the limelight: club pop with the reemergence of early 2000s artists circling back to their old style.
The rise in popularity of artists such as Charli XCX, Chappell Roan and Dua Lipa has left listeners in appreciation for a sound that is ultimately a refurbished derivative of the foundational pop characteristic of the 2010s.
Idols of the 2010s pop scene — such as Lady Gaga, Rihanna and Kesha — ran mainstream music for years in their time, garnering celebration from audiences and award shows alike. These artists, along with their fellow pop peers, pioneered the genre of club pop, laying the foundation for the subsequent current revamping of the sound.
Despite reverting back to this familiar genre, new and growing artists have certainly put their own spin on the sound.
“Charli has been innovating and refining her sound for years and is now finally getting the credit she deserves,” said Logan John, a freshman majoring in music composition. “Chappell, on the other hand, hasn’t been nearly as influential but has definitely found her own, unique space in pop music. Both have taken things that have existed in most of modern music and shifted them or combined them into something truly unique.”
Notably, Charli’s integration of hyperpop and experimental pop has created a sound both nostalgic and futuristic.
“Everyone knows about their hit albums ‘Brat’ and ‘The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess.’ They’ve sparked trends like Brat summer, and Chappell has been a big voice for both women and LGBT audiences,” said Hudson Goffinett, a freshman majoring in musical audio engineering.
By embracing this previously underrepresented genre, artists such as Charli have demanded the eyes of mainstream music. But newer artists aren’t the only ones adopting club pop.
The release of Lady Gaga’s newest teaser single, “Abracadabra,” has sparked discourse as fans anticipate her upcoming album, “Mayhem,” to be an ode to her previous music style.
“I’m very excited to see what her upcoming album brings, and I hope she’s able to capture the originality that she previously had with projects like ‘ARTPOP’ and ‘Born This Way,’” John said.
The excitement and anticipation surrounding this release perfectly encapsulates the sentiment of pop consumers: an inclination toward the return of the musically familiar.
Mainstream music has been dominated by the vulnerable nature and lyricism of traditional and indie pop, with both long-celebrated and breakout stars like Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo and Billie Eilish being beloved in their own right.
“Lately we’ve seen a rise in more melancholy, slower and more melodic pop. Artists like Charli XCX and Chappell Roan go against that grain, and I think that’s what’s making them so popular,” said Jake Cournoyer, a sophomore majoring in communications.
While traditional pop music household names likely will maintain their prominence, a larger discussion has been opened about whether these stars will now have to share the focus of the public eye.
The public has eagerly embraced club pop, as listeners continue to be drawn to its danceability and hyper-stylized nature. The glamour of the genre has certainly brought an electrifying sound to the surface of the music scene.
“Artists are finally realizing that audiences respond to fun, upbeat music they can dance to and are implementing that into their own music,” Cournoyer said.
