Browsing Tag

2021 pop

Richard Tyler Epperson wants to take us for ‘Another Day’

Posted on 3 April 2021

Recorded in his home studio in Salt Lake City, Utah, Richard Tyler Epperson’s ‘Another Day’ is a beautiful, poignant acoustic guitar and piano-led number, an ode to desperation leading to hope, depression and anxiety mixed with the desire for another chance, hope that tomorrow might be better. There’s very much a Paul Westerberg/Replacements ‘Aching To Be’ vibe about the track, with a touch of very quiet Husker Du or Sugar, The Jayhawks, or Buffalo Tom’s ‘Tail Lights’ somewhere in the mix, too.

It’s a beautiful, gently soulful track, Epperson’s vocal, guitar, and piano soft and powerful but added to by the additional instrumentation of guest Jacob Montague, who also added mixing and mastering sparkle. The strength of a good song is in its ability to be told in the simplest form – acoustically, with a voice and simple instrumentation and arrangement – and by those criteria, Richard Tyler Epperson’s ‘Another Day’ has all the hallmarks of a great.

You can hear ‘Another Day’ on Spotify, and follow Richard Tyler Epperson here.

Review by Alex Holmes

Michael Antony – No Relax: Theatric Funk-Fuelled Euro Pop

Posted on 19 March 2021

London-based orchestrator of unforgettable dance pop hits, Michael Antony, has released their latest single ‘No Relax’, with a euro pop style cooler than Berghain and distinctively theatricals vocals, No Relax is almost enlivening to kickstart a zombie apocalypse. Failing that, the funk-filled feat of entrancing future pop which boasts a few retro tendencies will definitely get dance floors moving when they’re safe to grace once more.

It may not be your average perennial pop earworm, but the melodies in No Relax will bed down intently all the same.

No Relax officially released on February 19^th, you can check it out for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

atti jane has made her bedroom pop debut with ‘give me time’

Posted on 16 March 2021

https://open.spotify.com/track/4PdfBzBH1ibUFnolAGQ1Yf

19-year-old pre-med undergrad, singer-songwriter and producer, atti jane has made her debut with the quaintly lo-fi indie-pop single ‘give me time’ which will be all too relatable for anyone who has trauma bonded during the past 12 months.

With lyrics that capture the anxiety which has manifested courtesy of isolation falling around playful polyphonic beats, atti jane’s single is persuasive enough for the listener to find the romanticism in the suffering we’ve collectively endured.

If every artist making their debut had such succinct command of melody, the airwaves would undoubtedly be a different place.

give me time is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Scott Cruz gives us ‘The Reason’ to be cheerful

Posted on 28 February 2021

You’d think that perhaps receiving five (five. Count ‘em!) prestigious Telly Awards for TV compositions including the Discovery Channel, the History Channel, and a bunch of independent films, alongside performing at that epicentre of cool the House of Blues and charting on Billboard’s Top 40 Indicator Chart with previous single ‘Rescue’ would be enough for US-based singer/songwriter/composer/producer Scott Cruz, but you’d be wrong. Very wrong. We’re not talking ‘resting on laurels’ here, we’re looking at an artist at the top of his game, and new single ‘The Reason’ absolutely demonstrates that.

Dance-oriented, electronic, swathed in synth-strings and upbeat as hell, ‘The Reason’ is a radio-friendly club-pop banger; it’s earnest, it’s open, and it’s all topped off by Cruz’s soulful voice – think Shawn Mendes, a touch of Calum Scott, some Calvin Harris, and a dash of Harry Styles. It’s pure, proper, uplifting dance pop, and it’s very, very likely to raise that bed of laurels Cruz has to rest on just a bit higher very, very soon.

Check out ‘The Reason’ on Apple Music; go to Scott Cruz’ website.

Review by Alex Holmes

Ooberfuse show us just how sweet liberation can sound with ‘Set Me Free’

Posted on 14 February 2021

While the UK collectively clawed at the walls in confined frustration, London-based electro-pop duo, Ooberfuse, were gearing up to drop their latest single ‘Set Me Free’. If you’re in the mood for some aurally-inspired liberation, feel your shackles lose their grip to the danceable drop.

With a touch of Tori Amos to Cherrie Anderson’s vocals, beats which will allow you to imagine what it would sound like if you fed a Portishead record ecstasy and a production which drips with electro-pop modernity, if Set Me Free was any more on-trend it would be writing the future. The track perfectly captures the emotions which come to fruition when you finally remove yourself from someone else’s control and it feels like nothing is out of reach. Liberation has never sounded sweeter.

The official music video was released on January 4^th, you can check it out for yourselves via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Floridian singer-songwriter, Megan Wheeler, has made a classy debut with ‘Replaced’

Posted on 8 February 2021

From Trina to Mandy Moore to Gloria Estefan to Ariana Grande, Florida has a habit of producing stunning female singer-songwriters; on the basis of ‘Replaced’, 16-year-old Megan Wheeler could be the latest in that long and prestigious list. Opening with a gentle, ‘Imagine’-like piano part before Wheeler’s delicate-yet-potent vocal kicks in, ‘Replaced’ is a subtle little piano-led ballad, poppy yet mature, a story of a girl betrayed and of love lost in an instant.

Wheeler’s voice is superb, a mix of Dolores O’Riordan, Avril Lavigne, and maybe a touch of Taylor Swift, her piano playing a perfect accompaniment to the vocal. She already has a classy understanding of technique and of the craft of songwriting, despite her tender years; on the basis of ‘Replaced’ she’s got a stunning future ahead of her, but that’s not to say that ‘Replaced’ isn’t a great track all by itself.

You can check out ‘Replaced’ on Wheeler’s HearNow page; check out the real Meg Wheeler on Twitter.

Review by Alex Holmes

MATEI is set to release their atmospherically ensnaring alt-trap pop single ‘Omen’

Posted on 28 January 2021

London-based singer-songwriter, MATEI’s nuanced approach to RnB Pop allows you to find strong emotion within gentle progressions, sensual vocals and poetic imagery-conjuring lyrics. Their deeply self-aware sound ascended to new heights with the release of their single ‘Omen’.

Dig deep in the atmospheric electronic pop track and you’ll pull up raw unabashed vulnerability and discover the eccentricity within MATEI’s sound which blends elements of commercial pop with a touch of new wave trap to ensure that Omen runs through with a contemporary feel. In spite of the authenticity of Omen, there was perceptibly no compromise when it came to the commercial potential of the single. It’s a radio-ready hit which the BBC should be considering for their A-lists.

Omen is due for release on February 1^st, 2021. You’ll be able to check it out for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud. Follow MATEI on Facebook to stay up to date with new releases.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

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