Browsing Tag

Pop Debut

Pop singer-songwriter and producer Jenna Jay searches for Someone Real in her debut single

Las Vegas-based pop singer-songwriter and producer Jenna Jay is set to make her debut on August 27th with the release of her contemporary electro-pop hit, Someone Real, which candidly yearns for exactly that.

Someone Real follows the artist’s journey after escaping a toxic relationship and struggling to find someone who can offer a genuine connection. In a time when words are so manipulated they practically lose meaning, the single puts a spotlight on the pitfalls people are constantly forced into through other people’s lack of transparency.

You will find few pop tracks as mindful and raw as Someone Real; hitting play is cheaper than therapy; save a spot on your radar for upcoming releases.

Check out Jenna Jay on Spotify, YouTube and Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Conner Eko has made his unmissable indie synth-pop debut with SINK

‘SINK’ is the debut indie synth-pop track from the Californian singer-songwriter Conner Eko who takes inspiration from a vast repertoire of artists to achieve his authentically affectionate sound that we’re hoping will become signature in subsequent releases. If Trent Reznor produced for Boy George, the sonic result wouldn’t be all too different from the danceably dark, ethereal textures in SINK, and we are here for it.

2021 has been rough on everyone, but Conner Eko had more to overcome than most. In March 2021, he suffered a traumatic brain injury that forced him away from this work and towards music, resulting in the release of SINK that precedes the release of his debut album, due for release in early 2022.

SINK was released on August 3rd; you can check it out for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Johnathan Murray has released his evocatively charged dark pop debut single This is War.

Up and coming pop artist Jonathan Murray has made his debut with the alt-pop single This is War, which captures the fragility of our human existence and emphasises the importance of love within it.

The way that the North Carolina-based artist creates parables between contemporary anxiety and romantic insecurity is nothing short of genius. The ingenuity is extended by his tonal palette that pulls influence from the likes of Twenty-One Pilots and Dragons. The synth-led soundscape is a sure sign that Johnathan Murray’s solo debut was well overdue; despite the raw, evocative nature, there’s a maturity found within his songwriting style and deliverance of pure, unbridled passion.

This is War is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Rodney Pemberton has made his synthpop debut with Rendezvous (Reboot)

Caribbean-born, US-based pop artist Rodney Pemberton has unleashed his debut synthpop single, Rendezvous (Reboot); the tropic and passionate release runs in the same vein as no other.

Most pop artists unashamedly wear their inspiration on their sleeves only for it to become the entire essence of the sound; Rodney Pemberton certainly can’t be accused of the same. The independent artist has had a lifelong affinity for music, but it is only when lockdown hit that he turned his attention to making his official debut.

The feel-good pop hit comes with Abba-style infectious high vibes paired with dancey synths that strike on the darker side of the tonal palette to create plenty of atmosphere in the promising debut,

Rendezvous (Reboot) is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

JABRIL YOUSEF celebrates authenticity in their debut electro-pop hit, ‘Electric’.

Non-binary, Arab-American singer-songwriter JABRIL YOUSEF has unleashed their debut indie electro-pop track, Electric; it is everything that it says on the tin.

With elements of shoegaze in the angular indie guitars, the soundscape comes complete with cutting sonic textures, but that’s not enough to dampen the ethereally euphoric nature of this high-energy release.

Any fans of Frankmusik, M83, Big Black Delta and MGMT will want to delve into the dreamy yet danceable track which celebrates authenticity in a time of exploitation.

Each of the artist’s releases finds a way to explore themes of love, longing and growth; if that wasn’t good enough of a reason to get their futuristically accessible sound on your playlists, I’m not quite sure what it is.

Get fired up by Electric for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

Singer-songwriter duo Scotia & Dagny have made their debut with their contemporary pop ballad, ‘All I Ever Wanted’.

NYC-hailing, London-based singer-songwriter duo Scotia & Dagny have made their debut with the release of their contemporary indie-pop ballad, All I Ever Wanted. In the rankings of the best slow dance singles ever released, we wouldn’t put this cinematically neo-classically-underscored single far away from Elton John’s ‘Your Song’.

The poised, reflective nature of the semi-orchestral downtempo soundscape complements the lyrics that explore the emptiness that ensues loss. The dreamy air to the single takes the sting out of the melancholy, but the wavering vocal notes hit bruisingly hard.

All I Ever Wanted is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

T.I.G.Y. have made an ethereal ambient dream-pop debut with ‘Only Way to Let the Light In’

The UK alt-pop duo T.I.G.Y. have released their ethereal dream pop debut single, Only Way to Let the Light In; the timely release utilises meta poetry to spark a connection amongst listeners battle-scarred by depression and anxiety.

It is singles like this that highlight the trite nature of archetypal-feel good pop that mostly just over faces and alienates the serotonin-deprived. With elements of shoegaze and art-rock weaved into the release that outros on a steady heartbeat, the instrumentals match the consoling nature of the vocals. The steady downbeat rhythms entwine with your rhythmic pulses as Only Way to Let the Light In unfolds; allowing the succinct crescendos to lift you as they tonally soar.

T.I.G.Y.’s moniker came from a diary that had been passed down through Bailey’s family. Since their inception, they have written a collection of songs that became an expression of those diary entries. Only Way to Let the Light In is the first single to be released from their collection of songs that will periodically follow the diary entries.

Only Way to Let the Light In released on June 18th. You can check it out for yourselves via SoundCloud.

Connect with T.I.G.Y. via Facebook and Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Lara de Belder has made her Jazz Pop debut with ‘Turn it Over’.

Lara de Belder’s debut single, Turn It Over, is easily one of the most promising debuts made in 2021. Discernibly, the British-American artist brought plenty of her experience in the theatre to her jazzy debut single that reflects upon themes of obsession and desire.

With a voice as mesmerising as Cher’s and the endlessly enlivening instrumentals bleeding euphoria with every progression, Turn it Over is consistently captivating. The single allows you to mentally contend with the dark side of obsession as the jazzy instrumental arrangement finds a way to absolve any guilt you may be harbouring from obsessive behaviour. We have all been there.

Turn it Over is the first single to be released from Lara’s upcoming concept album that explores relationship breakdowns. Needless to say, we’re already stoked to hear it.

Turn it Over is now available to stream on Soundcloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Sam Pearce has stormed the airwaves with their forcefully visceral dance pop debut, ‘On & On’

South London’s Sam Pearce stormed the airwaves with his forcefully visceral debut dance-pop single, On & On’, created in collaboration with Denmark’s acclaimed Pop producer, Fred Millar.

The energy emitted by the strong synth lines and bass kicks is phenomenal, but Sam Pearce’s vocals easily match the veracity as they verse lyrics inspired by all too relatable post-relationship anxiety. There’s potentially nothing more frustrating than being haunted by the past when your conscious mind tells you that you’re ‘over it’, On & On perfectly captures those emotions, but ultimately it proves that they can be overcome.

With debut releases, there’s usually a slight sense of tentative creative uncertainty, but the level of assured confidence in On & On lets you know that Sam Pearce is one to watch.

On & On is now available to stream via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

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

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