The industry plant accusation only makes sense in hip-hop, punk and sometimes indie: genres that pride themselves on authenticity. For pop music you should just assume they’re all “industry plants” unless proven otherwise.

And introducing, from TikTok to chart top, it's GAYLE! We discuss the recent abecedarian pop hit "abcdefu" by up-and-coming singer-songwriter GAYLE. A Twitter thread by music TikTok trendspotter Alice Ophelia detailed the song's precipitous rise to the charts via a commenter making a song request. But things aren't always what they seem....

(suspenseful enough for you?? oh yeah babe)

An episode about viral songs, TikTok trends, astroturfing fandom, industry plants, and teenage musician sigma grindset. Wow!

Songs played in this episode:
"abcdefu" (8-Bit Version) - 8 Bit Universe
"abcdefu" (TikTok version) - GAYLE
"abcdefu" (studio version) - GAYLE
"dumbass" - GAYLE
"I'd Rather Die" - Tramp Stamps
"Chaise Longue" - Wet Leg

Works cited:
Alice Ophelia's thread: https://twitter.com/iamaliceophelia/status/1468345748039344130
Ryan Broderick's Garbage Day: https://www.garbageday.email/p/our-sneakerhead-future
Mia Nazareno for Billboard, "CHARTBREAKER: HOW GAYLE SPELLED OUT HER SUCCESS WITH BREAKUP SMASH ‘ABCDEFU’" :https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/gayle-abcdefu-january-2022-chartbreaker-interview-1235015322/
Tina Benitez-Eves for American Songwriter, "Youthful GAYLE Has a Story to Tell": https://americansongwriter.com/dumbass-gayle-song-interview/

And Introducing

#106 GAYLE!

quick mix of mostly disco house with slight deviations on the front & tail ends. comment for any IDs.

subscribe to my substack for more mixes, playlists and thoughts on music - shraf.substack.com/

#106 GAYLE!

And Introducing

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