Browsing Tag

Disco

Cecilia’s Debut, Don’t Wanna Cry, is a Disco Ball’s Glow over Retro-Futuristic Reflections

Posted on 15 December 2024

Cecilia’s debut single, ‘Don’t Wanna Cry’, sinks the listener into a rabbit hole of retro-futurism beneath the glow of a disco ball, pulling her listeners’ senses between awe for innovation and comfort from nostalgia-swathed pop hooks.

If you’re weary of modern retro pop revolving around Lana Del Rey’s carbon copies, Cecilia rhythmically shifts away from the fray. Her sound—recorded and produced independently in her Los Angeles home studio—invites her growing following into a seraphic reverie of dreamy alt-pop, all defined by some of the most sublime vocals from a breakthrough pop artist in 2024.

Influenced by the disco era’s warm grooves, modern electronic textures, and soulful classic vocal timbres, she crafts a retro-futuristic hybrid with indie sensibilities. ‘Don’t Wanna Cry’, released on 26th November, layers its introspective lyrics and ethereal melodies to form a kaleidoscope of colourful warmth, while the earworm mantra lingers long after the final note.

By making her debut with such an empoweringly vulnerable release, Cecilia sets a high bar, teasing more hits from an already iconic artist who dares to groove to her own tune.

Stream Don’t Wanna Cry on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Get a Sonic Contact High from Bramley’s 80s House Anthem, You See Me?

Posted on 8 October 2024

Bramley is no stranger to invoking pure euphoria, and with You See Me?, he pushes the limits of retro-inspired house grooves, creating a track that feels like it was made for that 2 am peak in a sweat-soaked club when shirts are off and the energy is electric. The powerhouse vocals soar effortlessly over his disco-tinged beats, offering an instant mood lift as they project empowering reprises through the mix.

As an accomplished DJ, musician, and guitarist Bramley has a clear vision – to take his listeners on a sonic ride where live elements meet the pulse of electronic music. His knack for knowing exactly when to let the rhythm breathe before hitting hard with those infectious hooks shines through in every track he touches. You See Me? is an undeniable attestation to his mission to make rhythmic hedonism oscillate across dance floors.

The track oozes old-school house nostalgia while maintaining a fresh feel for today’s appetite for house hits. You See Me? hits so much harder than your average house cut; it’s a rush of retro bliss that reminds house music fans why Bramley is a kingpin in his genre.

You See Me? dropped on September 27; stream the single on all major platforms, including Spotify and SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Garfield Mayor shredded inhibition with soul in his nu-disco pop hit, Foolish Feet

Posted on 29 August 2024

Hot on the blazing heels of his critically acclaimed single, Been Thinking, the British singer-songwriter Garfield Mayor, grooved the bar even higher with his lush self-produced summer anthem, Foolish Feet.

Knowing exactly how to command the mic with magnetic soul, Mayor ensures that being drawn into Foolish Feet hook, line and sinker is as obligatory as giving into the compulsive beat and surrendering to the melodies which reach the epitome of infectious fluidity.

Equally as sweet as the sonics which subvert the expectations of summer pop hits are the lyrics which tenderly implore the listener to throw away inhibition and self-consciousness. The lyric, “Who cares about cliches, let’s dance like the old days, we’re all the same species” exemplifies the essence of the single which advocates for living in the moment and casting aside self-preservation to make room for rhythm-led euphoria.

“I was the designated driver at a party. Get Lucky by Daft Punk started playing. I wanted to dance but it had been a while, and I was self-conscious… I went for it anyway, and I remembered how much I’d missed it. It reminded me what a valuable part of life dancing is.”

Coincidently, Foolish Feet is the perfect hit to get footloose with. The echoes of Nile Rodgers’ funked-up guitar and Daft Punk’s kinetic rhythms filtered through a vibe-driven nu-disco lens allow the release to hammer home the razor-sharp propensities of Mayor’s songwriting chops.

Foolish Feet hit the airwaves on August 9th; stream the single on all major platforms via this link.

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

Get into the groove with Ryan Alexander’s funk-chopped disco pop earworm, Stay the Night

Posted on 31 July 2024

Ryan Alexander’s latest single, Stay the Night, featuring pop vocalist Michael, is more disco than a disco ball with its funk chops which cut through the kinetic grooves to ignite dancefloors and send sparks of serotonin flooding through the psyche of anyone who encounters this synthesis of sonic nostalgia and salaciously amplified contemporary innovation.

The hit mainlines the guitar rhythms of Nile Rodgers with the beats of Daft Punk, while the infectiously euphoric pop vocals from Michael turn up the heat in this magnetic earworm, resulting in a track that showcases the immense potential of this independent producer’s talents.

Although Alexander is currently reverberating through the underground, it is only a matter of time before he breaks major ground and storms the mainstream with his flair for expansively fusionistic songwriting and producing.

Hailing from Glasgow, Ryan Alexander’s passion for music is evident in every beat of his rapidly growing discography, which is picking up major traction through his local performances in October Café and other revered venues around his hometown. There’s no doubt that a big break is around the corner.

Stay the Night was officially released on July 22; stream the single on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Zen Warship – Get Higher: A Fusionist Riot to Awaken the Soul

Posted on 23 May 2024
The Renewal by Zen Warship

Zen Warship’s latest single, Get Higher, from their forthcoming LP, The Renewal, is a testament to the Washington DC band’s dedication to following anything that grooves. This time, they’ve ignited a fusionist riot that will awaken the soul. With groove pockets as deep as the Grand Canyon, it’s all too easy to nestle into the vibrant euphoria of this release, which signifies the band’s ambition to deliver their listeners from their own funk into an exhilarating synthesis of funk, soul, ska, and disco.

Get Higher is feel-good transcendence at its finest, capturing the effervescently electrifying energy of Zen Warship’s live performance perfectly. As soon as you lock into the groove, your rhythmic pulses will be commandeered by the kinetic rapture. The single’s lush horns and dynamic rhythm section create a contagious beat that elevates the psyche and embodies the band’s ethos of delivering emotional renewal.

Set to release on June 30, 2024, The Renewal reflects the band’s journey through the post-COVID era with new members and a fresh sound. Guitarist Tyler Moselle, bassist Roberto Giberti, singer Preethy Kolinjivadi, and multi-instrumentalist Emre Tufekcioglu have crafted an album brimming with collaborative spirit and creative tension. The addition of a robust horn section, including trumpet, trombone, and saxophones, brings an intricate and layered sound to the compositions of trumpeter Zack Forbes.

Get Higher was officially released on May 14. Stream and purchase the single on Bandcamp now.

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

Remilekun funked up gospel in her euphorically liberating single, Put Your Weights Down

Posted on 21 November 2023

The one and only luminary, Remilekun, is back on our radar with the momentously uplifting single, Put Your Weights Down, and once again, her unfaltering zeal has driven us to evocative euphoria.

Definitively proving that gospel doesn’t need to adhere to any genre, Put Your Weights Down put synthy funk and disco rhythms behind the ultimate good vibe anthem, which is destined to resonate with everyone. The universally infectious track hits every conceivable mark as it compels you to move to the beat and unshackle yourself from what is holding you back and down.

This is far from the first time that we’ve found reverence for the soulful force, but this new single which captures the electricity of a live performance reached the pinnacle of mindful exhilaration. The essential playlist staple will lift any mood as it encapsulates the artist’s journey from singing covers to leading a ninety-member choir. It mirrors the impact of her inspirational and transformational leadership – get behind her; you won’t regret it.

Raised by a single mother who instilled in her resilience and creativity, Remilekun’s music is imbued with the courage to overcome life’s storms. Put Your Weights Down is not just a song; it’s a narrative of perseverance and a beacon for anyone looking to rise above their circumstances. It’s Remilekun’s musical prowess and heartening background that make this track—and her—an essential presence in the landscape of gospel and inspirational music. I can’t help but adore her.

Put Your Weights Down was officially released on November 11; check it out on Spotify and YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

You trapped me in: Bay Area’s Juno Khrøme felt so stuck in those dangerous games on Paralyze

Posted on 1 August 2023

Feeling those sweetly intoxicating lips which are delectable and terrifyingly alluring each time, Juno Khrøme knows that he was played and lied to and can’t seem to disentangle himself from the spiderweb which has him cocooned inside like a mummy on Paralyze.

Juno Khrøme is a Bay Area, USA-based shades-sliding indie genre-floating artist and music producer who is inspired by jazzy beats, neo-soul brilliance and those funky disco tunes to lose all bad moods with.

Featuring nonfunctioning hearts, love lost and much regret, Juno Khrøme’s Paralyze is a masterful maze into the romantic intentions of those who don’t mean to cause carnage…but ultimately do anyway. Is this what dating is in 2023? Confusing and filled with hazardous potholes. Or a message to be cautious about who we let into our beds at night?

Paralyze from Bay Area, USA-based indie music producer and musician Juno Khrøme is a story that will soar minds into a thrilling but ultimately haunting zone which won’t let go.

Feeling like a misplaced zombie and reminiscing us through a single which is excellent in nature and warns us about those temptations which will take innocent souls into the dark.

Cautioning us about the dangers of a hazardous love, it will be hard not to relate to this song.

Listen up loud on Spotify and forget everything else.

See more vibes on the IG music page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Kat Caroline’s funk-disco-pop amalgam, Sugar Lips, is the perfect sonic summer cocktail

Posted on 31 July 2023

If you haven’t had the honey from Kat Caroline’s sophomore single, Sugar Lips, oozing from your speakers yet, you can’t say you’ve heard the hottest pop hit of the summer.

With creatively modernised vintage disco grooves oscillating through the funk-bolstered hit and the sensuously sweet energy that emanates from the lyrics, vocals and sun-soaked melodies, Kat Caroline is the ultimate alt-pop siren in Sugar Lips, which is more than reflected by the attention the single has garnered since its official debut in May 2023.

The Nile Rodgers-esque guitar chops against the retro pop beats and Kat’s ethereally glassy vocal lines that easily command all of the conceivable senses fused together to create the perfect sonic summer cocktail.

Stream Sugar Lips on Spotify & YouTube and keep up to date with the latest earworms from the US-based one-woman pop powerhouse.

Review by Amelia Vandergast