pop — ALL ARTICLES

Home and Heartbreak: Conan Gray’s Portrayal of Queer Texas Romance in “The Wishbone Trilogy”

Texas is the stage for Conan Gray’s nostalgic Southern romance. Unfolding in fragments, “The Wishbone Trilogy” captures the ache of growing up queer in isolating spaces.

ANALYSIS, AESTHETICSAfterglow ATXNovember 14, 2025media and music, conan gray, pop, texas, queer, adreanna alvarez

Electroindiepop: How EDM Evolved After the Pandemic

Reeling from the loss of club culture and the music that coincides with it, a newfound musical affinity emerged, appearing in prominent music events like the Austin City Limits Music Festival. The style is not solely electronic, pop, or indie, yet somehow it is a unique blend of all of the above.

Concert Recap: Ashe and Bo Staloch at The Bellwether Los Angeles

Pop sensation Ashe performed at The Bellwether on June 20 with support from folk-rock artist Bo Staloch.

Afterglow ATXJune 27, 2025natalie anspach, pop, folk rock

Concert Recap: Magic City Hippies at Stubb’s Austin

Magic City Hippies grooved out to indie-funk tunes with opener Mustard Service on March 7 at Stubb’s for the Austin show of its 2025 Enemies tour.

Concert CoverageAfterglow ATXMarch 16, 2025charlotte keene, pop, funk, stubb's

Concert Recap: Role Model at Stubb’s Austin

Indie-pop artist Role Model brought ‘No Place Like Tour’ to a sold-out Stubb’s on Mar. 3 with support from Debbii Dawson.

Concert CoverageAfterglow ATXMarch 6, 2025natalie anspach, indie music, indie pop, pop, stubb's

Concert Recap: Lauren Mayberry at Austin’s Historic Scoot Inn

Lauren Mayberry, the front woman of the synth-pop band CHVRCHES, showcased her solo project at Austin’s Historic Scoot Inn on Feb. 26 with support from Cult of Venus.

Afterglow ATXMarch 3, 2025samantha firmin, pop, synth pop, Scoot Inn

The Style of Sound: Sabrina Carpenter, Polly Pocket Pop Star

Defined by babydoll dresses, pastel gingham patterns, platform heels, and perfected ringlets, pop star Sabrina Carpenter adopts styles from the past and transforms them into her own.

AESTHETICSAfterglow ATXNovember 11, 2024sabrinacarpenter, pop, the style of sound, abby mcmorris

Concert Recap: Tori Kelly at Emo's Austin

Tori Kelly kicked off her first Texas show of the ‘Purple Skies World Tour’ on Oct. 30.

Concert CoverageAfterglow ATXNovember 5, 2024tori kelly, austin, emo's austin, pop, r&b, mykel merritt

Concert Recap: Conan Gray at Austin’s Moody Center

Pop phenomenon Conan Gray performed at the Moody Center on Oct. 25 with support from Maisie Peters.

Concert CoverageAfterglow ATXOctober 31, 2024conan gray, maisie peters, pop, moody center, natalie anspach

Katie Gavin Is No Stranger to Vulnerability or Baby Lizards

Katie Gavin, the lead singer of the hit indie-pop band MUNA, ushers in her solo debut with three heart-wrenching new releases. A common thread of vulnerability ties the music from her upcoming album together, set to release on Oct. 25.

ANALYSISAfterglow ATXOctober 23, 2024claire davis, katie gavin, singer-songwriter, pop, indie pop

Concert Recap: Ravyn Lenae and Arima Ederra at Scoot Inn

On the cool evening of Oct. 18 at Scoot Inn, Arima Ederra opened for Ravyn Lenae on her “Bird’s Eye Live” Tour.

Concert CoverageAfterglow ATXOctober 21, 2024ravyn lenae, arima ederra, Scoot Inn, r&b, pop

Cover Story: Role Model Will Happily Let His Ex Be With “Somebody Else”

Despite the heartbreak expressed in the original breakup ballad that had Tumblr girls sobbing through 2016, Role Model’s spirited version of The 1975’s “Somebody Else” somehow finds joy in an utterly broken heart.

ANALYSISAfterglow ATXOctober 18, 2024claire hookstra, cover story, pop

Concert Review: Queer Femme Voices Were Loud and Proud at ACL Weekend One

Austin City Limits amplified queer women with captivatingly camp performances from Fletcher, Reneé Rapp, and Chappell Roan during Weekend One.

REVIEWS, Concert CoverageAfterglow ATXOctober 11, 2024acl, queer, pop, janie bickerton

Concert Recap: Jesse McCartney at Emo’s

Pop artist Jesse McCartney played Emo’s with Just Seconds Apart on April 12 for the first show of his “All’s Well” tour.

Concert CoverageAfterglow ATXApril 22, 2024jesse mccartney, emo's austin, pop, mackenzie coleman

Concert Review: Chappell Roan at Emo’s

Midwest pop-princess Chappell Roan brought gay culture to the Emo’s stage on Nov. 1.

Cover Story: Ethel Cain Hauntingly Twists Britney Spears’ “Everytime”

Ethel Cain and her harmonica put an ethereal spin on pop legend Britney Spears’ emotional ballad, “Everytime.”

ANALYSISAfterglow ATXNovember 9, 2023claire hookstra, ethel cain, britney spears, everytime, cover story, pop, in the zome, in the zone

Ballad Breakdown: MUNA's "What I Want" and The Subversion From The Inspirational Anthem Archetype

Whether it's Natasha Bedingfield telling listeners to “feel the rain on your skin” or Katy Perry commanding audiences to “Roar,” inspirational anthems consistently amass popularity. With “What I Want,” alternative pop trio MUNA offers a new take on the inspirational anthem – one that might end up ruining lives.

ANALYSISAfterglow ATXNovember 8, 2023william beachum, muna, what i want, ballad breakdown, lgbtq, inspirational anthem, pop

Concert Review: 5 Seconds of Summer at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

The Australian four-piece brought their eponymous show (and a giant dice) to The Woodlands on September 9.

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