Browsing Tag

the weeknd

JC Call lit up the airwaves with the neon RnB synthpop grooves in his single, confident

Posted on 19 November 2024

San Diego’s own JC Call is defining his space in the pop landscape with his fusions of synth-pop and RnB. At 19, the self-taught artist is already a force in music production, having immersed himself in EQs since he was just 12, making his latest track, all the more of an impressive feat.

‘confident’ is as much a manifesto of personal resilience as it is a musical innovation. With strobing neon synths and kinetic grooves, the track demands physical and emotional movement, tapping directly into the listener’s rhythmic pulses. His vivid blend of modernised synth-pop and soul-stirring R&B is both canvas and narrative, painting a vivid tableau of introspective vulnerability.

His voice, an instrument wielded with the precision of a seasoned storyteller, navigates through the emotional core of the track which reflects the desire for emotional safety, resonating with universal truth and echoing the sentiments of anyone who has faced turmoil in this tumultuous world while seeking sanctuary within an external soul.

As JC Call prepares to unveil his debut album by the year’s end, ‘confident’ stands as a bold prelude to his journey.

confident was officially released on November 13; check out the single on all major streaming platforms, including Apple Music and YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Gravity: Millar’s Love-Induced Descent into Dream Pop

Posted on 21 October 2024

With her latest single, Gravity, London-based singer-songwriter Millar has fortified her discography with yet another fearless vignette of introspection. Drenched in raw, unfeigned emotion, Gravity offers a glassy, neon-lit dream-pop soundscape where love becomes a force of nature, pulling you into a spiral of intoxicating vulnerability. Millar’s tender vocal lines swirl in hazy, retro-futuristic synths, creating an irresistible sense of fragility that leaves you feeling exposed to both the sweetness and the inevitable scars of love.

From a young age, Millar began crafting her melancholic sound, first writing songs at 16 before honing her skills at a Stratford music college. It was there, after years of artist development, that she discovered the core of her creative identity, one steeped in the bittersweet duality of love and nostalgia. Her voice carries the weight of these themes effortlessly, with each note steeped in a chilled-out melancholy.

Gravity is a sonic collision of worlds, imagining The Weeknd and First Aid Kit sharing a sonic continuum. The ethereal quality of Millar’s vocal delivery contrasts beautifully with the retro, synth-driven instrumentation; the fragility she conveys is palpable, yet it’s clear that Millar is in control of her artistry. The synaesthesia-inducing blend of lush synths and vulnerable lyrics in Gravity demonstrates that Millar is carving out her own space in dream pop, and if she continues down this path, her success seems as inevitable as gravity itself.

gravity became a new force in the pop scene to be reckoned with on October 4th; stream the single on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Get high with the Dancehall rhythms in Yugí’s RnB release, CHEMSEX

Posted on 10 September 2024

Stan Smith, known artistically as Yugí, intoxicated through his fluid fusion of RnB, Dancehall, and trap in his latest single CHEMSEX. The Melbourne-based, French-English artist weaved his cross-continental influences into the track that locks you into its groove and gets you in the mood. Yugí’s unique sonic identity in CHEMSEX is imbued with the salacious magnetism you would expect from a track so provocatively named; it’s a red-hot escapade into the sensory depths of Dancehall.

At just 25 years old, Yugí, who began his musical journey in Le Chesnay, France, has evolved from a casual experimentationist into a defining voice within the modern music landscape. CHEMSEX encapsulates Yugí’s daringness to defy and his ability to synthesise a sound unmistakably his own. This track is not merely a nod to influential giants like The Weeknd; it’s a bold statement of individuality and artistic sovereignty.

Yugí’s artistic palette is broad, drawing inspiration from a spectrum of genres and icons—from the emotive power of Billie Eilish to the raw intensity of XXXTentacion. Yet, with CHEMSEX, he firmly establishes himself not just as a follower of trends but as a pioneer of modern soul with infectious rhythms to literally and metaphorically move his audience.

CHEMSEX was officially released on August 23rd and is now available to stream on Spotify and Soundcloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Trevon Lorenz – 7 Cities: A New Vanguard in RnB

Posted on 7 September 2024
Trevon Lorenz

Trevon Lorenz’s latest single, 7 Cities, revolutionises the RnB and hip-hop intersection with its sophisticated synthesis of soulful melodies and sharp hip-hop beats.

As the track unfolds, Lorenz lays down a dreamy, reverb-heavy soundscape that swells with lush, airy harmonies, showcasing his capability to blend genres with authority. It’s more than a stellar track, it’s a sign we’re arriving at a new epoch of genre fusion where the intensity of hip-hop can live harmoniously with the smooth soul of modern RnB.

7 Cities defies expectations within its brief runtime, especially with a middle eight that introduces an innovative twist, demonstrating Lorenz’s creative acumen. The track concludes with a flair of semi-lucid innovation, reminiscent of a distorted tape winding down, leaving listeners in a reflective trance.

Inspired by a diverse range of icons, from the fashion genius of Virgil Abloh and Yohji Yamamoto to musical pioneers like Kanye West and Pharrell Williams, Lorenz’s music is a testament to his dedication to pushing sonic boundaries.

7 Cities will hit the airwaves on September 27; pre-save the single on Spotify & Apple Music via this link.

Follow Trevon Lorenz on Instagram to stay up to date with future releases.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

J Cass subverted RnB with the neon-lit melancholy in ‘In Da Club’

Posted on 21 July 2024

In Da Club by J Cass unleashes itself from the parameters of the typical RnB anthem by subverting expectations with its Weeknd-esque pensiveness layered beneath the shimmering, neon-lit instrumentals.

The follow-up to his debut, What We Gon’ Do, showcases J Cass’s scintillating ability to blend visceral colour and melancholy within smooth, minor key melodies. His vocals, heavy with gravitas, sweep across the trap-infused beats, marking this track as a profound exploration of emotional depth and artistic maturity.

In Da Club tears down the barriers to the soul, inviting listeners to reflect on their own journeys while dancing to its rhythm. As J Cass continues to navigate and reshape the R&B landscape, his tracks invite us to submerge into our own introspective experiences.

Joseph Castro, the man behind J Cass, hails from Tampa, Florida, and brings a rich background in music and life philosophy to his work. As a graduate of Berklee with a BA in Music Business, he is deeply committed to influencing the music scene through his soul-stirring sonics and educating young minds as a teacher at the Bach to Rock Music School, where he is fostering the next generation of musical talent.

In Da Club is available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Lust and Luminescence: Exploring Derik Madrid’s Pulsative RnB Pop ‘Vision’

Posted on 17 July 2024

Derik Madrid, a Filipino singer-songwriter based in Sydney, illuminated the airwaves with the neon-lit glow of his latest RnB pop release, Vision. Created in collaboration with the powerhouse producer, Declan Dias, the sensuously salacious single explores the phenomenon of objects of desire existing as abstract ideas within fantasies until the lust-fuelled daydreams become more tangible than semblances of reverie.

The themes of fixation are expertly visualised in the etherealism of the single which showcases Madrid’s vocal versatility and Dias’ ability to thematically run with a concept until it euphonically materialises. Pulsative electronic beats become the bedrock of the vulnerable release that is underpinned with enough pure passion to allow listeners to vicariously experience the artist’s deep adoration and prompt reflection on the profound connections in their own lives.

By exploring the haunting fear of loss and unrequited love, Vision is a deeply affecting meditation on the dualism of love. It’s so much more than a showcase of Madrid’s ability to fuse his narratives into memorable melodies; it’s a testament to his talent for creating music that resonates on a profound level with his audience.

As Madrid continues to draw inspiration from icons like Sam Smith and The Weeknd, his own unique voice becomes increasingly distinct and influential.

Vision was officially released on July 5th; stream the single on Spotify now.

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

Spotlight Feature: ELZON broadened the alt-RnB hip-hop horizon with his psychedelic trip of a hit, ‘expensive dreams’

Posted on 4 June 2024

ELZON redefined the boundaries of alt-RnB and hip-hop with his latest single, expensive dreams. The London-based artist, known for his rich cultural background and boundary-pushing music, delivered a scintillatingly serene installation of hypnotic innovation which begins with a visionary overture that lures listeners into transcendence, where dreamy 8-bit tones meld seamlessly with cloud rap influences.

The track is a kaleidoscope of cultivation, opening a portal to unrestrained artistic expression. As the song progresses, it builds towards a mesmerising mid-section, characterised by ethereal falsettos reminiscent of The Weeknd’s early work. This shift in tone, akin to a record player hitting play on a fresh LP, elevates the track into a crescendo that injects subtle intensity and speaks of ELZON’s status as a revered pioneer who is well on his way to becoming a viral sensation.

Produced between London and Manchester, with the signature touches of Elliot Taylor and Blamebrazy, expensive dreams is a testament to ELZON’s relentless pursuit of pushing leftfield sounds into the mainstream.

ELZON describes the track as a “psychedelically experimental rap/RnB track inspired by Frank Ocean and Lucki, featuring cloud rap-influenced instrumentals and Blond-esque pitched vocals”. This fusion creates a lush soundscape of surreal serenity that speaks to the senses louder with every listen.

ELZON’s journey from his early days making music in his bedroom to collaborating with Grammy-nominated producers attests to his talent and dedication, which the airwaves will see more of later this year when he unleashes his art PUNK mixtape.

Stream expensive dreams on Spotify, and follow ELZON on Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Etherdene delivered a tenderly interstellar reminder of our place in the universe with ‘We Are in Space’

Posted on 1 May 2024

We’ve made our adoration of Etherdene’s illuminatively authentic dreamy synth-pop signature and her evocatively ethereal vocals no secret. After the release of her latest single, We Are in Space, which serves as a groundingly interstellar reminder of our place in the universe, she’s affirmed her position as one of the most promising artists of her generation.

Following an open sequence of glassy synths that resound as though they could have been conjured by the Weeknd, Etherdene drifts her latest tender tour de force into a shoegazey installation that cuts as deep as Slowdive’s discography. As the instrumentals glide and glisten throughout the impeccably crafted progressions, We Are in Space tears at the heartstrings with a reprise of, “We are in space, I don’t know what’s going on, but I love you, I love you”.

Even though it is all too easy to feel minuscule and inferior when contemplating the vastness of the universe, Etherdene ensured that there was no danger of that through the soulful juxtaposition of her refrain which testifies to the true meaning of life in the chaos of our mostly understood universe. The sticky sweet and synthy brand of romanticism is enough to drive you to the brink of tears before replenishing your soul with euphoria. Someone give the girl a Grammy.

We Are in Space moved into Earth’s orbit on April 24; stream the single on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Leon Tikas – Beauty Queen: A Modern RnB-Tinged Echo of Iconic Pop Nostalgia

Posted on 13 March 2024

Leon Tikas stepped into the spotlight with ‘Beauty Queen‘, a standout track from his debut EP ‘Egoist‘, which masterfully nods to the pop greats while smouldering in smoothly stylised RnB innovation.

If Michael Jackson debuted Billie Jean in 2024 while falling in line with contemporary trends set by the likes of The Weeknd, the cult hit would carry the same hypnotically textured magnetism of Beauty Queen, which does far more than scratch at the surface of superficiality while proving that beauty is more than skin deep.

The seamless interplay between the effect-laden vocals and reverb-drenched instrumentals delivers a modernised 80s pop aesthetic, seamlessly integrated with a solid trap-esque backbeat. Tikas doesn’t just replicate the past; he reinterprets it, adding his own innovative touch to a familiar sound.

For fans of the genre, ‘Beauty Queen’ is not just a track to enjoy but a signal of the exciting direction RnB Pop is headed, with Leon Tikas at the forefront. Join him at the vanguard and hit play.

The Egoist EP is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast