Savannah Pope's 'Panopticon' Turns Surveillance into Art Rock

Savannah Pope, an artist from Los Angeles, has unveiled her latest single titled “Panopticon,” which reflects her personal battles with body image and sexual trauma through the lens of total surveillance. The name of the track is inspired by Jeremy Bentham’s 18th-century design for a circular prison, where inmates become aware of the guard’s watchful presence. Pope translates this idea into a psychological context, illustrating an unseen internal critic that remains even in moments of solitude. The accompanying music video features a sequence with measuring tape in a dressing room, using mirrors and tape measures as metaphors for the guard tower, and delving into how societal pressures influence women's perceptions of their bodies. The song showcases opulent Rococo-inspired visuals alongside operatic rock elements. “Panopticon” arrives after Pope's notable achievements, including performances for Erasure’s Andy Bell throughout North America, sold-out shows at LA’s Fonda Theatre, and her debut headlining gig at Joe’s Pub in New York. This single provides a glimpse into her upcoming EP, which fuses baroque pop with operatic rock.