Editor's Picks 115: Chappell Roan, Jo Hill, Joy Oladokun, Trousdale, MARIS, and The Ophelias! - Atwood Magazine

      Atwood Magazine is thrilled to present our Editor's Picks column, curated and authored by Editor-in-Chief Mitch Mosk. Each week, Mitch will highlight a selection of songs, albums, and artists that have captured his attention. There’s an abundance of remarkable music just waiting to be discovered, and all that’s required from us is an open mind and a desire to listen. Through our Editor's Picks, we aim to illuminate our musical finds and feature a varied mix of new and recent releases. This week's picks include Chappell Roan, Jo Hill, Joy Oladokun, Trousdale, MARIS ft. Caroline Kingsbury, and The Ophelias! Follow EDITOR'S PICKS on Spotify.

      “The Giver” by Chappell Roan

      “I get the job done,” Chappell Roan sings, and with her latest single, she delivers just that, infused with a playful wink and a confident stride. After much anticipation since her SNL performance last November, “The Giver” was unveiled on March 13th. It's a lively, cheeky anthem inspired by the country-pop genre made famous by icons like Shania Twain and Carrie Underwood, brimming with flirtation, confidence, and free-spirited sexuality. This vibrant track showcases that Chappell Roan can master any genre she embraces— not through imitation but through authenticity.

      Though I may lack antlers on my walls,

      I know the mating calls

      From bar stalls on Friday nights.

      Some boys may need maps,

      But I can close my eyes

      And have you wrapped

      Around my fingers.

      As the newly crowned Midwest Princess and a 2025 Grammy nominee for Best New Artist, Roan leans into a raucous, fiddle-driven sound that feels genuine and true to her artistry, as if she has always belonged in cowboy boots. With her boldness and captivating storytelling, she turns twang into timelessness and queerness into classic, delivering a track that’s both effortless and electrifying.

      Roan stated, “I have a special relationship with where I'm from due to country music.” Originating from the small town of Willard, Missouri (population 6,500), she shared with Apple Music Country’s Kelleigh Bannen, “I honor that part of myself by making a country song.... Yes, I am gay, and yes, I am very pop. Yes, I am a drag queen who can still perform a country track.”

      The lively energy bursts from “The Giver,” starting with a vibrant fiddle melody, gritty electric guitar, and a relentless beat that sets the stage. Roan swiftly enters her playful, confident realm, swapping conventional country themes for something far more adventurous. With witty lines like “Ain’t got antlers on my walls, but I sure know mating calls,” she flips traditional country bravado on its head while smirking knowingly. Her delivery is smooth and natural, matching the song's flirty vibe as the pace intensifies. By the pre-chorus—“So, baby, when you need the job done, you can call me, baby”—she firmly asserts her control, fusing humor, confidence, and raw desire.

      The chorus of “The Giver” radiates unshakeable confidence, showcasing a bold declaration of passion and skill. Roan sings with fierce determination, embracing the lively country-pop instrumentation while redefining conventional roles. “So take it like a taker, ‘cause baby, I’m a giver,” she croons, her voice filled with charm and innuendo. The pulsating drums and electric guitar riffs enhance the song’s playful spirit and fiery attitude, with each lyric acting as a dare. When she emphasizes the hook—“I get the job done”—it feels less like a promise and more like a commitment, solidifying “The Giver” as an enticing anthem of empowerment, excitement, and undeniable charm.

      So, baby,

      When you need the job done,

      You can call me, baby,

      ‘Cause you don’t need to tell me,

      It’s just in my nature.

      So take it like a taker,

      ‘Cause, baby, I’m a giver.

      No rush,

      ‘Cause I deliver,

      Ain’t no country boy quitter,

      I get the job done,

      I get the job done.

      While the wider world may have met Chappell Roan through her polished pop hits like “Femininomenon,” “HOT TO GO!,” and “Pink Pony Club,” or my favorite, “My Kink Is Karma,” “The Giver” reflects her musical roots just as authentically. Think of it as ‘country (Chappell’s Version)’—this sound is in her DNA.

      “I have a deep affection for country music. I grew up with it playing every morning and afternoon on my school bus and heard it

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