Written by Elyse Friedman. Header illustration courtesy of Fon Leigh.
If you’ve been paying attention to the internet at all within the past month, you may be familiar with musical sensation, Chappell Roan. The glamorous Midwest princess rose to mass popularity following her performances on Olivia Rodrigo’s “GUTS” tour and her sets at Coachella. Typically, I tend to be skeptical of pop artists on the rise, and pop music in general, but with Roan, I just can’t get enough.
Chappell Roan might have become a superstar overnight, but she has been releasing music since 2017, with many of her recent singles on her 2023 debut album, “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess.” The album follows the experience of queer discovery and young adulthood in a very thought-provoking way, presenting internal dialogue and personal struggle to grow and accept who you are. She challenges these very real, weighted concepts, and emotions with fun, upbeat melodies, which allows her to cultivate the Chappell Roan persona; taking inspiration from drag queens with elaborate makeup and costumes, something very reminiscent of Lady Gaga. Roan’s authenticity and uniqueness are what set her apart from other charting pop artists.
Not only is Roan distinct in her stage presence and character, but she is sonically remarkable as well. This is evident with playful hits like “HOT TO GO!” which features chanting and “Femininomenon” which utilizes call and response. Roan has been regarded as this generation’s Cyndi Lauper, with descriptions of her music being “campy” and danceable, perfect for the summer. Her music is very layered and textural, often with synths that sound straight from the 1980s, which drive the underlying beat in many of her songs. Vocally, Roan is incredibly talented, highlighting many facets of her voice including a powerful belt and range on her track “Red Wine Supernova” and her newest single “Good Luck, Babe!” while songs such as “Casual” hone in on her deeper, sultrier, and mature tones.
Roan is also not a controversial figure in music right now, which is a good look compared to her peers. For the last year and a half, we’ve all experienced the onslaught of Taylor Swift news, which has only grown since the recent release of “The Tortured Poets Department,” an album that is currently under fire for some questionable lyrics regarding racism and her upbringing (ex. “the asylum where they raised me”). Truthfully, we need a break, and Chappell Roan provides one. Roan brings something new to the table full of fire, spunk, and passion. While her songs are about romantic experiences, or rather a lack thereof, they entail more than heartaches and breakups, reaching for true self-discovery and a positive outlook. With Roan, there is hope and light at the end of the tunnel. On the other hand, you could argue that Beyoncé is spicing up pop music with her new country album, “Cowboy Carter,” but she has been around for decades. Chappell Roan is fresh and exciting, bringing in a new era of pop alongside other, albeit more generic artists, like touring partner Olivia Rodrigo, and Sabrina Carpenter, who has also recently gained immense popularity and success despite releasing music for eight years prior.
The next time you write off pop music as the same old artists and sounds, give Chappell Roan a listen. Thanks to Roan, I’ve found what I’ve been missing in current pop music: some fresh air and maybe just a little bit of magic. Roan is bringing life back to pop in unimaginable ways and it is a privilege to watch her rise to fame in all her ethereality.
