Photo: Eden Frangipane

As it becomes increasingly difficult to define the nature of “pop” these days, we’ll take stock in Nashville’s Daniel James, whose Canon Blue project is one that we can whole-heartedly say has warm-pop overtones. But it’s not your typical hook. In constructing the eleven tracks on his sophomore album Rumspringa, James orchestrated a rather impressive cast of backing musicians, including most of Danish band Efterklang and Sigur Ros‘s string section, Amiina. The result is a collection of well-crafted pop songs that sound, dare we say, radio ready, yet never lose themselves in grandiose trappings or over-produced fantasies. “A Native” is the second song to emerge from this new set, a tune that speeds along with Amiina’s frenetic strings and James’ high-pitched vocals, where he swears throughout the chorus “all we have is not enough to lose.” A pop sentiment if we’ve ever heard one.

Rumspringa is out August 16 on Temporary Residence.