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Alt-Pop

Lena Lovelace – Nameless: an otherworldly lullaby of gothic grandeur

Posted on 11 January 2025

The hauntingly ethereal installation of Avant-Garde aural cinema, Nameless, from alternative artist Lena Lovelace resonates with a gothic baroque atmosphere that cradles her Soprano arcane harbingering vocals. As she paints a sci-fi vignette of an alien which appears to eight people in different guises, listeners are compelled to acknowledge how no one appears in the same form to two people; we’re all alien abstractions attempting to cultivate a sense of familiarity in each new connection. Against the unsettling backdrop, Lovelace remains a fearlessly unique artist whose messages challenge you to perceive reality from new angles.

The Cambridgeshire-hailing, Norwich-based artist has been writing and recording for over a decade. Her sound—shaped by an indie/alternative vibe reminiscent of Shakespeare’s Sister—often draws on the traits of fictional characters that stir her imagination. This latest track was inspired by a dream in which an alien landed on Earth and fell in love with eight people.

The result is an otherworldly lullaby of gothic grandeur that soars above ordinary parameters, offering a glimpse into Lovelace’s dedication to forging new aural paths and ensuring no listener leaves without a shift in perspective.

Nameless was officially released on November 2nd and is now available to stream on all major platforms, including SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Breaking the Sound Barrier: Eleri Ward’s ‘There You Go’ Spiritually Shatters the Monocultural Mould

Posted on 10 January 2025
Eleri Ward

‘There You Go’ by the Chicago-born, NYC-based spiritual seductress of alt-pop, Eleri Ward enmeshes an arcane aura that breaks through the monocultural mould with baroque beguile in a way that makes Björk sound positively pedestrian.

Every second of ‘There You Go’ is a revelation; as you sink into the scintillation, you’ll find yourself in awe of the singer-songwriter’s expansively seraphic octave range and how her harmonies effortlessly complement the transgressions in sound, which shift you into a state of transcendence.

Teasing dark aesthetics into the syncopated alchemy of the indietronica release, she pairs moody etherealism with crystalline embellishments to immerse you into a session of expression that goes beyond sound. In this labyrinthine soundscape, where each texturally electrifying twist offers a new sonic delight, Ward proves her connection to music runs as deep as her lyricism. She’s a convention-challenging phenomenon in her own right, making no pantheon prestigious enough for her to enter.

There You Go will hit all major streaming platforms, including Spotify, on January 10th.

For more information and more ways to connect with Eleri Ward, visit her official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The AI-Man – From Darkness to Light: A Pop Opera Eclipse of Emotion

Posted on 7 January 2025
The AI-Man

The AI-Man’s standout single from his upcoming debut album, From Darkness to Light, allows listeners to live vicariously through a visceral metamorphosis, guided by genre-fluidity and scribed through emotionally charged storytelling. The track opens with a poetic hush, as reverberant vocals float over an ambiently cinematic foundation, setting the stage for a crescendo that bursts with iridescent light and theatrical intensity.

The tightly woven soundscape flows between electronic euphony, pop grandeur, and the bruising simplicity of singer-songwriter confessionals. As the title suggests, the single traces a passage from despair to illumination and back again, with the sonic shifts reflecting the push and pull of personal evolution.

The AI-Man, the artistic moniker of Casper Gottlieb, has poured the turmoil of losing access to his children into this release, allowing the lyrics to strike an elusive balance—abstract enough for universal resonance, yet steeped in enough candour to convey the raw emotion.

Crafted as part of his upcoming debut album, A Father’s Truth, the song offers a glimpse into the artist’s exploration of grief, hope, and resilience through the motifs and aesthetics of classical, gospel, country and EDM. It may be difficult to pigeonhole, but it is effortless to find awe within.

From Darkness to Light will be available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify, as part of The AI-Man’s debut album, A Father’s Truth.

To stay up to date with all the artist’s news and new releases, hit follow on Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Natalee Gallo – now it doesn’t matter: Cinematically Ethereal Dream Pop

Posted on 4 January 2025

From the moment ‘now it doesn’t matter’ opens with an ethereal breeze of melancholy, Natalee Gallo demonstrates her cultivated approach to fusing folk sensibilities with a cinematic dream pop aesthetic. This single only gathers visceral steam as the instrumental and vocal hooks ache with conflicted, confessional sincerity, allowing the track to breathe in a raw, human way.

Not only is it an immersive panorama of intensely personal yet universally resonant pain, but it also serves as a powerful testament to Gallo’s authenticity. Rather than simply trailing the trends, Gallo incorporates subtle folky tinges that accentuate the avant-garde balladry, giving her sound a distinctive edge while still retaining a current appeal. It’s a scintillatingly stylised diary entry turned forward-thinking pop piece, brimming with enough soul to stand out on any contemporary playlist.

Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Gallo has built her emerging indie presence around her sound which reveals her fascination with intertwining pop, synth, and folk elements. In 2025, Gallo intends to share three more singles, potentially culminating in an EP, as she seeks to widen her audience and highlight the eclectic influences driving her project.

now it doesn’t matter is available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Alt-Pop Sad Boy Psychonaut Jake Marshall Captured the Messiness of the Human Psyche with His Earworm, Next Time

Posted on 3 January 2025

Jake Marshall continues to push boundaries with Next Time, the defining single from his debut EP, Better Luck Next Time. The perennial pop earworm blasts past contemporary trends with its retro-futurist spin on disco, funk, synth pop, and Avant Garde indietronica. Marshall’s music remains unapologetically unique, and Next Time is no exception, delivering the kind of sonic innovation that makes you fall a little deeper for his unfeigned artistry and unflinching mission to capture the messiness of the psyche as it wrestles with themes of affection and rejection.

The track evolves and drifts into obscure interstellar experimentation, allowing the listener to imagine what John Grant could create with the sardonic grit of Fidlar. It’s a testament to Marshall’s restraint-less approach to laying it all down on the line—idiosyncrasies and all. Next Time carries the emotional resonance of heartbreak but reframes it as an empowering experience; this ongoing saga of self-discovery is as stunning to hear as it is to witness, particularly as Marshall gains both artistic confidence and career traction.

Anchored by his striking four-octave range, Marshall delivers every lyric with a depth that feels revolutionary in a genre where vulnerability can often be an afterthought. The dynamic vocal lines, paired with the intricate production courtesy of Daniel Finn, create a rich sonic panorama that bridges raw emotionality with experimentalism.

Next Time will be available to stream across all major platforms from January 3rd, including Soundcloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Avant Garde Expressionism went pop in PRI//’s single, See No Evil

Posted on 26 December 2024

With ‘See No Evil’, the independent artist and innovator PRI// cements their position as one of the most fearlessly uninhibited expressionists in alt-pop’s terrain. The lo-fi Avant Garde pop single is an entrancingly distorted dive into the artist’s singular creative world, blending artful dissonance with a touch of classic pop accessibility. Atop experimental beats that feel like the sonic equivalent of broken glass refracting light, PRI// drops layers of autotuned harmonies, anchoring the abstract chaos with a trace of familiarity. The accompanying music video only deepens the immersion, offering a raw glimpse into the unfiltered ethos driving this London-based maverick.

Since bursting onto the scene earlier this year, PRI// has uploaded over 80 songs online, each a condensed burst of raw emotion and sonic experimentation. Whether through the ghostly minimalism of Come Back Darling or the grunge-laced adrenaline of Begging, PRI// balances tension and release with an intuitive grasp of storytelling, both musical and lyrical. Drawing on influences as varied as Madonna’s remix culture and Tori Amos’ lyrical introspection, See No Evil is as cathartic as it is boundary-pushing.

Crafted in snatched moments with limited tools—an old Depeche Mode drum machine, acoustic guitars, and a self-taught flair—PRI//’s DIY ethos imbues their work with visceral authenticity. Yet, their ambitions stretch far beyond the lo-fi aesthetic, weaving together music, videos, and a rich visual world influenced by icons like Bowie and Grace Jones.

Stream the official music video for See No Evil on YouTube now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Cecilia’s Debut, Don’t Wanna Cry, is a Disco Ball’s Glow over Retro-Futuristic Reflections

Posted on 15 December 2024

Cecilia’s debut single, ‘Don’t Wanna Cry’, sinks the listener into a rabbit hole of retro-futurism beneath the glow of a disco ball, pulling her listeners’ senses between awe for innovation and comfort from nostalgia-swathed pop hooks.

If you’re weary of modern retro pop revolving around Lana Del Rey’s carbon copies, Cecilia rhythmically shifts away from the fray. Her sound—recorded and produced independently in her Los Angeles home studio—invites her growing following into a seraphic reverie of dreamy alt-pop, all defined by some of the most sublime vocals from a breakthrough pop artist in 2024.

Influenced by the disco era’s warm grooves, modern electronic textures, and soulful classic vocal timbres, she crafts a retro-futuristic hybrid with indie sensibilities. ‘Don’t Wanna Cry’, released on 26th November, layers its introspective lyrics and ethereal melodies to form a kaleidoscope of colourful warmth, while the earworm mantra lingers long after the final note.

By making her debut with such an empoweringly vulnerable release, Cecilia sets a high bar, teasing more hits from an already iconic artist who dares to groove to her own tune.

Stream Don’t Wanna Cry on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Spotlight Feature: Indie Pop Meets Folk Symphony: The Dynamic Contrasts of Woodstone’s ‘Touch of Adrenaline’

Posted on 13 December 2024
Woodstone

Woodstone, a rising indie pop singer-songwriter from New Jersey, offers an emotive glimpse into his forthcoming fourth LP with the release of ‘Touch of Adrenaline.’ The track captures the essence of early 2000s indie pop while throwing back a little further to 90s Britpop, evoking memories of Plain White T’s and stoking the nostalgia of Oasis while infusing his own raw, heartfelt style.

This intricately crafted track intertwines folk elements with chamber pop strings, allowing contrasting layers of ornate orchestration and winding folk guitar lines to showcase Woodstone’s skill in bending and blending texture and tone into affecting aural contours. Reflecting on the ephemeral nature of intense feelings, Woodstone demonstrates a sophisticated approach to scintillating the senses of his growing fanbase.

Woodstone Said:

“Touch of Adrenaline is about a relationship with an end date, with both parties knowing it will end, and the last fleeting moments being marked by intensified emotion. 

The single explores what it really means to truly feel and be present with someone you love for the last time while conveying an image of romance in the midst of a dystopian world. 

Like all songs on the upcoming concept album, it was inspired by a relationship that could have worked but wasn’t the right time, and life forced us to drift apart.”

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Touch of Adrenaline will be available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify, from December 13th, with Woodstone’s fourth album, Glass Skin, set to follow in early 2025.

Follow Woodstone on Instagram to stay up to date with all of his latest releases and news.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Meet Sbassbear in the epicentre of the cultural zeitgeist with their viral-worthy alt-comedy-pop earworm ‘Doggystyle’

Posted on 12 December 2024

Sbassbear, the Worcester, Massachusetts-based comedy duo who first found fame remixing The Game Grumps’ impromptu antics, prove their staying power in the alt-music world with Doggystyle, a standout track from their sprawling 77-track album, Fever Dream Radio.

While the title teases something risqué, the duo leads listeners down a playful intersection of influences from The Beastie Boys and The Kiffness, where hip-pop beats collide with twee lyrics and vocals which epitomise our increasingly digital popular culture.

With their 2024 release, Sbassbear defied the novelty label often slapped on comedy music. Doggystyle is an exemplary showcase of their ability to weave feel-good energy into intricate, genre-bending production. For their 65k+ monthly listeners, the duo deliver far more than cheap laughs; they’ve built a space where absurdity meets authenticity, and you might never want to leave!

The track’s infectious rhythm sits alongside a sharp self-awareness of its place in modern culture. Sbassbear understands the chaos of contemporary attention spans and leans into it with their TikTok video-length tracks. Fever Dream Radio is so much more than a concept album—it’s a reflection of the ADHD-driven creativity that makes Sbassbear so unique, effortlessly flipping through moods and styles like radio stations in a surreal alternate reality.

Get stuck into all 77 tracks from Sbassbear’s latest LP, Fever Dream Radio, via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Francesca Pichierri painted an Avant-Garde pop prism of the absurdity of reality in ‘Io Sto Bene’

Posted on 8 December 2024

After a beguiling fusion of style, soul and spirituality in her sophomore single, Francesca Pichierri has evolved into an alt-pop Avant-Gardist with her third single, Io Sto Bene. The infectiously obscure piano-driven earworm inches cabaret pop further into the mainstream with the playful panache in Pichierri’s vocals bringing equal amounts of energy as the upbeat staccato piano notes before the mid-way mark hits and sinks the listener into a kaleidoscope of baroque pop experimentalism.

Io Sto Bene pulls you into a rabbit hole of mental disquietness, efficaciously depicting how it feels to try and find stability while everything in your external and internal world feels off-kilter.  Like a rush of acceptance, the outro is a luminous visualisation of ephemeral transcendence away from the tumult of turmoil.

The independent singer-songwriter penned Io Sto Bene inspired by a bitter-sweet memory of her mother waking up from her first ovarian cancer treatment to reassure the family that ‘everything is fine’, and the epiphany of how paradoxical it is to be determined to appear fine in the midst of chaos. This is so much more than art imitating life; the single is a painful prism of the absurdity of reality.

Io Sto Bene was officially released on November 29th; stream the single on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast