Recession Pop is So Back

Is hearing Charli xcx in the club considered a recession indicator?

By Olivia Prieto

Photo by Gabby Wylie-Chaney

It’s very common for pop culture to thrive in times of socioeconomic distress; recession pop brings about an escapist and dream-like coping mechanism for the world. Recession pop is categorized as upbeat, electronic dance-pop that had a large influence on American culture in the late 2000s and early 2010s following the Great Recession (2007-2009).

Artists dominating the recession pop era are no less than iconic: Kesha, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, the Black Eyed Peas, etc. They created all of the music that Gen-Z craves to hear on the dance floor. Today, pop artists like Charli xcx, girl-groups like Katseye, and emerging artists like Adéla are dominating the music scene while bringing in classic synths and sounds from the late 2000s-early 2010s era.

The term “recession indicator” can be cited to mean “a specific economic statistic or data point used to track, forecast, or identify a significant decline in economic activity.” In 2026, it’s been largely memefied in an ironic, self-deprecating way; a person could post their resume and experiences and complain about not finding a job on TikTok and somebody would inevitably comment “recession indicator.”

In today’s political and economic climate, the United States is technically not in a recession. What is happening is the United States’ global involvement in geopolitical conflicts is causing an increase in oil and gas prices. On top of this, everyday costs such as grocery prices also remain high. So, while we are technically not in a recession, the United States is experiencing a period of economic strain. Due to these factors, it can be deduced that people are finding their escapes in the realm of recession pop once more.

Music has always been a form of escapism and entertainment. It brings about community and connection, and our brains release dopamine and serotonin upon hearing music we enjoy. As we become familiar with certain songs, our brains will recognize the sound and release dopamine, even after only hearing the first couple of seconds. Upbeat music and club-pop are genres that can easily stimulate one’s brain, especially with their danceable nature.

I argue that this new era of pop music can be considered Gen-Z’s “recession pop” music. Themes of escapism, nostalgia, and connectedness are prevalent not only in the upbeat-electropop instrumentals, but also in the lyrics, making the songs replayable and easy to sing along to. Charli xcx is one of the many modern pop staples. Following brat summer in 2024, Charli xcx has been on the rise in pop and electronic music spaces. Her new song “2007” has the lyrics, “I can take you to heaven like it’s 2007.” Similarly, breakout artist Adéla's new song “Ain’t in LA” has the lyrics, “maybe tonight, we don’t have to run away. Enjoy the ride, I know that you might wanna escape.”

With this new wave of pop music, we have to credit the OGs who paved the way for this escapist genre to be so iconic. So, the next time you hear “TikTok” by Kesha on the radio, just know, it might just be a recession indicator.