Browsing Tag

dua lipa

Fallyn weaved a cautionary tale into her debut pop track, Love Bomb

Posted on 7 December 2023

Fallyn’s debut single Love Bomb is a masterful blend of nostalgia and modernity, an ethereal journey that bridges the gap between the distinct pop sounds of the 80s and today’s contemporary landscape. The track is a melodious odyssey, laced with dreamy, choral textures that are as captivating as they are introspective.

Love Bomb opens with a celestial ambiance, immediately setting a tone that is both haunting and enchanting. Fallyn’s voice, reminiscent of icons like Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston, carries a delicate power that lures the listener into the intoxicating atmosphere of the single. Her vocal prowess is evident as she navigates through the layers of sound with ease and emotion. The genius lies in the track’s thematic depth. Fallyn delves into the complex phenomenon of love bombs, a manipulative tactic often employed by narcissists at the onset of relationships.

Fallyn and her collaborator, Trenton Michael, skilfully intertwine 80s pop elements with contemporary sounds, creating a track that feels both familiar and fresh with each element, from the ethereal synths to the layered harmonies, meticulously crafted to enhance the overall experience. Notably, she is one to watch.

Love Bomb dropped on December 1st; stream it on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Belinda Vodea flourished through the retro 80s aesthetic in her pop single, EOM

Posted on 1 December 2023

Belinda Vodea’s debut single EOM (Eyes on Me) is a lustrous nod to the 80s pop era, artfully infusing modern sensibilities with retro flourishes. This London-born British-Albanian artist’s sound resonates with the familiar warmth of a bygone era, yet her approach is refreshingly contemporary, much like her predecessors Dua Lipa and Rita Ora,

Vodea’s airy and soulful vocal delivery is a standout feature of EOM, beckoning listeners with its natural ease and emotive quality, drawing comparisons to the bright and edgy tones of Zara Larsson. Her voice, coupled with the backdrop of lightly distorted electric guitars and expansive, reverberant 80s drums, creates a soundscape that is both nostalgic and bracingly new.

The collaborative spirit of the track’s production, led by Ashea (known for her work with Alan Walker), reflects the power of female artistry, a choice that Vodea emphasises as key to capturing the song’s essence. EOM is a musical journey of love, longing, and self-discovery, with lyrics that explore the universal need to feel noticed and remembered, yet also the determination to progress and thrive. The song’s thematic content is echoed in its composition—dramatic drums and nostalgic synths underpin the narrative of romantic disappointment and personal growth.

Belinda Vodea, who has honed her craft from a young age, balancing her passion for music and dance with academic studies, is poised to make an unforgettable entrance into the pop scene. With her influences ranging from George Michael to Rihanna, and from Bryan Adams to Jhené Aiko, she has developed a unique sound that pays homage to the music that resonated in her household during her formative years.

EOM is more than a debut; it’s a statement of intent from an artist who has been preparing for the spotlight her whole life. From performing mini-shows for her family to aspiring to sell out stadiums, Vodea’s ambition is as clear as her talent. With the single set to release on all major streaming platforms on December 1st, Belinda Vodea is a name to watch in the evolving landscape of pop music.

Stream EOM on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Sample Myla Vie’s dark electro-pop delight, CAUTION

Posted on 7 October 2022

Through the influence of pop icons in the same contemporary vein as Dua Lipa and Lana Del Ray, Myla Vie became one in her own right with the release of her single, CAUTION, which is due for release on October 7th.

The moody alt-electro pop production complemented the up-and-coming artist’s artfully vulnerable vocal timbre as it works through the lyrics that allude to the lack of willingness to open yourself up to more torment following a heartbreak.

She has exactly what it takes to become the next UK alt-pop sensation, and we certainly aren’t the only ones under her spell; her previous releases have been in regular rotation on BBC Essex and Amazing Radio UK/USA.

You can sink into the pure soul of CAUTION by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

UK based singer-songwriter BRAVVN has dropped her new alt pop single What Happens Next

Posted on 16 May 2020

With a video featuring a choreography of bodies dancing in writhing moves within an empty space as if they were pushing away the insecurities of an uncertain love affair, UK based singer-songwriter BRAVVN has dropped her new single What Happens Next.

What Happens Next is a suave interpretation of alternative pop with an anti-mainstream melodic catchiness, falling into the indie-pop category through lo-fi sounds and light-hearted arrangements gently deployed by the use of electronics.

Although musically akin to the likes of major artists such as Dua Lipa, BRANN has developed her own style through not only her music, but also her love of dance, video-making, and outfit design.

You’ll see her all-around talent as soon as you go check out the video for What Happens Next on Youtube.

Review by Jim Esposito.

Anja Kotar’s first single from her forthcoming album ‘NOMAD’

Posted on 14 July 2017

Anja Kotar’s first single from her forthcoming album NOMAD deals with a perennial issue, the one at the heart of young lives across the globe, the one that determines the hierarchy of all our formative years, the issue flagged up in the title, the issue of How To Be Cool. Not that she needs to worry as the song itself is one of the coolest things to happen in pop for a long time and is all the better for the attitude that drives it. For this track isn’t acting as some sort of blueprint, a fast track to popularity, far from it. Rather it questions the whole notion of what being cool is and why you would even subscribe to such an idea in the first place.

A wonderful irony lies in the fact that whilst raising that question, she has blended some eighties vibes, contemporary lyricism and forward thinking dance grooves into the coolest of tunes and the perfect calling card for NOMAD, her musical exploration of the pressures of today’s generation growing up in America. The album is full of infectious tunes and though provoking ideas and unintentionally begs a whole different question. Why be cool when you can be smart?

http://www.anjakotar.com/

Words: Dave Franklin