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The Niche Reference

The Niche Reference

A new name, inspired by all influences…

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Category: Pop

Pop Essays #64: Girls Aloud, ‘Swinging London Town’

Sep 26, 2025Sep 26, 2025 ~ Alex the Pensmith ~ Leave a comment

Girls Aloud's third album, Chemistry, was by far and away their most universally adored by both critics and fans. So why exactly did it - relatively - underperform compared to their previous releases?

Pop Essays #63: Daniel Powter, ‘Free Loop’

Jun 19, 2025Sep 25, 2025 ~ Alex the Pensmith ~ Leave a comment

It was always going to be a task for Daniel Powter to follow up the worldwide mega success of "Bad Day". But his fate as a one hit wonder was sealed by his label's costly failure to adhere to chart regulations...

Pop Essays #62: Nelly Furtado, ‘Powerless (Say What You Want)’

Jun 12, 2025Jun 19, 2025 ~ Alex the Pensmith ~ Leave a comment

For the first single from her second album, Nelly Furtado channeled her experiences of the industry and growing up in Canada into an empowering anthem about reclaiming identity and forging your own path...

Pop Essays #61: Victoria Beckham, ‘I Wish’

Jun 5, 2025Jun 12, 2025 ~ Alex the Pensmith ~ Leave a comment

Despite being on an almost constant losing streak with her solo material outside the Spice Girls, Victoria Beckham did smash a fair few preconceptions than her critics - or even she - gave herself credit for...

Pop Essays #60: Simon Webbe, ‘Lay Your Hands’

May 29, 2025Jun 1, 2025 ~ Alex the Pensmith ~ Leave a comment

With his debut solo single away from Blue, Simon Webbe quickly confounded all predictions and expectations by letting the music do the talking...

Alexis Strum: Britain’s best popstar you don’t yet know

May 27, 2025May 28, 2025 ~ Alex the Pensmith ~ Leave a comment

Alexis Strum was one of my best kept music secrets for many years. Hopefully, with a new album on the way, she can be yours to discover too...

Pop Essays #59: Preston, ‘Dressed To Kill’

May 22, 2025May 28, 2025 ~ Alex the Pensmith ~ Leave a comment

Whilst his post-Ordinary Boys solo career was marked dead on arrival before it'd even been given a fair hearing, it helped Preston rebirth into a prosperous new career behind the scenes - crafting absolute bangers like this one...

Pop Essays #58: Mini Viva, ‘Left My Heart In Tokyo’

May 15, 2025May 21, 2025 ~ Alex the Pensmith ~ 1 Comment

The key cornerstone of Xenomania's branch out into an in-house record label, Mini Viva were positioned as the all new pop duo phenomenon to take them from their success in the 00s to the 2010s...

Pop Essays #57: Janet Jackson, ‘Someone To Call My Lover’

May 8, 2025May 5, 2025 ~ Alex the Pensmith ~ Leave a comment

No one had due cause to think Janet Jackson was about to slip into the realm of only being as good as her last single. But for better or worse, that's what happened with the release of the third single from her All For You album...

Pop Essays #56: S Club, ‘Who Do You Think You Are’

May 1, 2025May 25, 2025 ~ Alex the Pensmith ~ Leave a comment

Seeing Double, S Club's debut and only big screen jaunt, may have been marred in its execution, but one of its songs proved they were still at the top of their game musically prior to their split...

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Recent Posts

  • Album Review: Olly Murs (@ollymurs) – “Knees Up”
  • Pop Essays #64: Girls Aloud, ‘Swinging London Town’
  • Pop Essays #63: Daniel Powter, ‘Free Loop’
  • Pop Essays #62: Nelly Furtado, ‘Powerless (Say What You Want)’
  • Pop Essays #61: Victoria Beckham, ‘I Wish’

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