South London artist Max Pope returns with “right or wrong”, a shimmering, soul-tinged alternative pop track that dives deep into questions of morality and belief. Known for his distinct guitar tone and unmistakable vocals, Pope blends the warmth of neo-soul with bedroom-pop.
Written in the wake of a close friend’s struggle with suicidal thoughts, “right or wrong” is personal to Pope. The track meditates on whether the actions of those grappling with mental illness can (or should) be judged within the confines of “right” and “wrong.” Pope reflects, “Morality can be a grey area… On a primal level, it is the power of our ‘beliefs’ that keep us going.”
The song is taken from Pope’s upcoming second album, PRAISE ANIMAL, out October 3 via Kartel Music Group. Recorded at North London’s The Church Studios and produced by Riley Macintyre (Arlo Parks, The Kills, Glass Animals), the album ventures into a darker and woozier sound. It’s a visceral reflection on the wilder sides of human nature.
Pope explains, “It honours the darker, wilder sides of human nature, focusing on the animalistic characteristics that we often shame or repress… Read differently, ‘Praise Animal’ also reflects our societal hunger for praise—my own subconscious need for validation and how we are all constantly feeding our egos.”
“right or wrong” follows a string of singles from the record, including “love someone self destruct”, “love is dead”, and “borderline”, which have all earned support from BBC 6 Music, Dork, and more. The tracklist positions “right or wrong” in the album’s latter half, suggesting a deeper emotional descent as the record unfolds.
Pre-orders and pre-saves are available for PRAISE ANIMAL, now.
Keep up With Max Pope: Spotify // YouTube // Instagram // TikTok // Facebook // X // Website
