Hot Local Singles

The boys return to discuss Charli XCX's CRASH, Rosalia's MOTOMAMI, plus The Slap at the Oscars, Drain Gang, pop industry lawsuits and more.

Can I take you to the airport? Today we get to the bottom of Charli XCX's 'Beg For You', discuss the legacy musicians up against Joe Rogan and Spotify, and wonder where Adele went wrong... plus we rate new songs by Ecco2k and Bladee, Grimes, Hikaru Utada, Uffie, Mø and Tove Lo.

Today we discuss FKA twigs' CAPRISONGS, Aaliyah’s forthcoming reanimated corpse of an album, RuPaul going hyperpop and the darkness of RHOSLC and Hype House.

Nadia's HOT LIKE WOW (2008) is in Josh's corner. Juan's Team Farrah for MY TEENAGE DREAM ENDED (2012).

First we listen to songs by the girlies to get everyone caught up, then we discuss their baffling and contrasting receptions as outsider artists, the entire genres they may have inspired, the mystery lurking behind their careers and what it all means for POPTIMISM™.

From Lil Nas X to Coming Out Colton, the gang tries to remember what just happened in a heartwarming year-end special the whole family will adore.

Today on Patreon let's hide behind CGI to talk shit about our coworkers... We discuss the real reason Lana del Rey deleted social media, Teyana Taylor’s retirement, Lana versus Lorde in the court of law, Grimes’ network TV moment, Pinkpantheress finally coming out of the shadows and more.

We need a Disney princess who works at SSENSE... Anyways today we accidentally obliterate every song that has come out in the past month. Enjoy (Sweet Love)

Join us in the pop music trenches as we dodge controversies, decode lyrics and rate new music by Caroline Polachek, Billie Eilish, BIA ft Nicki Minaj, Isabella Lovestory and more.

We're back to rate brand new pop shockers by Tinashe, Normani ft Cardi B, Azealia Banks, Shakira and Peppa Pig.

The highly regarded HLS advice special is back to help with year-long crushes, Twitter romances, getting back with an ex, advising a breakup, feeling inexperienced, relationships affecting your mental health and.. coffee addiction :)

Today we're rating and reviewing the latest pop derangements from Bad Gyal, Iggy Azalea, Ava Max, Shygirl ft slowthai, J Balvin ft Skrillex, Kelly Rowland x CeCe Peniston and Sugababes x Blood Orange.

Today: Nadia's Hot Like Wow (2008) is in Josh's corner, Juan has Farrah's My Teenage Dream Ended (2012). Together we'll listen to clips of each to get everyone caught up and then discuss their baffling and contrasting receptions, the musicians and entire genres they may have inspired, the mystery lurking behind their careers and what it all means for POPTIMISM™.

We're back to discuss the Zionists AGAINZT the Hadids and Dua Lipa, plus we rate and review new music by Dawn Richard, St Vincent, CHAI, Jessie Ware, Paul Oakenfold ft Azealia Banks and Benny Benassi, Bleachers, Lana del Rey and more.

Today: Josh and Juan discuss the latest Gen Z music content and popular millennial songs by Olivia Rodrigo, WILLOW, Bella Poarch, Dixie D'amelio, Erika de Casier, City Girls, Lil Nas X and Nicki Minaj.

But first: your Eurovision recap of Italy's coke, Britain's cuck and Israel's geopolitical snub.

The mother of all AGAINZT battles is here. Which album will you choose? Today we talk about the character assassination at the heart of these two albums' critical receptions, plus how they've aged and who they inspired along the way.

Europe’s Vision? Well she must be blind! We're just happy to be back... just in time to discuss Jesy "Balegdah" Nelson's first interview after leaving Little Mix, the potential of a Spice World sequel AND like 10 of the most European entries from Eurovision Group 2.

Today we're back to rate and review the latest tracks and rave smashes, ripe for the dancefloor and the psychiatric ward. We go euphoria mode and discuss new music by Basside, Gummy Bear (Gummibär), Doss, LSDXOXO, CFCF ft Sarah Bonito, and Cornelius. 

But first: an update on the ARTPOP II movement.

Today we're rating and reviewing beautiful songs, gorgeous music and utter cringe by Troye Sivan, Rina Sawayama ft Elton John, Chet Hanx, Marina without the Diamonds, Doja Cat ft SZA, Karol G ft Nathy Peluso, Brockhampton, and Tirzah.

But first: Troye's house in Architectural Digest + HBO's Stylish with Jenna Lyons.

Today on AGAINZT: Josh is Team In The Zone (2003), Juan is Team Blackout (2007). Together we discuss the sound and legacies of these albums and their producers: Danja, Max Martin and new Swedes in the room Bloodshy & Avant. We also get into how Britney Spears' struggle within the music machine might have been reflected in her discography.

Today we're listening to songs from the first group of Eurovision semi-finalists and projecting our feelings about Europe onto them.

I'll bite, what's Eurovision? Why are Australia and Israel involved? And now that a country's been disqualified can Canada come? Let's investigate...

Links to the music videos:

In this clip: "H.E.R. Always. Wins." Industry plant or what?

Today: we rate the latest singles by St. Vincent, Twin Shadow, serpentwithfeet, Dizzy Fae and Doja Cat x Disclosure... but first: Azealia Banks orchestrates, Zara Larsson girlbosses and Ryder Ripps loses a client.

Plus our final takes on Danny L Harle's Harlecore and Madison Beers' Life Support! All while asking: blonde or brunette?

Put THAT in your blender! Merch idea? Hello

We're unlocking AGAINZT: Lily Allen's in Josh's corner, Juan has Uffie. Judged on Sophistication, Uniqueness, Confidence and Karma, which iconic hipster-era album will S.U.C.K. more?

Today a himbo and a PhD candidate examine the cultural role of the 'bimbo' (a retro trope that's angling for a comeback) with the help of a few classic pop songs: "Barbie Girl" by Aqua, "Stupid Girls" by Pink, and "Stupid Hoe" by Nicki Minaj.

Fresh from the pop music conversation pit we're debating the merits of 10 new singles by artists like "Friday" hitmaker Rebecca Black, That Kid, Danny L Harle, Dua Lipa, Xiu Xiu, Rochelle Jordan, Club Eat, "Anywhere" songstress Rita Ora and more.

Plus: Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion, Ariana Grande and autist saviour Sia want our attention to an almost militant degree so we're going to give it to them, if only for the length of their new music videos. Join us... unless?

On the first ever HLS advice hour we answer your questions about long-distance nudes, ex-girlfriends, being a relationship virgin, dealing with the apps, dong size, fear of men, sex music and more.

In memory of SOPHIE

We needed to mourn together, maybe you feel the same.

Tracklist:

"It's Okay To Cry"

"L.O.V.E."

"I Wanna Be With U"

"Just Like We Never Said Goodbye"

"Immaterial"

Today: Ariel Pink loses the plot, a Backstreet Boy goes alt-right, Zayn admits nobody's listening, Ashnikko's an industry plant, Danny L Harle switches labels, and we have a new fave... busy week at Hot Local Singles!

An unknown musician goes #1? Playboi Carti in straight guy shocker? Lana del Rey keeps saying "Trump"? And what about Azealia Banks’ music career?

This week on VERZUZ: in vs out, Nicki Minaj vs Tracy Chapman, Ariel Pink vs MAGA, CIA vs Ryder Ripps, techno vs house, Josh vs Juan.

The Grammys really do this with a straight face every year and we're still CHAINED to the rhythm. 

January is Grammys month so we're unlocking our conversation about The Weeknd vs The Academy (ie the industry at large), the slow rise of Kaytranada (he's gay) and the very real curse of Best New Artist (sorry Megan).

Plus, highlights and lowlights across all the award categories, "Urban Contemporary" vs "Melodic Rap" and a comparison of our predictions vs YouTuber AJayII's.

It’s everything time. On this Patreon exclusive unmoderated debate we discuss: The Juendy Juilliams Show, Josh’s theory about Joe Biden and Grindr, post-cringe, the corniness of Tinashe and Kaytranada, Basement Jaxx, pull-up bars, Akira, Lana’s favourite mesh mask, an Abercrombiecore travel show from 2008, Mariah Carey’s Rarities, the first hot guys we saw on the internet, gay guys' death drives and more.

Welcome to the 1st Annual Floppy Awards, also known as the Gay Grammys and the Locals’ Choice Awards, coming to you live from [FILL IN CITY NAME WHEN WE FIND A VENUE BROKE ENOUGH TO SAY YES] sponsored by Ford Motors, Tesla Motors, etc!

Tonight we recognize the best, the worst and the eww-est of 2020 as we dive deep into the moments and music that defined the most traumatizing year in modern history!

With the help of special guests, Josh and Juan announce YOUR winners in a comforting, psychosis-inducing award show format that suggests democracy really works! These are HLS listeners’ favourite pop albums, EPs, singles, remixes, collabs, videos and flops of the year.

Don’t miss the most glamorous moments of the season: Charli XCX is still apologizing for Grammy night while Chloe X Halle ask their manager if they can leave their tennis court. HRH is fighting Lana Del Rey about who's the most anti-mask and we have it on good authority Halsey's planning a terrorist attack, so heads up tonight! Slay yes mama!

And how could we forget the queen of pop herself, The Blessed Madonna! Wait who were you thinking of

This week: our Hot Local Regrets, the male singers straight guys had crushes on in 2020, Gwen Stefani’s eternal comeback, the Britney estate’s deluxe edition of the Glory Deluxe Edition and more, including: “Alex G reminds me of how straight men love discovering music.”

Today on your favourite podcast about Escape Room (genre): Josh calls Bladee an “old head,” Juan says “Her vocal chords, her choice – but her choices were bad” (that's a blind item) and we both enact A&R on some very expensive pop music. But first, Spotify Wrapped needs unwrapping no?

This week we talk about Grimes and the government, eurodance and Ava Max, Future's age, tons of new singles and Megan Thee Stallion’s ‘Good News’.