Browsing Tag

German Pop

Seßler/Zeeb packed a lyrical plea for compassion in a pop-rock ballad with ‘If No One’

Posted on 18 April 2024

The superlatively soulful German pop duo, Seßler/Zeeb, sprinkled swathes of (Ziggy) stardust into the production of their 70s folk singer-songwriter-tinged rock-pop ballad, If No One, which implores the listener not to discard humanity and compassion in an era which is becoming increasingly hard to bear.

Over the gentle major piano keys, the lyrics find a way of directly engaging you, pulling you into the plea to bolster the strength of humanity by one act of kindness at a time. The reprise of “if no one really cares” affirms that feeling as though you’re all alone in your plights is one of the most devastating shots to the heart of the human condition. The duo’s handling of this tender subject matter stands as a testament to their ability to evoke emotion with their provokingly pure approach to classic pop songwriting.

Between the lyrical messaging, which will leave you questioning what you can do for someone else today, and the upbeat tones which carry the timbres of the gospel choir in the chorus until it’s time for the guitar solo to inject the release with euphonic zeal, If No One will stay with you, long after the final note has faded.

If No One was officially released on April 5th; stream the single on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Areeyedee’s latest single Insomnia is a waking industrial trap pop nightmare

Posted on 1 January 2024

With a sound as dark as the mise en scene from The Machinist, Areeyedee’s industrial trap pop single, Insomnia, conjures the disjointing and reality-warping nature of the depression symptom which creates 48-hour days where we’re left to replay twisted thoughts on a loop.

By capturing the nature of the beast and refusing to downplay the psychological downfall of the rabbit holes insomnia can take us down, the Kansas-born and raised, Darmstadt, Germany-based artist created a razor-sharp cutting exposition of mental disquietude in his lyrics and his aptly maniacal vocal delivery. With every line, he washes away the stigma while the branding of his sonic signature glows red hot through the release.

After fronting a rock band in the ’90s and landing the role of a hip-hop artist in a feature film, which made him fall in love with the genre, Areeyedee effortlessly melds the alternative with urban aesthetics in his discography, which includes tracks created with the multi-platinum producer, Freek Van Workum (21 Savage, Tech N9ne).

Insomnia will drop on January 1st; stream the single on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

KrizRok has released his summer pop taste breaker, ‘Welcome to My Show’

Posted on 12 June 2021

After a successful 2020 debut, the artist that is impossible to pigeonhole, Krizrok, has unleashed his anthemically eccentric sophomore single, Welcome to My Show. With elements of tropic dance-pop coalescing with indie vibes and reggae rhythms, the sun-kissed release reaches the pinnacle of summer pop while playfully resisting the constraints of your average pop earworm.

The German singer-songwriter and instrumentalist truly comes into his own with his boundlessly magnetic vocals that defy convention while simultaneously leaving you enamoured by the quirky soul on offer.

It is always refreshing to hear a seasoned professional session musician embracing self-expression own with their solo work, and KrizRok is certainly no exception to that rule. Notably, he has a keen sense of which aural rules are made to be broken to find the perfect balance between distinction and infectious appeal.

Welcome to My Show is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The Dresden Persuasion – The Stars Have Faded: Phantasmally Consoling Darkwave Electronica

Posted on 20 December 2020
I Am the Skeleton King by The Dresden Persuasion

Any fans of Bowie, Empathy Test, Bauhaus and Type O Negative will want to jump on the latest album ‘I Am the Skeleton King’ from The Dresden Persuasion.

Track 1, ‘The Stars Have Faded,’ is a faultless introduction to the mesmerising German artist. From the first verse, it’s perceptible that their soundscapes are crafted to offer the listener just as much catharsis as they experienced when creating their hypnotic feats of Electronica.

The Darkwave single pairs phantasmal instrumentals with Craig Dickerson’s sensually absorbing vocals which ensure that with each progression, you’re immersed even deeper in the evocatively multifaceted release. The Stars Have Faded captures the complexity of nihilistic emotion while allowing your own emotions to slip away as they’re replaced with the consoling ones relayed to you in resounding whispers.

You can check out The Stars Have Faded via Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Teddy Roric reminds pop fans that wealth doesn’t always come from money with “Rich in My Mind”

Posted on 29 July 2020

German Pop artist Teddy Roric has released their most uplifting single yet with “Rich in My Mind” which brings brand-new meaning to the term contemporary Pop.

Since lockdown started, there seems to have been a shift away from the fascination of the rich and famous. Naturally, this means Pop fans wouldn’t be all too impressed by artists lyrically and visually flaunting their financial privilege. Rich in My Mind makes the irony of Pop artists trying to make resonant music while offering nothing relatable even starker.

If you’re looking for an aural pick me up which serves as a poignant reminder to see the value in what matters, look no further than this infectiously radio-ready retro Pop hit.

You can check out Teddy Roric’s single Rich in My Mind for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast