Browsing Tag

Pop Singer Songwriter

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

Nissu – Connection: A Strident Exhibition of the Resilience of the Human Spirit

Posted on 21 June 2024
Nissu

The latest single from the Brazil-born, Dublin-based pop sensation, Nissu, is an explosion of positivity; ‘Connection’ goes nuclear through the sonic combustion of passion and unflinching optimism. As soon as the beat kicks in, you’ll catch the fever of gratitude and be compelled to move.

The hit is a kaleidoscope of nu-disco cuts, modern pop panache, grooving basslines, and snappy snares that help to deliver a dynamic, driving beat and cradle the exuberance in the vocals that project an uplifting ode to love, compassion and human connection. Written during lockdown, Connection urges the listener to look for the strength in themselves and celebrate the beauty in connectivity.

We may be years beyond the dystopia of lockdown, but the lessons we learned from the grounding experience, which forced us to reflect on what truly matters and affirmed the importance of connection, still exist as a silver lining to the chapter of our lives that will always be bitter-sweet to look back on.

The official music video is just as much of a triumph, featuring cameos from Charity Case and Hey Baby of Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK and the trans/neurodivergent advocate Cleo C. As a precursor to Nissu’s debut EP, Memories, Connection, created plenty of anticipation over what Nissu has lingering in the pop pipeline.

Connection will be available to stream on all major platforms from June 21st; the official music video will premiere on the same day on Nissu’s YouTube channel.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

USUALLY MODEST became the biggest free-from-vanity rockstar in pop with ‘Toothpick’

Posted on 7 June 2024

USUALLY MODEST came in red-hot with his latest rock-licked hypersonic pop hit, Toothpick, which blurs genre boundaries through an explosion of high-energy hooks and a sense of unfettered exuberance that becomes infectious from the first progression.

Unravelling like an accelerated sonic lovechild of the Weeknd and the 1975, Toothpick speeds past contemporary trends, arriving safely in the confines of the future of pop, inviting listeners in by laying out a doormat woven by innovation

Just as his moniker would lead you to believe the up-and-coming Switzerland-born-and-raised artist with Ukrainian roots, his free-from-vanity sensibility shines through in Toothpick. The sticky-sweet emotional underpinnings are the cherry on the hyper-augmented sonic cake, which will undoubtedly allow the self-taught singer, songwriter and producer to rack up even more streams.

Since his humble beginnings on SoundCloud in 2017, USUALLY MODEST is well on his way to becoming a viral sensation. In the last three years, he’s racked up over 350,000 streams on Spotify along with 50,000 total views on YouTube. His standout single, Soul Searching, has also been in regular rotation on one of the biggest Swiss urban radio stations, yet, we’re sure that there are far bigger accolades waiting to fall on the revolutionary.

Stream the official music video for Toothpick when it premieres on June 7th via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Teff exhibited the exhilaration of being inside of love in her Latin Pop triumph, Suerte

Posted on 7 June 2024
Teff

Teff, the Latin Grammy-nominated sensation, has returned with a rhythmic explosion in her latest single, Suerte, which attests to the bliss of finding love in an ocean of 8 billion souls. Suerte, meaning ‘luck’, is a celebration of serendipitous romance that has the capacity to transform every moment into a fervent exhilaration.

The song’s production, co-helmed by the illustrious Bernardo Arzola, is a masterclass in blending quality and innovation. Martha Paredes’ percussion, Camilo Rodriguez’s guitar work, and Danny Thomas Gonzales’ bass provide a rich, soulful backdrop that captures the essence of Teff’s upbeat Latin pop style. The synergy between these artists creates a dynamic and infectious sound that radiates positivity and gratitude.

Teff, born in Caracas and raised in the United States, pours her heart into every beat and lyric of Suerte. Her voice, filled with a fiery passion, navigates the listener through the highs and lows of love, ultimately landing on the sweet realisation that true connection makes every bad moment fade into insignificance. The track’s upbeat tempo and quirky lyrics encapsulate this duality of luck, delivering an authentically heartfelt experience.

Every progression in Suerte is laid down with flourishing finesse, while the effervescence of the crystalline production attests to the transformative power of love. It’s a timeless piece that teaches the ultimate lesson in gratitude and showcases Teff at her most candid and uninhibited. For fans of Latin music, Suerte is an essential listen, capturing the vibrant, soul-rich colour that defines Teff’s unique musical journey.

Suerte will reach all major streaming platforms on June 7th.

Discover Teff on her official website, Facebook, and Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Candy Rush debuted with her quirky pop revelation, Don’t Even Wanna Know

Posted on 5 June 2024

Don’t Even Wanna Know is the satirically sweet quirky pop debut from the Romanian London-based artist, songwriter and producer, Candy Rush (Elena Ilie). Play it loud and amplify the voice of this generation that is becoming increasingly tired of plastic pop protagonists who shirk autonomy while rattling a begging bowl for commercial success.

The debut is stylistically saccharine enough to implant a voracious sweet tooth in anyone who swims in its honeyed tides of the single which allows idiosyncrasy and autonomy to ebb and flow throughout the avant-garde mix of alt-pop, neo-jazz, funk and soul.

“It feels like an infection to deal with your perfection” is just one of the introspectively enlightening lyrics which embody the lyricist’s ability to move far past the tired tropes and deliver lines that catch you off-guard with the resonant obscurity. Her playful approach to vocal arrangement and unorthodox grooves resulted in a ground-breaking debut which embodied her desire to exhibit the quirks and contradictions of modern life.

With the accessibility of the proverbial girl next door and a talent that could rival HONEYMOAN, Candy Rush will prove to be a force to be reckoned with as she rises up from the alt-pop underground.

Don’t Even Wanna Know was officially released on May 24; stream the single on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Gavin Cole pierced the pop veil with the razor-sharp hooks in his dynamic hit, FRNDS

Posted on 31 May 2024

The hooks in Gavin Cole’s latest single, FRNDS, don’t just impale, they implant an addiction to his vibrantly visceral approach to contemporary pop.

The sharp bursts of rock renegade intensity within the rhythmically dynamic single which synthesises nuances of funk in the guitar lines, galvanises through dance-pop energy in the beats, and keeps the anticipation for the choruses high with the synth-carved layers of indie jangle pop ensures FRNDS will hit the airwaves with maximum impact.

As an artist who always leans into the messy and often hedonistic nature of relationships, Gavin Cole isn’t your average purveyor of unrealistic romantic expectation-imparting pop, he’s as real as it gets, exemplified by FRNDS, which explores how temptation and lust can tear friendships apart.

With an immense vocal presence that allows Gavin Cole to become a supernova in the spotlight and the studio, he isn’t an artist to underestimate. Since his debut, he’s created a community around his music, evidenced by the success of his crowdfunding campaigns.

FRNDS will be available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify, from May 31st.

Review by Amelia Vandergast