If pure, unrepentant pop is what you’re after, look no further than Sigrid’s debut album, Sucker Punch. After a string of massive hits, including ‘Strangers’ and ‘Don’t Kill My Vibe’, she’s quickly risen through the ranks to become the reigning queen of the pop banger. And with a debut release packed to the brim with soaring melodies and high-energy, feel-good beats, the Norwegian singer looks set to hold onto that crown.

You have to admire Sigrid’s utterly unselfconscious approach to her songcraft. Her lyrical content might be simple, but it’s always genuine – and in these dark days of highly charged politics, it’s refreshing to listen to music that offers an escape route rather than a grim reflection of our reality.

A creative approach to production, particularly from Sigrid’s frequent collaborator Martin Sjølie, is one of the key features of the album. Tracks like ‘Sight Of You’ offer a much-welcome quirky side to Sigrid’s sound, featuring gorgeous strings and a playful beat. A few soul-baring, stripped-back numbers, including ‘Dynamite’ and ‘In Vain’, also give the album some time to catch its breath – as well as the opportunity to show off Sigrid’s considerable depth as a songwriter.

Despite its title, there’s nothing shocking about Sucker Punch. It captures a young artist on the cusp of world domination, who’s still figuring out what exactly she wants to say. Nonetheless, the album is overflowing with a refreshingly positive energy – and that’s something the world can always do with more of.

https://open.spotify.com/album/4OaTrPkuAYkelxCnm92njS?si=o5fn26hlTySr1gF5FeCtmg