Browsing Tag

Electro Pop

Koko Nova has made an artful alt-pop debut with, ‘Addicted to You’

Posted on 1 May 2021
https://soundcloud.com/iamkokonova/addicted-to-you/s-YspngYgqcGg

For her debut single, alt-pop artist Koko Nova served a seductive slice of era-spanning European electro-pop that won’t fail to leave you arrested through the atmospheric post-punk elements amongst the 90s pop artfully anthemic grooves.

The sonic experience itself is enough to get you excited about Koko Nova. Yet, with a successful corporate career behind her and a background in science that feeds into the constructs of her sound, you don’t just get the sense that her music is intellectually inspired; you get the affirmation.

If you pay close enough attention to the lyrics, you’ll find that Addicted to You isn’t your usual saccharine love song; instead, it is a siren call to our habits that form around our vices. Something tells us that her sophomore single will be just as subversive.

Addicted to You released on April 23rd; you can check it out for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

There’s quite literally ‘No End’ to the talents of Quite Vice

Posted on 26 April 2021

Catchy, hooky, easy-singalong-y (is that a word?), ‘No End’ – from debut album ‘Bedrock’ – is airy, dance-y shimmering electronic (as distinct from electro-) pop that sticks in your head from the first line of the first verse and refuses to leave again for a significantly long time.

If we say ‘a funky Lightning Seeds with maybe a touch of the Bluetones’, maybe even adding the song-writing perfection of Paul Heaton and the Beautiful South, you’ll immediately get the ball-park we’re in here; that instantly recognisable yet utterly fresh summery feel of irresistible, well-crafted timeless pop. That’s not to downplay it – it takes a disproportionate amount of skill to create something that sounds as effortless and easy-going as ‘No End’, with an instant familiarity that makes it sound both exciting and up-to-date and as comforting as a visit from an old friend, all at once.

Stylistically, the synths bring an obvious electronic vibe here – Daft Punk spring to mind – but there’s also heavy funk, disco, and 70’s pop influences, the Nile Rodgers staccato guitar and old-school Rhodes piano parts adding to the groove and loungey, nu-disco feel. Quite Vice might have just written the first perfect pop song of Summer 2021.

You can hear ‘No End’ on Spotify, and follow Quite Vice here or on Facebook.

Review by Alex Holmes

 

Find The Light: New York’s GHOSTE urges us to have faith in our path and ‘Hold On’

Posted on 19 April 2021

As she brings forth a stunning glow to rise above all doubts around in this confusing world, that can easily suck you deeply into its undesirable sewers of gloom, GHOSTE carefully shows us how to believe again with the outstanding new single off her latest ten-track album called ‘Hold On‘.

Jenny Bruce aka GHOSTE is an angelic New York City-based indie electro-pop singer-songwriter and loving mother of two. She has recently recreated herself and leads us into the pureness of music, with a sound that has you absolutely astounded by the beauty intertwined inside each verse.

This is the true story about following your dreams and never giving up, despite what obstacles and rocks may be thrown your way. Believing in positive thoughts and keeping those dreams burning bright is incredibly, the way to true self-enlightenment after all.

She sings with such class and grace, her life hasn’t been easy but she stays true to her beliefs with a stunning array of vocal ability that has you closing your eyes, smiling, tearing softly, but ultimately feeling empowered through her sumptuous vocals that shows you where the door to happiness really is.

‘Hold On‘ from the wonderfully self-aware New York-based electro-pop artist GHOSTE, is a glorious escape from the rigors of the world through a crisply created sound that brings peace, where there was once noise and bad energy. Per aspera ad astra indeed.

Stream her new single on Spotify and see more from this magnetic talent on her IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Stuck In Your Mind: LOZENJA is back with love-torn electro-house gem ‘Bad For You’ (feat. Frannie B)

Posted on 6 April 2021

With a breathlessly intoxicating energy that is highly exciting and packed full of warnings too, LOZENJA ups the tempo on his new track about how you can easily fall for the wrong person called ‘Bad For You’ (feat. Frannie B).

Laurence Woods aka LOZENJA is a Farnham, UK-based electro-pop/lo-fi/house music producer, songwriter, DJ, harpist and also a podcast editor. He makes that deeply constructed music that soothes all parts of your mind and elevates you to a better place.

This is the story of a person who you care about that is telling you exactly what they are like deep inside and its not positive – but you keep on coming back anyways – as they are all that you want even though you should be looking elsewhere.

We are swimming in a tempting world of desire, as the electronic house creation is packed into soothing vocals from an angelic singer with an amazing tone. Mixed with a catchy beat that has you in a reflective mood, this is a quality new single.

‘Bad For You’ (feat. Frannie B) from Farnham, UK-based producer LOZENJA, is a dreamy soundscape from a talented team who have you thinking deeply about your next move, as you don’t want to be with the wrong person and get hurt again. The problem is that you crave the love that you probably shouldn’t, as all that’s awaiting for you is eventual heartbreak.

Stream the song on YouTube and check out the IG for more stories and news.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Harry Bodley-Scott offers solidary to anyone locked in a cycle of unhealthy idealisation with ‘Instagram’

Posted on 29 March 2021
https://soundcloud.com/harry-bodley-scott-330399367/instagram

Harry Bodley-Scott tends lyrically delve deeper than most singer-songwriters, the London-residing artist’s latest indie-pop single, ‘Instagram’, is the perfect example.

While it is no revelation that social media can be an alienating toxic cesspit, the evocative indie pop rap vocals paint a poignant picture of just how unhealthy being locked in a cycle of idealisation can be. Whether you feel empathy or solidarity, you’re sure to feel something while lyrical blows such as ‘I’m in love you, but you’re just a fucking idea now’ hit.

The sparsely accordant instrumentals leave plenty of room for the vulnerability and honesty for Harry Bodley-Scott’s vocals to lure you into the progressive single which may have started in the archetypal acoustic pop genre, but as the track grooves towards the outro, you’ll start to pick up on reminiscences to the likes of the 1975.

Instagram officially released on February 26th; you can hear it for yourselves via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Allanah Jeffreys – Alone: Ensnaring Alt-Electro-Pop

Posted on 25 March 2021

At the age of 16, Allanah Jeffreys has already graced hundreds of stages across America and performed alongside some of Canada’s most luminary artists. Her latest pop-rock single, ‘Alone’ is a minefield of ensnaring hooks, unapologetic attitude and all too relatable emotion. But you’ll find it pretty hard to feel apathetic about isolation as you listen to the galvanising feat of dance-pop run through.

Alone isn’t just a radio-ready single. It’s a platinum record-ready release that will undoubtedly disrupt the negative narratives around loneliness as we wait to emerge as social creatures once more. Alone may allude to a particular kind of absence, but after the 12 months we’ve all had, it’s safe to assume that plenty of people will find resonance in the lyrics projected by Allanah Jeffreys’ dynamically fierce vocals.

Alone is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

LearningToDive shows how ‘TAINTED’ we are with his latest synth-pop single

Posted on 15 March 2021

Norwegian pop artist LearningToDive released their latest entrancing single ‘TAINTED’ to guide global anger in the right direction by attacking the glorification of the military-industrial complex.

With a similar synthpop style to the likes of Covenant, And One and VNV Nation paired with awakening lyrics which were penned to shake the listener from complacency around one of the biggest threats faced by the environment and humanity, the 80s post-punk-inspired single dropped at the perfect time.

Based on TAINTED, LearningToDive could easily be considered as the Adam Curtis of synthpop.

TAINTED is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Maddison Skies instilled even more assured positivity on the airwaves with their pop-rock sophomore single ‘Fireworks’

Posted on 9 March 2021

There was no forgetting British pop group, Maddison Skies after hearing their inspiringly optimistic debut single, ‘To the Moon and Back’. Their sophomore single, ‘Fireworks’ hit the airwaves in February 2021, instilling even more assured positivity on the airwaves.

This time, they’ve moved away from the perfect pop formula to incorporate elements of indie rock into the electro-pop hit which boasts a slightly 90s pop feel, but when the guitar solo starts blazoning through the track, Fireworks becomes anything but assimilative.

With another track in the pipeline, it is definitely time to start paying attention to the UK-based trio.

Fireworks is now available to stream via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Singer, rapper and chart-topper Nesdi Jones has released her latest single ‘Good Girl’

Posted on 8 March 2021

‘Good Girl’ is the latest entrancing electro-pop single to be released by Welsh singer, rapper and chart-topper, Nesdi Jones, which leaves little room to wonder why she’s garnered global recognition through her original tracks and her Bhangra and Bollywood covers.

It’s not only genres that coalesce in Good Girl which unravels as a mash of 90s pop, disco and progressive future pop. Nedsi’s Hindi and Punjabi heritage and influence also feeds into the mix, allowing the rhythm behind this danceable drop to arrest with distinction.

If you could imagine what it would sound like if Corona’s The Rhythm of the Night was released today and had bags more affable attitude behind it, you’ll get an idea of what is in store in this teasingly stylish release.

You can check out the official video to Good Girl which premiered on February 9th via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

TRBLMKR delivered an eccentric electro-pop serenade with ‘Sweet Love’

Posted on 7 March 2021

TRBLMKR’s latest alt-electronica single ‘Sweet Love’ is exactly the kind of dance track you could make regrettable decisions to if it dropped on a dance floor. By no means is it your archetypal drop of electronica. It’s sensual, unpredictable and seriously distinguished by the coalescence of indie vibes, RnB pop-inspired vocals and futuristic beats which carry faint reminiscence to Imagine Dragons’ smooth electro-pop edge.

The Floridian collective may have only recently made their debut, but that doesn’t hinder the commercial potential which spills from this eccentrically sweet release which shows just how stylish an electro-pop serenade can be.

Sweet Love released on January 24th, it is now available to stream via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast