Browsing Tag

dance pop

Laptop Singers captured the quintessence of Swedish Pop with ‘Scandinavian Home’

Posted on 4 September 2024

Laptop Singers synthesised the rhythmically hooked quintessence of Swedish Pop into their latest album, The Battle for the Future of Pop. If the soul-scintillating track, Scandinavian Home, is anything to go by, the battle has already been won and Laptop Singers are sitting pretty at the helm of the genre.

By fusing the perpetually stylistic sonic signature of Kraftwerk and the chilly chromatics of Covenant into a perennial dance-pop earworm with post-punk-esque guitars, a pulse-pounding beat and vocals that make you want to melt through the flawlessly pitched seraphic harmonies, Laptop Singers carved out one of the most affecting pop anthems of 2024 with Scandinavian Home.

There’s absolutely nothing guilty about this funk and groove-slicked in all the right places from the Swedish brother duo, Per and Lars Andersson; it’s edgy enough to be a hit in the indie and alt-scene while giving mainstream pop fans all the dance-worthy euphony they could possibly ask for.

Scandinavian Home is now available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Simon Jela’s Dance Pop Anthem, Dancing on the Line, Became A Phenomenon in its Own Right

Posted on 1 September 2024

Simon Jela’s latest single, Dancing on the Line, is a dance-pop anthem that strikes a powerful equilibrium between instrumental euphoria and raw emotional depth. Beneath the storming beat lies an evocative narrative of emotional turbulence, capturing the fear and uncertainty that arise when a relationship teeters on the edge. As the track pulsates with an irresistible rhythmic momentum, Jela’s vocals soar, bleeding sincerity as they traverse his expansive range.

With this release, which includes the B-side single Let Go of Me, Simon Jela solidifies his place as a pop icon in the making. If Dancing on the Line doesn’t elevate him to the same level of reverence as Olly Alexander and introduce him to the pop pantheon, it will be a disservice to the pop landscape.

This isn’t just another perennial pop earworm; it’s a phenomenon in its own right for the way it commands you to surrender to the kinetic energy while plunging you into the bittersweet reality of love on the brink.

Dancing On the Line dropped on August 22nd; stream the single on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Cincinnati icon of chameleonic pop, Catlea, has struck again with the affecting anthem, Crumbling

Posted on 26 August 2024

Cincinnati singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Catlea is unreckonable in their mission to become one of the biggest pop sensations of their generation.

Their latest single, Crumbling, instantly arrests with emotionally weighted minor piano chords cradling the haunting with luminescence vocal lines before the single unravels as a synth-driven hit which sheds its dreamy etherealism to establish itself as an anthemic perennial pop earworm.

The lyrical exploration of the inevitability of not living up to unrealistic expectations in relationships where we only exist as an abstract idea and are expected to play out a role without being given a script is the ultimate consolation for anyone who has faced rejection after refusing to alter their autonomy.

The versatility in this track alone is enough to leave you in awe of Catlea’s ability to confidently command a myriad of genres and vocally match the sonic textures with unflinching ease; the rest of their discography is a larger attestation to their chameleonic cultivated skill.

As a precursor to the upcoming LP, Language Barrier, Crumbling, which was produced by Claudia Mills and features pianist Nick Tsang (Ed Sheeran, The Script, Lewis Capaldi), couldn’t set the anticipation any higher.

Crumbling euphonically cascaded onto the airwaves on August 2nd. Stream the single on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Jazz underpins electro-pop in NxC’s comeback track, Can’t Get You Out of My Head

Posted on 23 August 2024

From the province of Laguna, NxC, a dynamic pop duo, has re-emerged in the limelight with a comeback that dares to share a title with Kylie Minogue’s famed hit, Can’t Get You Out of My Head. It was a bold titular choice, but that’s nothing compared to the endlessly evolving innovation caged within the progressive anthem.

Nikki Culing and Cedric Patangan, who first harmonised in their high school choir and later in various local bands, entered uncharted territory with Can’t Get You Out of My Head which amalgamates the nostalgia of disco pop with the edge of synth sequences and the spontaneity of jazz, presenting a track as layered as their musical background.

After a brief hiatus after their initial single, Peach Fizz, NxC’s sound is more honed than ever. Their comeback initiates with a tease of classic house pop, swiftly morphing through a spectrum of sounds that defy simple categorisation. With Nikki’s euphorically infectious vocals and guitar alongside Cedric’s multifaceted mastery of keys and bass, the duo navigates through hyper-pop highs and rap-infused rhythms, making each transition a head-spinning hit of serotonin.

Every beat of Can’t Get You Out of My Head promises an adrenaline rush of sonic surprises – brace yourself before you hit play.

Can’t Get You Out of My Head hit the airwaves on August 10th; stream the single on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Emilie Thorsby electrified the airwaves with the disco pop grooves in ‘Fake Love’

Posted on 29 June 2024

After garnering over 40k streams on Spotify with her 2023 single “Ocean,” pop sensation Emilie Thorsby has continued to ascend the ranks of the music industry. Her accolades include several prestigious awards, international stage performances, interviews with NBC, and a feature in Elle Global Woman Magazine. Emilie’s career momentum shows no signs of slowing down.

Her latest release, “Fake Love,” is poised to further elevate her profile. This timeless anthem embodies all the characteristics of an enduring pop classic. The kinetically rhythmic euro disco grooves, combined with an instantly catchy hook and her vibrant, vivacious vocals, transform “Fake Love” into a guilt-free pop pleasure.

The Spanish guitar motifs bring a distinct dynamic to the radio and dancefloor-ready track which will undoubtedly become another playlist staple for anyone who seeks serotonin from sound.

Fake Love is a fiery attest to the capacity for reclamation of the heart, body and rhythmic pulses after falling in love with a lothario. Should your summer romances end on a bitter-sweet note, sugar the pill with this infectiously empowering tour de force.

Fake Love was officially released on June 28; stream the single on Spotify now.


Review by Amelia Vandergast

Nissu – Connection: A Strident Exhibition of the Resilience of the Human Spirit

Posted on 21 June 2024
Nissu

The latest single from the Brazil-born, Dublin-based pop sensation, Nissu, is an explosion of positivity; ‘Connection’ goes nuclear through the sonic combustion of passion and unflinching optimism. As soon as the beat kicks in, you’ll catch the fever of gratitude and be compelled to move.

The hit is a kaleidoscope of nu-disco cuts, modern pop panache, grooving basslines, and snappy snares that help to deliver a dynamic, driving beat and cradle the exuberance in the vocals that project an uplifting ode to love, compassion and human connection. Written during lockdown, Connection urges the listener to look for the strength in themselves and celebrate the beauty in connectivity.

We may be years beyond the dystopia of lockdown, but the lessons we learned from the grounding experience, which forced us to reflect on what truly matters and affirmed the importance of connection, still exist as a silver lining to the chapter of our lives that will always be bitter-sweet to look back on.

The official music video is just as much of a triumph, featuring cameos from Charity Case and Hey Baby of Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK and the trans/neurodivergent advocate Cleo C. As a precursor to Nissu’s debut EP, Memories, Connection, created plenty of anticipation over what Nissu has lingering in the pop pipeline.

Connection will be available to stream on all major platforms from June 21st; the official music video will premiere on the same day on Nissu’s YouTube channel.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Lose your head and your heartbreak on the dancefloor with Sam Macdonald’s nu-disco hit, I Wanted More

Posted on 2 June 2024

80s synth pop vicariously lives and breathes through Sam Macdonald’s latest nu-disco hit, I Wanted More, which is a testament to the artist and producer’s cultivated talent, honed while studying music production at Leeds Conservatoire.

Hit play and be force-fed ear candy through the synthesis of the rhythmically compulsive disco grooves and the 80s Madonna-esque vocals that don’t stop at soaring above the production; the passion within them wraps around the track like an incandescent aura you will want to bask in time and time again.

The euphoria within the fiery neon-lit tour de force, which finds a vindicating way to address the dejection of not being able to meet unrealistic romantic expectations ensures that anyone who has been burnt by that particular old flame before will be able to lose their head and heartbreak on the dancefloor with this flawless hit.

I Wanted More was officially released on May 10th and is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Grief transmuted into ground-breaking dance-pop in Tori BLK’s anthem of fortitude A-Okay

Posted on 31 May 2024
Tori BLK

Ignited by fiery pop-punk energy, Tori BLK’s latest dance-pop track, A-Okay, is an act of intense sonic fortitude. Written in the months following losing her mother to liver cirrhosis in February 2024, the single delivers mantras and sonics of solace as it sarcastically scathes at the internal and external expectations to be okay in the wake of a tragedy so colossal you lose your sense of gravity in an alien orbit of reality.

With so many layers to the single, consuming it completely requires digging deep into the emotional and thematic mantles of the single in addition to acknowledging how the instrumentation and stylistic touches amplify the heart-wrenching yet juxtaposing soul-enriching essence of the single.

As the hard-hitting beats thrash against the grief, the upbeat synth-carved melodies deliver the consolation in synergy with Tori BLK’s ascendingly ethereal vocal lines until the chorus hits and she fervently delivers the refrain “tell me that I’m okay, tell me that I’m a-okay”. The heterogeneous hit is inexplicably affecting; it transcends music to exhibit an unfiltered manifestation of a grief-torn soul. As someone who has also experienced the loss of their mother, I can attest first-hand to how raw and real the resonance is.

If this is your first introduction to Tori BLK (AKA Victoria Islas) and her ability to alchemise, transmute and transform broken hearts, it will be an unforgettable acquainting with the singer-songwriter, music producer, poet and spiritual intuitive.

A-Okay will be available to stream on all major platforms from May 31; find your preferred way to listen and connect with Tori BLK through her official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Gavin Cole pierced the pop veil with the razor-sharp hooks in his dynamic hit, FRNDS

Posted on 31 May 2024

The hooks in Gavin Cole’s latest single, FRNDS, don’t just impale, they implant an addiction to his vibrantly visceral approach to contemporary pop.

The sharp bursts of rock renegade intensity within the rhythmically dynamic single which synthesises nuances of funk in the guitar lines, galvanises through dance-pop energy in the beats, and keeps the anticipation for the choruses high with the synth-carved layers of indie jangle pop ensures FRNDS will hit the airwaves with maximum impact.

As an artist who always leans into the messy and often hedonistic nature of relationships, Gavin Cole isn’t your average purveyor of unrealistic romantic expectation-imparting pop, he’s as real as it gets, exemplified by FRNDS, which explores how temptation and lust can tear friendships apart.

With an immense vocal presence that allows Gavin Cole to become a supernova in the spotlight and the studio, he isn’t an artist to underestimate. Since his debut, he’s created a community around his music, evidenced by the success of his crowdfunding campaigns.

FRNDS will be available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify, from May 31st.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Reach Nirvana with DJ Roko’s Slice of EDM ‘Heaven’

Posted on 12 May 2024

DJ Roko dialled up the disco dance-pop euphoria in his latest burst of beat-driven euphoria, Heaven; 90s disco nostalgia permeates the exhilarated EDM production that embodies the UK producer’s influence of David Guetta, Tiesto and Calvin Harris while leaving plenty of room for his signature style to ensnare the airwaves. If rhythm is a dancer, as Snap! proclaimed in ’92 it would get down to this hit that will maximise your lust for life.

The West Midlands-born, Glasgow-based artist and DJ first exhibited his talent for fusing kinetic rhythms with melodies that melt into the mind through his official debut release, Velocity, earlier this year, and has already attracted over 10k monthly Spotify listeners with the infectious intensity within his sound that will undoubtedly flood dancefloors throughout 2024.

With his self-produced debut LP, in addition to several other projects, ready to drop later this year, DJ Roko isn’t a name EDM fans will want to ignore for much longer.

Heaven was officially released on April 27; stream the single on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast