Summer 2025 in 8 Pop Albums

Pop’s sharpest pen is back with a summer pop special!

Carpenter returns with her seventh studio album, Man’s Best Friend, dropping August 29th. Fresh off a Grammy win for Short n’ Sweet, Carpenter teams up with Jack Antonoff & Amy Allen—leaning into off-kilter synth-pop with cheeky lyricism.

With a chart-topping arena tour behind her—and headlining Primavera Sound alongside Charli XCX and Chappell Roan—she firmly accomplished her own space as one of the most daring, self-authored voices in mainstream pop.

The SOS era gets its final form. Lana is our second summer pop album on the list.

SOS Deluxe: Lana (4LP) combines SZA’s breakout album with new material—unreleased sessions, recent singles, and collaborations—capturing SZA's full creative arc in one complete recording, embodying one of the most important voices in contemporary R&B during one of her most creative periods.

Lana includes collaborations with Kendrick Lamar, Don Toliver, and Phoebe Bridgers, along with tracks like “Saturn,” “PSA,” and a solo version of “Open Arms.”

South London's Lola Young returns with her third album, I’m Only F**king Myself via Island/Day One. A true summer pop moment!

Fresh off an Ivor Novello ‘Rising Star’ win and a BRIT nomination, the artist dives into themes of self-sabotage, escapism, and emotional reckoning—crafted alongside longtime collaborators Manuka and SOLOMONOPHONIC (Doja Cat, SZA).

With over a billion streams and a platinum #1 single under her belt, Lola’s recent moves include Coachella, opening for Billie Eilish in Paris, and a debut at Glastonbury. Bold, raw, and uncompromising, she continues to carve out her space as one of the UK’s most vital new voices.

With this release, she cements her status as a defining voice in contemporary UK pop and a true architect of modern summer anthems.

A return from New Zealand’s most enigmatic songwriter Lorde makes for a striking summer pop release. Co‑produced by Lorde and Jim‑E Stack—alongside Devonté Hynes, Dan Nigro, Buddy Ross & more—the album arrives on the back of singles like “What Was That,” “Man of the Year,” and “Hammer,” anchoring her full-circle return. State-of-the-art pop meets candid lyricism, marking not just the end of a long wait, but the next chapter for an artist still writing the playbook. 

UK’s rising neo-soul voice Olivia Dean releases her sophomore album, The Art of Loving, via Capitol Records - Summer pop in its warmest, soulful form. Building on the acclaim of debut Messy, Dean explores romantic and self-love in intimate detail, featuring her recent single “Nice To Each Other.” With upcoming support dates for Sam Fender and Sabrina Carpenter, plus a North American headline tour ahead, the album cements her as one of Britain’s most thoughtful and emotionally articulate young artists. 

Miley’s ninth studio album Something Beautiful is in-store now via Columbia—another summer pop essential! A cinematic, genre-hopping pop project complete with its own visual album, it's being praised for its ambition—Pitchfork calls it “a wide-ranging search for light (and sax solos) in the darkness” , AP notes it’s “a return to form” balancing diverse styles and vocal maturity - bold, personal, and definitely something we recommend!

Haim’s fourth album I Quit is out now and in stock. Built around themes of emotional exhaustion and letting go, it blends soft rock, folk-pop, and pure summer pop bliss—produced by Danielle Haim and Rostam. Across the album, the trio explores vulnerability and resilience, balancing introspective lyrics with catchy, sun-soaked melodies that feel both personal and universal. Each track is layered with their signature harmonies, infectious hooks, and shimmering instrumentation, creating a sound that is as reflective as it is uplifting.

And don’t miss this summer pop gem! Addison Rae’s self-titled debut is on shelves now. Last but not least summer pop TIP!Produced with Elvira Anderfjärd and Luka Kloser, it leans into early-2000s synth-pop and club sounds, with lyrics centered on self-image, fame, and vulnerability. A surprisingly sharp, well-produced album—Vulture called it “a quietly great pop record,” and Pitchfork noted its “charmingly odd hooks.”