Browsing Tag

NYC Pop

Tara Perez is lost in ennui in her latest single, ‘No Feelings in the Summer’.

Posted on 12 September 2021

If you spent this summer flying solo, Tara Perez’ latest electro-pop single, No Feelings in the Summer, serves a powerful reminder that living out romantic tropes under the sun isn’t mandatory, and to expect it as a given every year is naive.

Perez soulfully demonstrates with her latest single that summer without passion feels wasted but this progression in pop narratives is a positive one for the reality it brings to the airwaves and the meaningful connections that listeners lost in ennui can make with the blissfully melancholic single.

No Feelings in the Summer is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Kalteaux – Could Have Been an Email: Anti-Capitalist Folk-Pop

Posted on 7 August 2021

‘Could Have been an Email’ is the latest upbeat folk-pop single from NYC and songwriter Kalteaux which spills the lockdown blues while enamouring you through the unifying sentiment. If Karl Marx existed in this era and released folk-pop tracks, we’re fairly certain that they’d sound a little like Could Have Been an Email.

Kalteaux may have pushed himself into a niche market branding himself as a musical comedian but his talent as a songwriter and as a radio-ready artist easily parrels his all too relatable wit that brings his psych pop-tinged colourful melodies to life.

Check out the quarantine music video that premiered on June 3rd via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Jord has released his indie dream-pop pride anthem ‘(Gay) Teenage Dream’.

Posted on 27 June 2021
https://soundcloud.com/jordan-barhydt/gay-teenage-dream-1/s-f7llP4A90nl

Following on from his chill electropop debut single, ‘Fuck, I’m Not Famous’ that hit the airwaves in May 2021, Chicago-born, NYC-based artist Jord has released his sophomore single, ‘(Gay) Teenage Dream’.

The single that was released for Pride month is a stunning feat of indie-pop with intricate shoegaze nuances found in the cutting angular guitar notes that pop around the danceable electropop beats, tender piano melodies and the deep sense of soul that won’t fail to fill your own.

Given that most queer people’s teenage years aren’t anywhere near as idyllic as the tones you will hear in the release, (Gay) Teenage Dream is a stunningly consoling single that allows your imagination to run rampant through sweet hazy possibilities.

The lyrics, “I don’t care if I’m not 17, I just want to live the gay teenage dream”, are profoundly reflective of the sadness and sense of loss felt by many members of the LGBTQ+ community as they come of age and have little affection to look back on. He’s the queer pop artist we never knew we needed.

There will be plenty more from Jord throughout 2021 and beyond. iI he isn’t already on your radar, make room.

(Gay) Teenage Dream released on June 25th. You can check it out for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Christopher Ambrose has released his Pride pop anthem, ‘To Feel Love’

Posted on 18 June 2021

NYC pop singer-songwriter Christopher Ambrose has been creating and producing for almost a decade; he’s produced tracks for the drag icon Honey Davenport (Ru Paul’s Drag Race, S.11), Robert Garcia, Jayce Vegas, and plenty more high-profile names. If you’re not previously acquainted with his energetically emboldening sound, his 2021 pride pop anthem, To Feel Love, is the perfect introduction.

If you could imagine Carly Rae Jepson, Years and Years and Ru Paul all aurally rolled into one, you will get an idea of the sticky-sweet luxurious feel that To Feel Love effortlessly exudes. The noisy synths cut across tropic pop beats to create the perfect platform for Christopher Ambrose’s upliftingly light vocals that inspire self-love and authenticity in times of uncertainty.

To Feel Love is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Dan Zimmerman kicks off Pride Month with his entrancing queer pop anthem, ‘Soldiers’

Posted on 28 May 2021
https://soundcloud.com/danzimmermanmusic/soldiers-001/s-lzWtLLTwKgs

Up and coming pop artist Dan Zimmerman has given the airwaves a taste of what he brings to NYC stages with his latest single, ‘Soldiers’. Penned as an LGBTQ+ Pride Summer pop anthem, Soldiers encapsulates the beauty and energy of blossoming romance away from heteronormative stereotypes.

Zimmerman’s explorations of lust, loneliness and loss fall into urban soundscapes that capture the buzz and the alienation felt by inhabitants of NYC and metropolises across the globe. With the same spacey, moody air as Big Black Delta and vocal reminiscences to Sam Smith, Soldiers drips with commercial potential. Zimmerman is definitely one to watch.

Soldiers is due for release on May 28th; you can hear it by heading over to Dan Zimmerman’s official website or SoundCloud page.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Super Love hit peak relatability with their alt-synthpop track, ‘Bored’.

Posted on 1 May 2021
Super Love

With their tendency to consistently switch up their sound, Super Love’s new releases always explore another facet of their expressively creative talent; their latest single, ‘Bored’, is no exception.

After the scuzzy NIN-reminiscent intro, the soundscape shifts into a funk-brandishing feat of alt-pop that allows Super Love to stay true to their NYC roots. With elements of indie-pop-rock and 80s synthpop, Bored unravels as a refreshingly relatable track that captures the frustration of lockdown boredom without ever resonating as melancholic or piteous. Instead, it speaks to listeners facing brand-new levels of boredom as they realised that the phrase, ‘only boring people get bored’, really doesn’t apply during lockdown times.

Next time you feel like you’re going to be *that* person and complain to your friends, hit play and get the compassion from Super Love instead.

You can hear Super Love on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Mark McQueen puts us on the ‘Guest List’

Posted on 21 April 2021
https://open.spotify.com/track/51aDN6asM077QOqDTivrns?si=659b42eda2764c43

Mark McQueen is an underground performance-pop artist based in Brooklyn, NYC; he began sketching fashion designs aged four, acting in theatre at five, and playing piano at six – all of which combines here to provide the background to McQueen’s performance-pop.

‘Guest List’ is a vaguely electronic-based perfect slice of pop, a kind of mix of Tori Amos/Amanda Palmer mixed with Erasure, Peaches, Mika, and the Scissor Sisters. It’s that sort of electronica-dance-pop thing that has a touch of the 1980’s without ever sounding dated or retro, like Daft Punk on ‘Instant Krush’ mixed with a little bit of Nicki Minaj. It’s fresh and familiar at once, catchy as hell, and – in the nicest possible way – inoffensive, despite the NSFW language. It’s a perfect pop song.

Hear ‘Guest List’ on Spotify; follow Mark McQueen on Facebook.

Review by Alex Holmes

JANEX bares all in her indie alt pop track, ‘Vulnerable’

Posted on 18 April 2021

New York-residing singer-songwriter and producer JANEX began her career at age 14, 6 years on; she’s bringing nuance by the aural bucketful to the airwaves with alt-pop tracks such as ‘Vulnerable’.

If you could imagine what it would sound like if Kate Nash started working with London Grammar, you will be close to the mark getting an idea of what’s on offer in this conversationally immersive track that plays with dark trip-hop textures. But at its core, it’s a stunning exhibition of JANEX’s talent in orchestrating intimate, sonically flawless pop tracks.

Vulnerable is available to stream via the artist’s official website. The official video which premiered on March 27th, is available to stream via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

NYC Soul-Pop artist Nazanin has bridged the gap between past and present with “Infatuation”

Posted on 17 November 2020
Nazanin

NYC Soul-Pop artist Nazanin gave us a sneak peek at the sultry grooves in her latest radio-ready single “Infatuation”. It’s safe to say that we formed an infatuation of our own with her uniquely evocative sound which mixes elements of 80s and 90s Pop with the roots of RnB.

Nazanin’s sound bridges the gap between past and present while her own signature sound flows evenly beneath. Far from being ‘just another love song’ Infatuation draws heavily on the challenges she’s overcome to become the unapologetically empowering artist she exhibited herself as with this Soul-Pop staple. Her defiance resonates in each and every vocal note.

Infatuation will be available to stream everywhere from November 27th. In the meantime, head over to Spotify to check out her earlier releases.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

Laela Giovanna – Wish I Would Have: A Tenderly-Imploring Piano Pop Ballad

Posted on 10 November 2020

NYC singer-songwriter & producer Laela Giovanna has released her tenderly-imploring piano pop single “Wish I Would Have” which allows you to find your own fraught regret within the stunningly extended vocal notes.

Think along the lines of Christina Aguilera’s iconic hit ‘Beautiful’, and you’ll be close to the mark. But no comparison could ever elucidate the striking authentic evocative appeal in this passionately stormy, melodically mellifluous track.

Wish I Would Have isn’t without its lament, but as Laela Giovanna runs through the verses, you hear her ascension from the ashes as she proverbially rises and you’ll get to share in the empowerment.

My only criticism is that the provocatively poised single should rank higher in the Pop charts.

You can listen to Wish I Would Have for yourselves here.

Review by Amelia Vandergast