London-based pop artist Matilda Grace is leaning into the glamour, colour and unapologetic fun of classic pop with her latest single, ‘Cover Boy’, released on July 24. Blending shimmering synths, infectious melodies and rock-inflected pop production, the track looks back to the larger-than-life sounds of the 1980s and 1990s while giving them a distinctly contemporary twist.
At just 21, Grace has been steadily building a name for herself since emerging in 2025. Her early releases have accumulated tens of thousands of streams across digital platforms, while her work has received support from BBC Introducing and Apple Music editorial playlists. She was also included on the longlist for the Glastonbury Emerging Talent Competition, further marking her out as one of the UK’s emerging independent pop voices.
‘Cover Boy’ follows previous releases including ‘Chemistry’ and ‘Tell Me Why’, and sees Grace pushing her retro influences further. The track draws from the colourful pop universe of artists such as Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, Duran Duran and The Buggles, with references to songs including ‘Vogue’, ‘Like A Virgin’, ‘Girls On Film’ and ‘Video Killed The Radio Star’ informing its aesthetic.
The track is glossy, energetic, built around bright synths, memorable hooks and a tongue-in-cheek lyrical concept. Its emphasis on personality and spectacle also reflects an era when pop music was often inseparable from fashion, music videos and carefully constructed visual identities.
That visual identity is central to the accompanying music video, which follows a model competing to become the next magazine cover star. Combining fashion, performance and storytelling, the video extends the song’s retro-inspired world while reinforcing the themes of image, ambition and celebrity that sit at the heart of ‘Cover Boy’.
Grace says the track represents one of the most enjoyable creative experiences of her career so far. “This song has been the highlight of my career to make,” she explains. “From the original draft, to the first demo, to making the music video, it has been a joy, and I hope that comes through in the 80’s/90’s inspired sound of the song and makes everyone want to dance.”
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