Brazilian-born singer-songwriter Sabina Estevez breaks from the mainstream mold with her sharp, self-aware single “This Is Not A Pop Song,” released on October 4, 2025. Written alongside songwriters John Lo Schiavo and Nando Pettinato, the track nods to the golden era of pop while taking a firm stand against the glossy, formulaic tunes that dominate the charts today.
Recorded between Sydney and London, the song channels the timeless craftsmanship of ‘70s and ‘80s legends like The Beatles, Elton John, ABBA, and 10cc, while also tipping its hat to production masterminds such as Trevor Horn and the trio Stock, Aitken & Waterman.
The song opens with a smug, confident rhythm, with steady-paced beats and a rich, immersive soundscape that instantly pulls the listener in. There’s a smooth pulse of retro warmth beneath a cinematic sheen. The voice enters low and smoky, commanding attention with its gravelly, textured tone, equal parts defiance and allure. Her delivery feels lived-in, carrying that unmistakable mix of soul and sophistication.
She sings, “This is not a pop song, not a radio hit, not a shiny disguise, not a counterfeit / It’s the sound of the streets, the voice of the free,” coming out rebellious and poetic. The lyricism is heavy with imagery, “the crack of the pavement,” “no fake illusion under the moon,” “the fire in the shadow burning slow” to contrast between the shallow and the true, while portraying rebellion as something intimate, natural, ordinary and human rather than loud and brash.
By the final chorus, the song blossoms into a full-bodied pop-rock anthem, fusing its classic sensibility with a forward-thinking spirit. “This Is Not A Pop Song” may deny its own label, but ironically, it’s exactly the kind of unforgettable, hook-laden track that pop desperately needs right now that proves authenticity will always be timeless.
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Review by: Naomi Joan