‘Hold the Girl’ is a pop album with a difference. British-Japanese artist Rina Sawayama has the same kind of power in her vocals as some of the most influential women in pop - there’s a hint of Ariana Grande here, a Gaga-esque belt there. From emotive, melodic ballads, punchy anthems and catchy dance beats, she also clearly has a tight grip on the reins of songwriting. However, it’s Sawayama’s lyrics that really make ‘Hold the Girl’ stand out. Exploring everything from queer identity, to single parenthood, to her mother’s experience as a Japanese immigrant in Britain, Sawayama sheds light on themes that are too often absent from the world of pop music. LT

Out now on Dirty Hit