Browsing Tag

Indie Soul Pop

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

Murphy put her jazz and soul into existential philosophy with her latest single, Glitch

Posted on 9 October 2023

The NYC-hailing soulstress Murphy brought in a new era of indie soul pop and added a new trajectory to the evolution of existential philosophy with her latest slicked with jazz and hooked with funk single, Glitch.

Traversing everything from the meaning of life to its origin, Glitch is a deeply introspective hit which infectiously explores the potential of a society-shaking glitch to set us free. If the soberingly sublime single doesn’t leave you deep in thought, that may just be a sign you need to stop swimming in the shallows of perception and start swimming in infinitely more profound pools; diving in with Murphy is the perfect vantage point to take the plunge.

She’s got the voice, a mind that would make Sartre quiver, and a golden ear for a melody; it is safe to say that she’s the epitome of a triple threat; we can’t wait to hear what comes next.

Glitch was officially released on September 29; stream it on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Get caught in the melodicism of the ‘Morning Rush’ with Sophia B.’s latest single

Posted on 6 August 2023

You’ve heard of bubble gum pop; prepare yourself for the even more visceral rush of caffeinated pop before you delve into the latest experimentally authentic single, Morning Rush, from the one and only luminary, Sophia B.

However you take your coffee, you will find the notes in Morning Rush more than palatable as Sophia B. creatively tears the monotony from the morning commute and replaces it with a soulfully sticky-sweet buzz. There is a plethora of pop hits that pay ode to the way infatuation hits late at night when you’re left with little but your thoughts, but only the NYC-hailing award-winning composer and lyricist found the opportunity to pay ode to the confusion that brings you to question whether your morning rush is stemming from the sugar in your coffee or the apple of your eye.

With the dreamy chords, the smooth installations of soul, and the aptly hyper touch to the vocals, regardless of your relationship status, Morning Rush will leave you blissfully on cloud nine.

Keep Morning Rush with you at all times by purchasing the track on Apple Music or stream the official music video via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Gratitude envelopes platonic love in Lizzie Hosking’s latest alt-pop single, Skye

Posted on 29 October 2022

Platonic love may take a backseat on the airwaves for fawning declarations of lust; if anyone can push it to the forefront, it is Lizzie Hosking with her uplifting ballad, Skye which soulfully celebrates the lifelong friendship with the person who has lifted her from every downward trajectory.

After realising that she’d written songs about people that don’t deserve an ounce of her time, Hosking delivered this timeless feat of pop which starts with minimalist ambient production around her soulful vocal timbre before building into an epic outpour of gratitude, soaring electric guitar riffs and all.

Skye, titled after her best friend, is a taste of what is to come on Lizzie Hosking’s upcoming album, which will keep the focus on folky storytelling instead of the punchy upbeat sonic style that she’s become renowned for since making her promising debut in 2020. We wholeheartedly approve of this wholesome move.

Skye was officially released on October 21st. Check it out for yourselves on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Annabel Brett makes sure we get the message in her alt-soul pop single, Voicemails

Posted on 23 August 2022

With the vocal poise of a 1950’s bluesy soulstress and the cutting indie folk pop edge of artists such as Mitski and Phoebe Bridgers, Annabel Brett is breath-taking in her dreamy pop single, Voicemails.

The vocal distinction gives few clues to the 23-year-old independent artist’s influences, and it’s a very similar story with the light, minimalist and acoustics. The two-minute tender track eclipses everything lo-fi should be; Voicemails resounds like you’ve just caught a Truman Capote character in an intimate melancholic moment.

Check out Annabel Brett’s latest single, Voicemails on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The Violet Nines brought the heat in their fiery soul-pop jam, Dancing with Fire

Posted on 12 August 2022

Seemingly, no genre was off-limits in The Violet Nines’ latest single, Dancing with Fire, which melds angular indie guitars with fiery soul-pop vocals, disco grooves, jazzy sax stabs and funk-to-the-core basslines.

It is rare to find an outfit that oozes talent and euphoria in equal measure; the rhythm-led Minneapolis-hailing ensemble is a dynamic exception to that rule. The record is rampant with that irreplicable live music feel; we can only imagine the energy when they are bringing their collaborative alchemy to life. It feels purely accidental that their sonic signature is so commercial, but that strips none of the gloss from their enlivening distinction.

The official video for Dancing with Fire will premiere on August 12th. Sample the funk for yourselves by heading over to YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Gemïny has unveiled his electrifying soul-pop reflection on destruction, ‘Hesitation’

Posted on 27 July 2022

Stoking the soul-pop fire that he started with his debut and sophomore single, the Columbia, US-hailing artist, Gemïny, has added even more fuel through his third single, Hesitation.

Around the snapping beats, the kaleidoscopic glow of the delayed guitars, and funk basslines that amplify the amorous energy, Gemïny’s soulfully forceful vocals drive the single forward through its myriad of expressive progressions.

Lyrically, Gemïny spoke to everyone who knows how it feels to lose composure and descend to the depths of destruction in affection-inspired mania, which proves that love & lust are some of the most powerful drugs of all.

After racking up over 50k streams on SoundCloud with his sophomore single, Too Close, there is seemingly little in the way of Gemïny’s ascent to soul-pop fame.

Here is what Gemïny had to say on his third single:

After the heavier content in my previous two releases, with Hesitation, I used a lighter narrative while addressing the story at hand. It speaks to everyone that has done crazy things for a crush (if you haven’t, please keep it to yourself, the thought helps me sleep at night).

It draws from when I uncharacteristically got into a fight at a house party over a girl. I’m extremely prideful, but there I was, a 12-shots-in freshman, breaking walls and smashing tables. A bad look overall, but it encapsulates the essence of hesitation. The juvenile way you impress a crush in grade school; that conflicting mix of excitement and fear that reeks of teen spirit.

Hesitation will release across all major streaming platforms, including SoundCloud and Spotify on July 27th.

Follow Gemïny on Facebook and TikTok.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Spotlight Feature: Archpalatine delivered riotously seductive soul in their latest single, Hypnotized

Posted on 26 April 2022

Riotous and seductive aren’t usually adjectives that you would see side by side, but the histrionic cosmic soul outfit Archpalatine defies convention in a myriad of ways. Especially through their latest single, Hypnotized, taken from their upcoming third album.

The after-effects of Hypnotized are just as sweet as the timeless sonic experience itself. You’d need a considerable concussion to forget the sweetness in the strident vocal hooks and the cinematic old school soul that lingers in the alchemically arranged funk-blistered instrumentals.

Few artists have what it takes to capture visceral emotion so concisely and euphorically, but notably, that wasn’t a concern for the Philadelphia-based soul-pop powerhouse which has been steadily gaining traction since forming in 2018. There’s nothing like the real thing, and they’re soulfully just that.

Here is what Archpalatine had to say about their latest release.

“Written in a dream on Valentine’s Day, Hypnotized represents the wonderfully woozy feeling you get when you are on the dancefloor and someone you’ve been eyeing all night gives you a taste of their amazing energy and chemistry.

We’ve all been there. And once you enter that zone, they are the only person to exist in the building. The message is one of fun, joy, and letting everyone know that some styles of music are timeless. All art forms, songs are up for interpretation, but the feeling of timeless music is transcendent.”

Hypnotized is now available to stream on all major platforms via this link.

Follow Archpalatine on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Timothy LaRoque has delivered his sun-soaked indie serenade, Rise and Shine

Posted on 20 April 2022

Romance isn’t dead. Timothy LaRoque is making its heart skip a beat with his endlessly imploring vocals, butterfly-inducing melodies, cinematically soulful production and sheer finger-picked guitar virtuosity in his latest single, Rise and Shine (This Song’s About You).

With Spanish guitars thrown into the mix for the extended instrumental interlude, this kaleidoscopically vibrant release is a sonic gift that keeps on giving. The 22-year-old Floridian would even leave Jack Johnson weak at the knees with his modern spin on the sounds delivered by the Beatles, Paul Simon and Cat Stevens and the artful gravitas in his melodies.

Not all too many contemporary artists can carry the hallmarks of *true* artists, but Rise and Shine is prolific with them. We can’t wait to hear what follows.

Rise and Shine will be officially released on April 20th along with the Stuck in the Past EP. Check it out via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Chris Hart has launched his soulfully eviscerating indie-alt-rock hit, Are You There?

Posted on 25 March 2022

Riffy, grooving jangle-pop guitars prop up Chris Hart’s soul-infused indie vocals in his latest bitter-sweet alternative hit, Are You There? which navigates the lament left by the cognitive dissonance of people’s intent, actions and words never matching up.

Lyrically, it’s a no holds barred scathing evisceration of flaky objects of our desire. In every other aspect, Are You There? seeks to take the pain away through absorbingly virtuosic riffs, indie disco beats and energetically cathartic choruses with soulful RnB nuances.

More impressively, the Atlanta-based singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer pulled the radio-ready hit together with his own fair hands. It isn’t every day you encounter an artist with god-tier guitar skills and the ability to build a hooky earworm. His talent discernibly isn’t to be slept on. Get him on your radar.

Are You There? will officially release on March 25th; you can check it out for yourselves via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast