On Your Radar: UPSAHL

Top Tracks: “Drugs,” “People I Don’t Like,” “Shut Up”
Similar Artists: KiNG MALA, Melanie Martinez, Gwen Stefani
Recent News: Her largest tour to date, her “Melt Me Down” tour, began September 10.

A bold and fiery figure within the world of pop music, icy icon UPSAHL is making it clear that she is entering a new musical era. With the release of her two latest singles, “Summer So Hot” and “Tears on the Dancefloor,” the popstar princess with a rockstar swagger isn’t slowing down any time soon.

Currently on her “Melt Me Down” tour, UPSAHL will be touring across North America, Europe and the UK playing her largest venues to date. This massive milestone in her career, as well as an upcoming album in the works, is showcasing a brand new era for the alternative pop songwriter, one that brings a newfound coldness and confidence.

Originally a prominent figure within her local music scene in Phoenix, Arizona, UPSAHL soon rose to fame in 2019 after signing on to Arista Records. In 2021 she dropped her debut full-length album Lady Jesus which featured two of her biggest hits, “Drugs” and “People I Don’t Like” — both of which went viral on TikTok.

UPSAHL went on to gather more than 700 million streams to date as well as praise from outlets like SPIN, Nylon, Paper, Billboard, People and Alternative Press. Over the years her music has been featured in a variety of films and television shows — such as HBO’s Gossip Girl, CBS’s Love Island and Bullet Train (2022) — and she has co-written hits with massive stars like Dua Lipa, Demi Lovato and Reneé Rapp.

Now, UPSAHL’s recent musical efforts mark a new era for her artistry. Her first single, “Summer So Hot,” was written on a cold night in London when UPSAHL was longing for summers by the pool. As a result, she created the perfect electro-pop track for the summer. Later, she released “Tears on the Dancefloor,” a mysterious and addicting nod to the pop music of the early 2000’s (think Timbaland-era Nelly Furtado). Capturing that feeling of when you’re out partying with your friends but feel like you’re falling apart, UPSAHL’s latest track is perfectly accompanied by a Blade-inspired music video set in a vampire nightclub.

UPSAHL has released these two singles ahead of her new upcoming album, each one serving as a quintessential banger to perfectly wrap up what was considerably a massive pop girl summer. Heavily inspired by modern figureheads such as Charli XCX, UPSAHL herself is undoubtedly a pioneer in the modern resurgence of Y2K-infused pop anthems. Originally growing up on pop punk music and heavily inspired by her punk rock father, UPSAHL soon fell in love with pop music.

Her unique songwriting is defined by her ability to balance alternative pop compositions with vulnerable lyrics and a carefree, rock and roll attitude. Her songwriting has long been praised and coveted for her talent of combining hard-hitting pop beats with emotive and melancholy undertones. Fuse that together with a high-energy stage presence and you have pop music’s new favorite star.

Buy tickets to see UPSAHL on tour here.

Stream “Tears on the Dancefloor,” the new single from UPSAHL, here.