Browsing Tag

Pop Singer Songwriter

Natalya Borodulina’s ‘Magic Heartbeat’: A Debut That Pulses with Pop Nostalgia and Power

Posted on 5 September 2024

Natalya Borodulina’s debut single, Magic Heartbeat, wasted no time in making its mark on the pop scene. Fusing 80s pop nostalgia with a modern twist, the track glistens with atmospheric synths and softly lush guitar tones. These elements effortlessly cradle Borodulina’s spiritually spectral, yet powerful vocal range, which brings the energy and emotion reminiscent of the most iconic pop ballads.

The single, with lyrics by Chris Ferrier and Borodulina’s deft composition and performance, doesn’t merely settle into the expected rhythms of a debut. As the intensity builds, the track elevates into a high-octane pop-rock orchestration, with Borodulina’s vocal delivery rivalling the fire of acts like Evanescence and Nightwish. Despite this surge in energy, the track never loses its commercial appeal, holding onto the essence of its pop roots while stepping boldly into edgier territory.

Magic Heartbeat marks both Chris Ferrier and Borodulina as talents to watch as they blaze their way through the industry. As far as first originals go, this single proves that Borodulina has all the hallmarks of an artist who can push boundaries while maintaining mainstream appeal.

Magic Heartbeat was officially released on August 2nd; stream the single on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Simon Jela’s Dance Pop Anthem, Dancing on the Line, Became A Phenomenon in its Own Right

Posted on 1 September 2024

Simon Jela’s latest single, Dancing on the Line, is a dance-pop anthem that strikes a powerful equilibrium between instrumental euphoria and raw emotional depth. Beneath the storming beat lies an evocative narrative of emotional turbulence, capturing the fear and uncertainty that arise when a relationship teeters on the edge. As the track pulsates with an irresistible rhythmic momentum, Jela’s vocals soar, bleeding sincerity as they traverse his expansive range.

With this release, which includes the B-side single Let Go of Me, Simon Jela solidifies his place as a pop icon in the making. If Dancing on the Line doesn’t elevate him to the same level of reverence as Olly Alexander and introduce him to the pop pantheon, it will be a disservice to the pop landscape.

This isn’t just another perennial pop earworm; it’s a phenomenon in its own right for the way it commands you to surrender to the kinetic energy while plunging you into the bittersweet reality of love on the brink.

Dancing On the Line dropped on August 22nd; stream the single on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Cincinnati icon of chameleonic pop, Catlea, has struck again with the affecting anthem, Crumbling

Posted on 26 August 2024

Cincinnati singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Catlea is unreckonable in their mission to become one of the biggest pop sensations of their generation.

Their latest single, Crumbling, instantly arrests with emotionally weighted minor piano chords cradling the haunting with luminescence vocal lines before the single unravels as a synth-driven hit which sheds its dreamy etherealism to establish itself as an anthemic perennial pop earworm.

The lyrical exploration of the inevitability of not living up to unrealistic expectations in relationships where we only exist as an abstract idea and are expected to play out a role without being given a script is the ultimate consolation for anyone who has faced rejection after refusing to alter their autonomy.

The versatility in this track alone is enough to leave you in awe of Catlea’s ability to confidently command a myriad of genres and vocally match the sonic textures with unflinching ease; the rest of their discography is a larger attestation to their chameleonic cultivated skill.

As a precursor to the upcoming LP, Language Barrier, Crumbling, which was produced by Claudia Mills and features pianist Nick Tsang (Ed Sheeran, The Script, Lewis Capaldi), couldn’t set the anticipation any higher.

Crumbling euphonically cascaded onto the airwaves on August 2nd. Stream the single on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Jake Marshall tore the sutures off his wounds for his folk-pop debut, bad singer

Posted on 14 August 2024

In one of the most vulnerable and soul-baring folk-pop debuts the airwaves have ever witnessed, Jake Marshall tore the sutures off his wounds and stood in front of the world unfeigned with his debut single, bad singer.

With gospel motifs swelling around his vocal lines that simultaneously exhibit his impressive octave range and his ability to convey heavy emotions in even the highest registers, there’s something profoundly sanctifying about the opportunity for connection presented by bad singer.

The titular paradox of this track is just one of the ways Marshall artistically shines in the raw vignette of his trauma that would break most and resign them to shame. The power of fortitude resounds through the release which proves that even if you live and sing in spite, you can salve the pain of others as you chart your arc of healing.

bad singer is Jake Marshall’s candid reflection on overcoming self-doubt instilled by past relationships. With evocative melodies and introspective lyrics, the song chronicles his journey from being told he couldn’t sing to embracing his voice. The track captures the essence of his unique blend of sad folk-pop, setting the stage for his forthcoming EP, Love(s) of My Life.

Stream the official music video for bad singer on YouTube now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

From Ghosting to Growth: Trisha Reclaimed Her Self-Regard in Her Trend-Ascending Pop Hit, MVP

Posted on 9 August 2024
https://soundcloud.com/trisha-singss/mvp-demo/s-2IJES7EaZOj?si=17f8d53e4f534e9ea93eb535153ea798&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

The airwaves are saturated in laments on romantic rejection, yet few artists are vulnerable enough in their candour to meditate on the disintegration of friendships; the magnetically daring, hypnotic chill pop artist, Trisha, threw down the gauntlet on unchartered vulnerable ground with her latest single, MVP.

The empowering advocation to always treat yourself as the MPV (Most Valuable Player) marks the 15-year-old singer-songwriter as one of the most fearless lyricists on the airwaves. The transformational power of the release belies its chill-pop serenity; therein lies the beauty of the coming-of-age artist who has already mastered the art of emotional maturity and intelligence which filters into her raw-with-resonance releases.

Echoes of 90s pop breathe through the intricately melodic production which paradoxically cuts across and beyond contemporary trends, affirming that if any emerging artist has what it takes to make it to the top of the pop charts in 2024, it is Trisha.

Trisha Said:

“I wrote “MVP” about trying to regain my self-esteem when I found myself frequently ignored by my closest friend. Our relationship had deteriorated into one of apathy and I found myself constantly making excuses for her. Writing this song really helped me reinstate my sense of self-worth, establishing that I am the MVP in this equation.”

MVP will be available to stream on all major platforms from August 9th; stream the single on SoundCloud first.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

London’s Maninder Murfin met the epitome of finesse in her pop ballad, Wonder How We Wandered

Posted on 4 August 2024

The classical pop ballad was refined to a rarified grace in the debut single, Wonder How We Wandered, by the singer-songwriter, Maninder Murfin. The elevated and gilded-with-ornate-motifs release follows the West-London-hailing artist’s collaborative partnership with merfy on the Teach Me the Song You Know EP which hit the airwaves in 2023.

Standing alone, she floods the production of her solo debut with her celestial vocal presence which organically resounds without limit; as diaphanous as the minor piano keys, yet powerful enough to permeate the soul with maximum conviction, her voice embodies the epitome of aesthetic grace while pulling you into the reverie of the lyrics which narrate an almost fantastical tale of affectionate intoxication.

The underpinning essence of yearning painfully attests to how some of the most beautiful facets of existence are ephemeral but there’s no room for melancholy in the dreamy euphonia of this flawless release which paints a promising future for Maninder Murfin who is known for her live performances in Soho and her ability to invigorate hits from Billie Eilish, Adele, Olivia Rodrigo, and Kelly Clarkson with her uniquely evocative sensibilities.

Wonder How We Wandered is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

Melbourne’s Emma Burt gave a fresh take on heartache in her country-pop debut, 10 Years

Posted on 22 July 2024

Emma Burt’s debut single, 10 Years, brought country-pop right up to speed with contemporary trends while preserving the rich legacy by blending timeless musical elements with a cultivated modern twist Hit play, sink into the vibrant pop-rock progressions, and a panorama of heartache will manifest before you. The euphonic guitars and classic pop piano keys introduce a spectrum of colours and emotions, echoing the freedom and spirit reminiscent of Stevie Nicks, which also filters through Emma’s naturally impactful vocal tone.

The melody, rich with the alchemy one might nod to Fleetwood Mac for inspiring, arrests from the first note in the exposition of how time is also lost with love when the door on a relationship closes. Reflecting on a sharp shock to the system when a decade-long relationship diminished, Emma Burt became a vessel of consolation for anyone who has felt a similar sting. Echoes of resilience reverberate through the release, marking it as an anthem for the heartbroken who are ready to move on.

After setting the bar so high with the catchy refrain and lyrical depth in 10 Years, Burt’s trajectory through the industry is one to watch closely.

10 Years was officially released on June 21; stream the single on Spotify now and follow Emma Burt on Facebook.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Caitlin Lavagna prescribed an artfully amplified pop punk antidepressant with her latest single, Pretty Alright

Posted on 20 July 2024

As you crank up the volume in Caitlin Lavagna’s latest synthesis of art-pop and pop punk, Pretty Alright, the absolution amplifies to the nth degree as the singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist fervently strives to let loose the black dog and awaken her listener’s inner power.

The infectiously fiery reprise of “It will take time to feel pretty alright” in the electrifying riff-raw anthem attests to how patience is the ultimate virtue in the process of healing, yet everyone has an active role to play in the reclamation of their serotonin and self-esteem.

With a vocal presence that could rival any of the chart toppers, there’s no denying Caitlin Lavagna’s charisma which acts as a catalyst of resolution and salvation in Pretty Alright.

You just can’t help but succumb to enamourment when your senses are being stirred by her larger-than-material-reality energy and her songwriting stripes which are sliced with more hooks than a butcher’s shop.

Pretty Alright was officially released on July 11; stream the single on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

London’s introspective indie pop icon, Gemma Felicity, struck again in ‘10 Million Dates’

Posted on 13 July 2024

Our adoration for Gemma Felicity remains unflinching after the release of her intimate indie pop single, 10 Million Dates. With her latest right-on-the-euphonic money release, the London-hailing singer-songwriter captured the collective frustration within the modern dating scene, detrimented by the illusion of endless choice.

The sense of disillusion in the lack of real, raw, and pure connection resounds throughout the artistically profound, poetically bitter-sweet lament which acts as the ultimate consolation to anyone who is losing the motivation to keep searching.

By delicately touching on themes of people pleasing, loneliness, fear of the future, emotional baggage, and the ennui which follows pinning hopes on a transient character in our lives before they disappear within the folky dream pop reverie of the polished production, Gemma Felicity delivered one of the most affecting singles of 2024.

As the introspectively candid icon gears towards the release of her 5-track EP, Baggage, there’s no doubt that she’s inching towards the zenith of her career.

10 Million Dates was officially released on July 5th; stream the single on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergas

Bela V scorched through the pop veil with the soulful inferno in her sophomore single, Wait Game

Posted on 2 July 2024

When Bela V penned her sophomore single, Wait Game, she didn’t just write a fierce pop hit, she scribed her illustrious legacy through a calligraphy of sheer intensity and fervour.

By splicing soul with the insurgent energy of pop punk, the singer-songwriter became a defiant renegade in the pop scene and settled a stark milestone in her creative career which exhibits her talents as an actress and siren songstress.

Wait Game mirrors her eclectic influences – Lana Del Rey’s haunting nostalgia, Amy Winehouse’s raw emotional depth, and Avril Lavigne’s defiant pop punk ferocity; each formative element serves to amplify the emotional magnitude of the next, exhibiting Bela V as an alchemist of originated vivacity. From soulful verses that could rival any classic soul legend to a chorus that bursts with a punkish roar, the track is a bold declaration of her artistic finesse.

The production of the track deserves as much acclaim as the vocals; polished yet edgy, it supports Bela V’s transitions from smooth, seductive tones to hell-hath-no-fury outbursts with seamless precision. This sonic landscape does more than just back her voice; it heightens the emotional gravity of her lyrics, plunging the listener into a whirlwind of passion and defiance.

As Bela V ends her own wait game and steps back into the spotlight, she brings with her a song that promises to ignite the airwaves and cement her status as a pop icon in the making.

Wait Game was officially released on June 14; stream the single on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast