Browsing Tag

Lockdown Pop

River Mara brings us the ‘Lockdown Love’

Posted on 4 April 2021
River Mara

Eighties-inspired, funky soul pop with a jazzy bent; if Paula Abdul and Quincy Jones got together to produce a nascent, ‘Holiday-era’ Madonna it might sound something like ‘Lockdown Love’ by Romania’s River Mara. Fun, flashy, with an immensely danceable groove and deliciously catchy hook, it’s evocative of big hair, sequins, and glitter-balls, a time of velvet-roped night-clubs (remember those?), Ray-Ban Wayfarers, and ecologically dangerous amounts of hairspray.

A classically-trained pianist and composer, Mara is currently studying classical composition at the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama, but that’s still left her time to garner a collective 350 Million YouTube views for her songs ‘Sweet Dreams’ and ‘Lie To Me’ for Andra, one of Romania’s biggest singing stars. On the basis of ‘Lockdown Love’, with its insane little ear-worm chorus and effervescent upbeat enjoyment , it’s really not hard to see why.

Check out River Mara’s website here.

Review by Alex Holmes

Michael Antony – No Relax: Theatric Funk-Fuelled Euro Pop

Posted on 19 March 2021

London-based orchestrator of unforgettable dance pop hits, Michael Antony, has released their latest single ‘No Relax’, with a euro pop style cooler than Berghain and distinctively theatricals vocals, No Relax is almost enlivening to kickstart a zombie apocalypse. Failing that, the funk-filled feat of entrancing future pop which boasts a few retro tendencies will definitely get dance floors moving when they’re safe to grace once more.

It may not be your average perennial pop earworm, but the melodies in No Relax will bed down intently all the same.

No Relax officially released on February 19th, you can check it out for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

atti jane has made her bedroom pop debut with ‘give me time’

Posted on 16 March 2021
https://open.spotify.com/track/4PdfBzBH1ibUFnolAGQ1Yf

19-year-old pre-med undergrad, singer-songwriter and producer, atti jane has made her debut with the quaintly lo-fi indie-pop single ‘give me time’ which will be all too relatable for anyone who has trauma bonded during the past 12 months.

With lyrics that capture the anxiety which has manifested courtesy of isolation falling around playful polyphonic beats, atti jane’s single is persuasive enough for the listener to find the romanticism in the suffering we’ve collectively endured.

If every artist making their debut had such succinct command of melody, the airwaves would undoubtedly be a different place.

give me time 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

Tora Woloshin sends an art-pop invitation to grieve collectively through her latest single ‘America’

Posted on 3 February 2021

Singer-songwriter, dancer, model and actress, Tora Woloshin, often utilises her own experiences with trauma to help others overcome theirs. Her sobering art-pop single, ‘America’, is an invitation to collectively grieve social sickness while gaining a sense of optimism inspired by the resiliently passionate vocals which remind you that apathy and nihilism are a choice.

Hitting play may lead to a one-way conversation; but, it is a connection all the same, in a time where connectivity is scarce and isolation is rife, Tora Woloshin’s single shouldn’t be dismissed as anything other than aural gold.

Any fans of the X Factor USA may already recognise Tora Woloshin’s distinctively evocative vocal timbre. Since starring on the show and being mentored by Simon Cowell, she’s toured globally, collaborated with the likes of Timbaland and opened for Pink, Method Man, Flo Rida and Ne-Yo. Yet, somehow, something tells us the best is still to come for Tora Woloshin.

America is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Maddison Skies have made their Pop debut with their optimistic playlist staple ‘To the Moon and Back’

Posted on 27 December 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztCUceB6Z70

We’ve heard our fair share of debut singles this year after so many artists were driven to find the catharsis in expression in chaotically confusing times, but very few, if any, were as soul-meltingly powerful as ‘To the Moon and Back from Maddison Skies.

Maddison Skies consists of Gracie May, Thea, and Sophie; three phenomenally talented UK-based vocalists who banded together through adversity. On their first real life meeting, they recorded their debut single to instil some much-needed optimism on the airwaves. To the Moon and Back is a stunning Indie Pop testament to the power and necessity of love, if you’re not convinced, their harmonised vocals will give you all the assurance you need.

If this is the future of girl groups, colour me excited.

You can check out the official music video to Maddison Skies’ debut single by heading over to YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast