Browsing Tag

Downtempo Pop

Claire Marante unveiled the depths of trauma in her trip-hop-tinted art-pop installation, ‘You Want Me’

Posted on 30 May 2024

Maltese singer-songwriter, Claire Marante reached the crowning point of her career with the release of her trip-hop-tinted pensive titan of an art-pop installation, You Want Me, which gives a voice to the female protagonist in the lust-fuelled story portrayed in Elvis Costello’s single, I Want You.

The imagination that went into the concept of the single in itself is a triumph, but that scarcely scratches the surface of the depth within this heart-wrenching downtempo release that anyone who has suffered sexual abuse will find consolation within. If you’re nefarious enough to be a perpetrator, prepare to witness the ugly truth of your lascivious actions.

The three chapters within the deeply conceptual single, You Want Me, Hold Me Down, and I Can’t Breathe, create a heart-rending narrative as Claire Marante tentatively moves through the harrowing three-part chronicle, reflecting how hard it can be to voice the agony of sexual abuse, which ripples through our identity with a force strong enough to tear at the seams of our soul.

You Want Me is the precursor to Claire Marante’s upcoming EP which is being primed for a September 2024 release. Expect more intersections of pained introspection to be explored by the artist who never shies away from sonically confronting visceral emotion.

Stream Claire Marante’s single, You Want Me on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Cast aside embitterment with Anaté’s celestially panoramic sophomore single ‘First Time’

Posted on 14 January 2021

In 2021, it’s harder than usual to create everlasting positive memories, with timely their sophomore release, ‘First Time’, alt-electronic pop duo, Anaté, invite the listener to rekindle the magic of affable memories have become soured by embitterment.

First Time asks the listener to stop throwing previously cherished memories away by the wayside just because the co-creator of them is no longer around. It’s a difficult request to make, but through the celestially panoramic alchemy of this intrinsically stylistic feat of downtempo electronic pop, you won’t just feel yourself become open to suggestion. You’ll feel floods of nostalgic imagery finding synergy with the melodic tides of the sensual yet powerful release.

If the difference between Anaté’s debut and sophomore single tells us anything, it’s to always expect the unexpected. Yet, one constant is the depth of the lyricism which works alongside their intoxicating sound.

First Time may not fit the usual perennial pop earworm mould, but it’s all the more unforgettable for it. Anaté’s succinct command of melodies and ability to offer a resounding directness with their music will undoubtedly see them go far in 2021 and beyond. If you’re sick of artists who only scratch at the surface of superficiality with their music, it’s time to start paying attention to Anaté.

To revel in some amorous nostalgia for yourselves, you can check out First Time which was released on January 13th, 2021 via Spotify.

For more ways to listen and more information on the luminary duo, head over to their official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

Singer Songwriter KISA has made a sedately moody Indie debut with the single “Hurting”

Posted on 12 May 2020
https://open.spotify.com/track/7513SwefUkdZDCcyDo0lmu

Up and coming Singer-Songwriter KISA has made an evocative debut with her sedately moody Indie Pop single “Hurting”.

If you could imagine the perfect balance between Amy Winehouse’s Neo-Soul style and the stylistic contemporary appeal from tracks such as Ocean Eyes by Billie Eilish, you’ll get a good idea of what is in store if you hit play on Hurting.

The connectable resonant lyrics, the accessibility and warmth despite the melancholy and the gentle instrumental deftness of Hurting makes it a debut that you definitely won’t want to miss out on. If you can get to the outro after the downtempo soundscape has pulled in nuanced ethereally haunting guitar notes with dry eyes, your soul has probably seen better days

You can check out KISA’s single Hurting for yourselves by heading over to Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Beth De Bacci – Loved Like This: Reflectively Oceanic Alt Pop

Posted on 29 March 2020

Ready for summer? You may just find that you are upon hearing Alt EDM Pop artist Beth De Bacci’s transcendentally downtempo single “Loved Like This”.

Loved Like This comes with that timelessly-immersive reflective Oceanic feel as the uncomplicated yet atmospheric single unravels through succinct yet efficacious builds in momentum and good-vibe energy.

Beth De Bacci’s vocals are undemanding as they synergistically follow the melodies. Yet, the natural magnetism in the singer songwriter’s vocal range will ensure that you’re hooked right up until the outro. The wit and ingenuity in the all too relatable lyrics is the cherry on the cake in this cathartically colourful track.

You can check out Loved Like This for yourselves by heading over to YouTube where you’ll find the official lyric video.

Review by Amelia Vandergast