Browsing Tag

Pop

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

Laptop Singers captured the quintessence of Swedish Pop with ‘Scandinavian Home’

Posted on 4 September 2024

Laptop Singers synthesised the rhythmically hooked quintessence of Swedish Pop into their latest album, The Battle for the Future of Pop. If the soul-scintillating track, Scandinavian Home, is anything to go by, the battle has already been won and Laptop Singers are sitting pretty at the helm of the genre.

By fusing the perpetually stylistic sonic signature of Kraftwerk and the chilly chromatics of Covenant into a perennial dance-pop earworm with post-punk-esque guitars, a pulse-pounding beat and vocals that make you want to melt through the flawlessly pitched seraphic harmonies, Laptop Singers carved out one of the most affecting pop anthems of 2024 with Scandinavian Home.

There’s absolutely nothing guilty about this funk and groove-slicked in all the right places from the Swedish brother duo, Per and Lars Andersson; it’s edgy enough to be a hit in the indie and alt-scene while giving mainstream pop fans all the dance-worthy euphony they could possibly ask for.

Scandinavian Home is now available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Denim Dan is in the borderlands between optimism and pensive resignation in the folky 60s psych-pop single, ‘Guess I’ll Be Alright’

Posted on 2 September 2024
Denim Dan

The invitation to celebrate Denim Dan’s 25th Anniversary (1994 – 2024) is the hottest sonic ticket on the airwaves. The commemorative LP compilates some of the biggest hits from the band’s seven studio album legacy, including 3AM, Don’t Throw it Away, Let Your Love Fall Down on Me (Too) and Down By the River Bend Flow.

Every release earned its coveted space on the expansive double album, yet potentially none more so than the quintessential kaleidoscope of eccentric nostalgia, Guess I’ll Be Alright. After a smoky 60s psych-pop overture, the single unravels in Denim Dan’s signature folk troubadour style, which permits his vocals to flood the mix over the cosmically swanky melodies.

Few artists dare to lyrically roam in the grey area between pensive resignation and optimism, yet Denim Dan boldly ventured over unchartered emotional territory to sonically visualise a relatable sensation of suffering a blow to the soul but looking ahead with jaded self-assurance that wounds will eventually heal.

Following the release of Denim Dan’s 25th Anniversary (1994 – 2024), Denim Dan is starting a new chapter with a new album in the pipeline and set to drop in November 2024.

The anniversary album will be available to stream on all platforms, including Spotify, from September 2nd.

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

Drew Hersch broke new ground in heartache with the raw indie-folk pop reflections in ‘Onward & Upward’

Posted on 30 August 2024

Drew Hersch’s latest single, Onward & Upward, is a raw, intimate confession that bleeds vulnerability from start to finish. The lyric, “The other night when I had someone over, I taught him to hold me like you did,” is a gut-wrenching highlight, encapsulating the bitter pangs of moving on while still anchored to the past. This tender indie folk pop ballad doesn’t just brush against the surface of heartache—it plunges into the depths, making you feel every pulse of pain that Hersch so poignantly articulates.

In Onward & Upward, Hersch captures the agonising reality of being the one left behind, as his ex-partner soars above it all, while he’s left to grapple with memories that linger like ghosts in every corner. From old date spots to the universal curse of dating someone with a common name, Hersch paints a picture so vividly relatable, that it will be hard to determine where your emotions end and his torment starts.

At just 23, this Boulder, Colorado-based artist is already proving himself as an alt-indie folk pop savant of emotional resonance. The artful ingenuity intertwined with the confessionally cathartic release makes the irreverently witty melancholy hit so much harder. From hushed acoustic verses to ornately tender crescendos, each motif is a conduit of unfeigned emotion in the track which echoes the warmth of Zach Bryan, the haunting depth of Lana Del Ray and the textured production of Eilish.

The official music video for Onward & Upward will premiere on August 30th; stream it on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Garfield Mayor shredded inhibition with soul in his nu-disco pop hit, Foolish Feet

Posted on 29 August 2024

Hot on the blazing heels of his critically acclaimed single, Been Thinking, the British singer-songwriter Garfield Mayor, grooved the bar even higher with his lush self-produced summer anthem, Foolish Feet.

Knowing exactly how to command the mic with magnetic soul, Mayor ensures that being drawn into Foolish Feet hook, line and sinker is as obligatory as giving into the compulsive beat and surrendering to the melodies which reach the epitome of infectious fluidity.

Equally as sweet as the sonics which subvert the expectations of summer pop hits are the lyrics which tenderly implore the listener to throw away inhibition and self-consciousness. The lyric, “Who cares about cliches, let’s dance like the old days, we’re all the same species” exemplifies the essence of the single which advocates for living in the moment and casting aside self-preservation to make room for rhythm-led euphoria.

“I was the designated driver at a party. Get Lucky by Daft Punk started playing. I wanted to dance but it had been a while, and I was self-conscious… I went for it anyway, and I remembered how much I’d missed it. It reminded me what a valuable part of life dancing is.”

Coincidently, Foolish Feet is the perfect hit to get footloose with. The echoes of Nile Rodgers’ funked-up guitar and Daft Punk’s kinetic rhythms filtered through a vibe-driven nu-disco lens allow the release to hammer home the razor-sharp propensities of Mayor’s songwriting chops.

Foolish Feet hit the airwaves on August 9th; stream the single on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Bari Mcknight synthed away the pain of ephemeral affection in ‘SUMMER THINGS’

Posted on 28 August 2024

Two things are guaranteed every summer: swathes of stellar summer pop hits and the inevitable ashes of quick-to-burn romances. In his latest single, SUMMER THINGS, the independent artist, Bari Mcknight, brought one of the former and consoled casualties of the latter by fusing echoes of Afrobeat with catchy pop hooks, the soul of stylistically synth-driven RnB and a trappy beat, resulting in an irresistible earworm which is weighted in evocative realism, contrasting the dreamy etherealism of the track.

If the lingering sting of ephemeral affection is making the onslaught of autumn feel that much colder, SUMMER THINGS is the ultimate source of salvation. The echoes of The Weeknd’s aesthetic coursing through the neon-lit, synaesthesia-inducing production leaves enough room for Mcknight’s sonic signature which is scribing his legacy – one hit at a time.

It’s rare to find a pop track with the potential to dominate the charts while resonating with the sincerity of a diary entry, but that’s exactly what the New Jersey-residing independent artist achieved in SUMMER THINGS, which features on his latest album, Summer of Love; a curated anthology of laidback melodies and relatable narratives.

SUMMER THINGS dropped on August 2nd; stream the single on Spotify.

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

Jazz underpins electro-pop in NxC’s comeback track, Can’t Get You Out of My Head

Posted on 23 August 2024

From the province of Laguna, NxC, a dynamic pop duo, has re-emerged in the limelight with a comeback that dares to share a title with Kylie Minogue’s famed hit, Can’t Get You Out of My Head. It was a bold titular choice, but that’s nothing compared to the endlessly evolving innovation caged within the progressive anthem.

Nikki Culing and Cedric Patangan, who first harmonised in their high school choir and later in various local bands, entered uncharted territory with Can’t Get You Out of My Head which amalgamates the nostalgia of disco pop with the edge of synth sequences and the spontaneity of jazz, presenting a track as layered as their musical background.

After a brief hiatus after their initial single, Peach Fizz, NxC’s sound is more honed than ever. Their comeback initiates with a tease of classic house pop, swiftly morphing through a spectrum of sounds that defy simple categorisation. With Nikki’s euphorically infectious vocals and guitar alongside Cedric’s multifaceted mastery of keys and bass, the duo navigates through hyper-pop highs and rap-infused rhythms, making each transition a head-spinning hit of serotonin.

Every beat of Can’t Get You Out of My Head promises an adrenaline rush of sonic surprises – brace yourself before you hit play.

Can’t Get You Out of My Head hit the airwaves on August 10th; stream the single on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Marc Ambrosia rivalled Against Me in his queer pop-punk anthem, We Are Who We Are

Posted on 21 August 2024

For anyone whose true identities are continuously obscured by lenses of prejudice and misconception, Marc Ambrosia’s riff-raw pop-punk anthem, We Are Who We Are, is the definitive cure.

With an augmented-with-frenetic-exhilaration chorus and endless mantras to adopt for authentic empowerment, it is impossible to resist the intoxicating energy in the release which proves that Marc Ambrosia is just as adept at producing high-octane rock hits as he is when it comes to producing perennial pop earworms. And yet, his versatility is only the start of his expansive cross-over appeal which can easily establish the New Jersey singer-songwriter as one of the most essential queer artists of his generation.

Ambrosia’s forthcoming album, Gay & Proud, is shaping up to be as iconic as Against Me!’s Transgender Dysphoria Blues LP. The same visceral punk as fuck energy runs within the liberatingly protestive anthem which attests to how embracing your autonomy and flying your own flag is one of the most revolutionary acts a human is capable of.

In his own words, Marc Ambrosia iterated “It’s a song about individuality and nonconformity. People like to make assumptions about other people’s identities and they’re usually wrong.”

We Are Who We Are was officially released on August 16; stream the single on SoundCloud and visit Marc Ambrosia’s official website for more information on his upcoming album which is due to drop on August 30.

Review by Amelia Vandergast