Subscribe to the popcast!
Apple podcasts | | Spotify | | Stitcher
When Scottish singer-songwriter Katie Gregson MacLeod recorded a verse for an unfinished song called “Complex” and posted it on TikTok in August, she capitalized on the app’s penchant for confessional storytelling, It demonstrated ease of distribution and diversion.
Overnight, the snippet catapulted her to viral success, led to a recording deal, and placed her in a lineage of young women who found success on the app through emotional catharsis (sad, angry, or both). This includes Olivia Rodrigo, Lauren Spencer-Smith, Sadie Jean, Gracie Abrams, Lizzie McAlpine, Gail, and others whose “Driver’s License” first caught our attention .
This week’s popcast explores the evolution of TikTok’s musical ambitions and expanding its emotional reach, how the music business sought to capitalize on the app’s intimacy, and the bedroom recording confession becomes a universal narrative. Conversation line about speed up to.