FEMMEcan be considered many things: an alluring fatale with pink hair, a nonchalant fashion icon with chandelier earrings, and a burgeoning popstress. But not in the contrived sense her retro futurism aesthetic is authentic. It takes a cerebral mind to hark back to one of the most influential eras in music. Theres a lot of charm in 60s girl-groups thats very inspiring. Theres something very human about it, its very accessible.

Born Laura Bettinson, the singer, songwriter, producer and video director is probably out for world domination from her south London base, and rightfully so. Shes riding high (pun intended) on the coattails of her most recent single, High, which got an exclusive debut on Vogues website, and after closing her European shows shes heading overseas to smash the US by opening for Charli XCX.

The thing that stands out most with Bettinson, though, is that shes not afraid to be pop. Shell indulge her fans with Andy Warhol-like music videos (Fever Boy), and break out into a one-two step both on and off the stage.

The previous shows [in the UK] were full of teenage girls who, I dont know if theyve been to previous shows, or they watched the videos online, but they were doing the dances! Its as though shes adding blocks of bright colour to a rather dark musical climate. Im doing this for a laugh. I wake up every morning and Im amazed that I can do what I love like this. Youve gotta be able to laugh at yourself.

For music purists, to be pop can allude, to some, to selling out, despite the fact that many of the worlds greatest, and most gifted music stalwarts were, in fact, pop: Michael Jackson, Prince, Madonna, Debbie Harry, and Lady Gaga.

Pop doesnt have to be stupid. It is pop music that I make and its not absolutely mundane, stupid clickbait. Id like to think its something that will be around a bit longer than that.

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WHERE: South London via Rugby

WHAT: Retro-futuristic pop princess

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Next Wave #608: FEMME