Browsing Tag

Acoustic Pop

Sam Phillips serenaded urban desolation into melody with his seminal pop single, In the City

Posted on 14 March 2024

Sam Phillips, a 21-year-old Nashville-based talent, has struck a resonant chord with his debut LP, ‘Hide ‘n Seek’, particularly with the single ‘In the City‘. This track stands out as a testament to his burgeoning artistry, showcasing a maturity that seems far beyond his years and harmonies so light they defy gravity in the predominantly acoustic number.

It’s a song that cuts to the core of the emotional themes explored while demonstrating that there’s immense power in simplicity when delivered with authenticity and profound understanding.

The lyrics paint a vivid picture of moving into the city, a journey from comfort to regret. Phillips taps into a universal sentiment, especially poignant in today’s world of widespread isolation. The bustling metropolis, often seen as a place of connection, is instead portrayed as a landscape of solitude. This theme will undoubtedly resonate with many, echoing the feelings of disconnection prevalent in our times.

Artistically, ‘In the City’ is both sublime and mellow, using its sonic narratives to great effect. The electric guitar solo towards the outro is particularly striking, cutting through the synthetic backdrop which symbolises a turbulent disconnection from sanctity.

For fans of pop looking for a track that combines lyrical depth with melodic beauty, ‘In the City’ is a must-add to your playlist. It’s a song that not only entertains but also invites reflection, making Sam Phillips an artist to watch in the contemporary music scene.

Sam Phillips’ LP, Hide ‘n Seek, was officially released on February 16; stream the album on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Rokeby’s Cover of What is Love is an Arcane Sermon of Mourning, Desperation and Torment

Posted on 10 March 2024

For his debut single, the London-based up-and-coming artist, Rokeby, proved what difference a minor key can make when he melancholically reinvented the 1993 single, What is Love, which was a flood of euphoric momentum under Haddaway’s dance pop duress.

The acoustic rendering of the single completely recontextualised the lyricism; the minor key piano notes and the gospel-esque soulfully profound vocal harmonies allowed the cover to unravel as an arcane sermon of mourning, desperation and torment. The ethereal production which sees his vocal range defy gravity swims in sincerity, inviting you to get lost in the undercurrents of agony inflicted by the absence of affection or the presence of imperfect love.

By taking inspiration from Hozier, Tom Odell, Bon Iver, Freya Ridings and David Kushner for this track and the rest of his forthcoming EP, which was co-written and produced with Tom Fuller, Rokeby is set to become the UK’s biggest evocateur of 2024.

Rokeby’s debut single was officially released on February 21st; stream the single on Spotify, and keep the artist on your radar for the launch of his debut EP, which will follow in 2024.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

London’s Immy Odon gave us the live lounge-y version we never knew we needed of Nelly Furtado’s Say It Right

Posted on 20 January 2024

Stripped-back and soulfully reimagined, Immy Odon’s acoustic RnB pop version of Nelly Furtado’s ‘Say It Right‘ is a revelation; the previously keyboard-driven single, now infused with the warmth of acoustic guitar chords, is elevated to new heights of emotional profoundness. Odon’s rendition is more than a mere cover; it’s a visceral reinvention of every harmony, showcasing her outstanding vocal performance.

Odon achieves what seems impossible: her version of ‘Say It Right’ outshines even the idea of Furtado herself performing it in a BBC Live Lounge setting. The success of Odon’s most popular single to date, ‘Unfreezing’, with over 384,000 streams on Spotify, speaks volumes about her talent and the impact of her music. Her rendition of ‘Say It Right’ is a testament to her unique ability to transform a well-known track into something entirely her own, and something that deeply connects with the listener.

Immy Odon is clearly an artist on an upward trajectory. Her upcoming releases, including several dance tracks, are eagerly anticipated. If they contain even a fraction of the magic found in her version of ‘Say It Right’, they are sure to elevate her status even further in the music world.

Stream the acoustic rendition of Say It Right on Spotify, which was first transmitted on the airwaves on January 12th.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Blake Baker is captivating in his wistfully listless single, Mind the Gap

Posted on 11 December 2023

The up-and-coming genre-fluid singer-songwriter Blake Baker became the ultimate raconteur of relatable melancholy while simultaneously delivering sonic sanctuary with his latest acoustic single, Mind the Gap.

The profound and beautifully crafted introspective piece resonates with the soulful narrative strength of classic folk songwriting; Baker’s skill in blending this traditional foundation with an Americana blues essence results in a song that is both timeless and refreshingly original.

Lyrically, Mind the Gap paints a vivid, cinematic portrait of a protagonist who feels overlooked and invisible amidst the bustling society around him. This theme of alienation and longing for connection speaks directly to anyone who has struggled to find their place in the world. Baker’s ability to capture this sentiment in his eloquently compassionate lyricism is beyond compare as the track anchors around his rich, sonorous voice which can carry the low timbres as well as the highs he maintains resonant depth.

Mind the Gap is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Jeff Jepson has released his haunting hymnal gem, The Good-Night Song

Posted on 18 November 2023

The critically acclaimed singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Jeff Jepson is set to garner a fresh wave of impassioned reverence with his Christmas-tinged EP, Sparkle. If this is your first acquaintance with the artist who rose to fame in Liverpool and has recently replanted his musical roots in the Isle of Man, the standout single, The Good-Night Song, is the perfect introduction to the master of poignant melody.

Whether it was the finiteness in the lyricism or the way the acoustic guitar’s euphonic rings intensified the affecting sting within the captivating vocal delivery in the arrangement which visualises the sparseness of winter branches, I couldn’t help but shed a tear as Jepson’s evocatively honeyed timbres quivered in the frost of the hymnal gem which will haunt you long past the outro.

The Sparkle EP illuminated the airwaves on November 10th; kindle your affinity with the 4-track release via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Ava Valianti reigned indie folk pop supreme in her debut single, Bubble Wrap

Posted on 20 October 2023

At 14 years old, the Massachusetts-hailing indie folk-pop breakthrough artist Ava Valianti is delivering definitive proof that maturity doesn’t come with age; it comes with emotional intelligence, and her emotional IQ is lyrical leagues above the rest.

Her debut single, Bubble Wrap, distinguished her as one of the most promising new arrivals of 2023. The sharpened poetic volition is a magnetic juxtaposition against her harmonically rich and airy vocal timbre which effervesces against the acoustic guitar notes.

The power in her metaphors is one thing; her ability to entice you into a relatable vignette which comes to life with the vindication delivered to anyone who knows how it feels to be made small by people with petulant and puerile minds puts her on an entirely other level. We’re stoked to hear what she and her producer, Chris Plante, will create for her sophomore release.

Bubble Wrap is due for official release on October 20. Check it out on all major streaming platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Jessamine Barham exhumed a ‘Shallow Grave’ to speak on the violent oppression of women in her latest single.

Posted on 12 October 2023

Jessamine Barham released her most striking single to date when she read the harrowing tale in her latest single, Shallow Grave. The haunting vocal harmonies atop the staccato acoustic guitar strings and as the centrefold within the quiescent orchestral swells of chamber pop strings brought the solemnity within Shallow Grave to spectral life in a way that assures us that even though Jessamine Barham’s dark pop stylings are niche, her talents of a sonic narrator of feminine tragedy should never be underestimated.

The days of the Salem witch trials and being sectioned with hysteria may be behind us, but the violent oppression of women will always be a tale as old as time. It was no feat of hyperbole to lyrically infer that feminine acts of rebellion can incur the death penalty. Some may say hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, but life hath no tyranny like the men determined to keep us chastised.

Shallow Grave was officially released on September 24; stream it on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Alexander Joseph illuminated the airwaves with his elevated folk-pop single, Guiding Star

Posted on 3 September 2023

If your folk-pop playlists need a boost, the evocatively uplifting latest single, Guiding Star, from Alexander Joseph will elevate them until they reach a new plateau of accordant soul.

If you know all too well how it feels to fear fading into obscurity, Guiding Star will deliver illuminating resonance. Traversing themes of desperation to escape while having no sense of direction was the ultimate affirmation that the singer-songwriter crafted this compassionately melodic single straight from his jaded soul.

There may not be any way to abstract the complexities and uncertainties of life, but hitting play on a track and knowing you’re not the only dog in the disjointing fight is as close to a sanctuary this society can provide.

If you can’t get enough of Alexander Joseph’s consoling lyricism, you don’t have long to wait for the UK artist’s EP, Stop and Breathe, which is due out in October. The EP will be used to raise funds for the charity One Tree Planted, which is combatting the impact of global warming through vital reforestation work.

Guiding Star was officially released on August 25; stream it on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Millie Kirkpatrick spoke for us all with her disdain of flattering fallacies in her latest single, Lies

Posted on 4 August 2023

Suffolk-born singer-songwriter Millie Kirkpatrick is heartrate-quickeningly sensational on her melodious triumph of an indie-pop single, Lies. Lotharios with an aversion to truthful sentiments be damned in the revelation of an easy-chord-driven vignette of a protagonist that has reached their limit of endurance with flattering fallacy.

The simple yet razor-sharp hooks establish Lies as a song that you’ll hum along to on the radio until the emboldening lyrics tattoo themselves in your mind and become as much of a permanent fixture in your temporal lobe as the melodies that apply a sensuous touch to all of your senses while the progressions are in motion.

It is only a matter of time until Millie Kirkpatrick becomes infamous outside of the local Suffolk scene. She’s already well on her way after gaining support from BBC Introducing. Watch this space.

Lies hit the airwaves on July 21st; stream it on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Ro Jordan has released her narratively Elysian acoustic pop hit, Asking Heaven Questions

Posted on 26 May 2023
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The title of Ro Jordan’s latest single, Asking Heaven Questions, isn’t the only thing sonically Elysian about the evocative indie pop release, which will throw you right back to the empowering soul of 90s pop as it establishes the BBC-lauded songstress as one that could define the future of the genre.

Her narratively immersing approach to lyricism has been honed to the nth degree in the single, which effortlessly evades cliches while traversing the well-trodden landscape of heartbreak pop hits. If there is anything that will leave the impious calling out to higher powers, it is being torn from a dynamic that you were once so eager to place the lion’s share of your faith. In its wake, there’s little more than grief and uncertainty, which Ro Jordan so eloquently alludes to in the metaphorical dream of a dark acoustic production.

Asking Heaven Questions will release across all major platforms on May 26; hear it on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast