In this Pop June 2026 collection, we bring you a variety of ethereal pop, alternative pop and jazz fusion tracks. For the full playlist click here.
Micayla Shafran – “Fallen”
“Fallen” sounds like a slow descent from the clouds but lyrically, it is anything but. This is a deeply personal song written by Miami based singer-songwriter Micayla Shafran after the imprisonment of her mother. The song title invokes the imagery of being “cast out of heaven” because that’s how people treat the incarcerated.
“Fallen” balances a minimal piano arrangement with ambient synth layers that give it a “weightless” quality. At the center of it all is Shafran’s breathy vocals (reminiscent of Lana Del Rey or Enya) that convey all the pain and vulnerability. She chooses to stand by her mother while everyone leaves, singing “still love you if you’re fallen, still answer when you’re callin’.”
Udeigwe – “Lemma I: Orthogonality”
Every musician has heard the phrase “music is math” at least but Udeigwe on “Lemma I: Orthogonality” makes this a reality. Nigerian-born and New York based Udeigwa, who is both a professor of mathematics and an accomplished jazz musician, often combines jazz with West African rhythms and this is a single from his math concept based album Four Lemmas.
“Lemma I: Orthogonality” is a metaphor for people being like perpendicular lines, which can intersect while still having room for themselves. Musically, this translates to a highly dynamic blend of jazz piano and horn instruments layered over West African syncopation. Udeigwe himself delivers airy and conversational vocals that are warm and soulful. He ultimately proves that math and music can be one.
Harris Mac – “Rojo”
“Rojo” by Harris Mac, the first single from his latest album Rojo, and already captures its thematic pulse. It’s about the painful transition of moving away and leaving your life behind. Written after a sudden move from Mexico to New York, Mac crafts a very atypical alt-pop, indie-electronic sound.
“Rojo” which is a Spanish word that literally translates to “red” evokes imagery of burning heat and passion. This makes an interesting contrast with the cool and crisp production. Mac layers restrained filtered vocals over a fuzzy bassline and vintage analog synths. It cleverly showcases the contrast of someone with a cool exterior burning with immense nostalgia.
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