The Track Record

In this episode of The Track Record, we sit down with Paxton Smith, a pop artist carving her own path and exploring what music can be. We talk through her creative process, from the first spark of a lyric to shaping a track in the studio, and how she experiments with textures, melodies, and emotions to find her voice. Paxton shares her perspective on joy, growth, and play in music, and gives a pee...

In this episode of The Track Record, I sit down with Rae Khanna, a writer and a budding film director, to unpack the phenomenon of Katseye in 2025.  We trace their journey from The Debut: Dream Academy to their bold new EP, "Beautiful Chaos", asking what holds them together, how they balance health with fan pressure, and what their place really is in an industry obsessed with control. Along the wa...

In this episode of The Track Record, we sit down with Tom Spare to revisit the rise of Coldplay, a band that has soundtracked heartbreak, revolution, and stadium singalongs for more than two decades. We trace their journey from the fragile intimacy of Parachutes to the sweeping ambition of Viva La Vida and the technicolor optimism of Mylo Xyloto, unpacking how Chris Martin’s songwriting, the band’...

In this episode of The Track Record, we sit down with Tia Malhotra to unpack what it really means to grow up alongside Justin Bieber, from bubblegum pop to public scandal and some of the most streamed choruses of our lives. We trace his journey from Baby to his latest album, SWAG, exploring how vulnerability, faith, and love have shaped his music and his public image. We talk parasocial protection...

In this episode of The Track Record, we sit down with Aditya to write a love letter, full of questions, chaos, and care, to the one and only Chappell Roan. Together, we trace her evolution from Kayleigh to Midwest Princess, exploring how she builds queer fantasy through music that feels both ultra-specific and universally felt. We talk personas, pedestal politics, and what it means to make joy fee...

In this episode of The Track Record, we dive deep into the wild, weird, and wounded world of Mayhem. In the last one, we had my bestie Aryan Mahajan help us set the stage: who Gaga is and how she shapeshifts through the culture. Today, we walk through the album song by song. No skips. Part two of our Mayhem breakdown takes us from glitter-stained ballads to glitchy breakdowns, through Eden-like cl...

In this episode of The Track Record, we welcome Aryan Mahajan, one of the most passionate and perceptive Lady Gaga fans out there. Together, we unpack the chaos, control, and catharsis of Mayhem and explore Gaga as more than just a provocateur or pop icon. What does it mean to live as both Gaga and Stefani? How does she hold space for trans queer fans through more than just the songs? And where wa...

In this episode of The Track Record, we unpack the mythic, mournful, magnificent world of BTS’ You Never Walk Alone, not just as a K-pop milestone, but as a coming-of-age novel in motion. From piano lullabies and mother-son tributes to crime confessions and cyphers of self-love, You Never Walk Alone dares to be both biblical and boyish, both a diary and a manual. We read each solo track as a chapt...

In this episode of The Track Record, we defend The Tortured Poets Department not as a breakup album but as a lyrical reckoning with fame, femininity, and fallout. Written against a backdrop of post # SpeakUpNow backlash, billionaire paradoxes, and a world increasingly hostile to nuance, TTPD is Taylor Swift’s sharpest, most self-aware work yet.   From poetic courtroom drama to cosmic delusion, we...

In this episode of The Track Record, we dive headfirst into Brat, Charli XCX’s chaotic club confessional. From the thumping defiance of “Von dutch” to the existential vulnerability of “I might say something stupid,” Charli delivers a masterclass in self-aware pop stardom. We explore how Brat redefines authenticity, performs internet-age identity, and turns personal disarray into cultural commentar...

In this episode of The Track Record, we delve into the multifaceted world of Jennie's latest album, Ruby. From the audacious declaration in "Like JENNIE" to the introspective tones of "start a war," we explore how Jennie navigates the complexities of agency, identity, and cultural discourse. Join us as we dissect the themes, controversies, and unapologetic artistry that define this era of Jennie's...