Rachel Chinouriri’s ‘It Is What It Is’ and More Cool Pop Songs

Looking for some motivation to help power you through the start of another work week? We feel you, and with some stellar new pop tunes, we’ve got you covered.

These tracks from artists including Alfie Templeman, Debbii Dawson, Nxdia and more will get you energized to take on the week. Pop any of these gems into your personal playlists — or scroll to the end of the post for a custom playlist.

Coolest Pop Song of the Week: Rachel Chinouriri, “It Is What It Is”

Whether you’ve caught wind of Rachel Chinouriri through her TikTok-viral lullaby “So My Darling” or her blog-approved confection “All I Ever Asked,” the singer-songwriter has established herself as a must-follow for any pop fan looking for potential new stars. The London native has charmed festival audiences, and opened on Lewis Capaldi’s tour after sending the hitmaker a drunk DM; she possesses the ability to apply her vocal lilt to dance-friendly sprints like her 2022 single “I’m Not Perfect (But I’m Trying),” as well as jazzy nod-alongs like this year’s “What a Devastating Turn of Events,” which doubles as the title for her upcoming debut album.

There’s a lot to like about Chinouriri ahead of that project, due out May 3, and now new single “It Is What It Is” can be added to the list. As the whistle hook and bass creep are introduced on the track, two of Chinouriri’s friends caution her against reaching out to a dude — “No, no, NO, Rachel!” — in voice-note form, setting up the conversational tone and emotional exhaustion she adopts on the song’s verses. The way Chinouriri talks through her knotted-up feelings about an imperfect relationship, then pauses to drop a pristine chorus, is reminiscent of how The Streets’ Mike Skinner constructed his best songs two decades ago. This is storytelling and pop craft at a high level.

What a Devastating Turn of Events contains more moments that showcase Chinouriri’s talent and ambition, but “It Is What It Is,” arriving two weeks ahead of the album, makes for a strong introduction to her appeal for unfamiliar listeners.

Here are some more new pop songs worth checking out this week…