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Cali Pop

Blue Violence. Became the Definitive Sad Boi of Synth Pop with ‘My Feet Are Sad on the Dancefloor’

Posted on 22 April 2025

Blue Violence. turned the emotional weight of disconnection into a dancefloor confession with ‘My Feet Are Sad on the Dancefloor’, the keystone single from his 3-track EP, ‘Ugh…’. With synths set to shimmer and sardonic melancholy laced through the beat, this melancholic indietronica lament spins the disco ball on its axis to reflect a darker spectrum of inner turmoil.

Through anthropomorphised sorrow, Daniel Fischetti—writing and producing as Blue Violence.—exposes the paradox of internal desolation amidst external euphoria. While glitter rains and basslines throb in euphoric unison, his feet remain heavy with the weight of unshakable emotional inertia. There’s funk in the Depeche Mode-esque rhythm and pain in the lyricism, stitched together with the same magnetic gloom found in the works of John Grant.

Hailing from Southern California, Fischetti started Blue Violence in 2019 during a collaboration with producer and engineer Chris Caccamise of CJE Productions. Their work on the debut album Modern Love cemented Blue Violence. as a name worth noting in the shadowy corners of synth pop. Since then, Fischetti has remained self-contained in his sonic pursuits, refining his signature style without sanding away the raw emotional contours.

‘My Feet Are Sad on the Dancefloor’ doesn’t fake the catharsis—it coils around it, examining every nuance of numbness through neon-soaked textures and darkly sweet tones. Blue Violence delivered the funked-up synth pop hit we never knew we needed. He’s the definitive sad boi of synth pop.

‘My Feet Are Sad on the Dancefloor’ is now available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Jack Fargo Hits a Natural High with Alt-Pop Anthem ‘Drugs on the Weekend’

Posted on 20 April 2025
Jack Fargo

Jack Fargo’s latest release, Drugs on the Weekend, is less Class A and more A-List radio-ready material—delivered as a wavy lo-fi mash-up of RnB, Hip-Hop, and pop. The track is an exposition on how the oxytocin rush from someone who scintillates your soul as much as your skin surpasses every synthetic high imaginable.

With funk-infused grooves and a horn section lifting the vibe even higher, Fargo turns this bedroom-pop musing into an indie anthem choked with infectious appeal. Fargo’s zealously electrifying vocal lines prove he did more than perform when stepping up to the mic; his verses pour straight from a soul bright enough to illuminate any room or arena. The harmonies and rap-infused verses warm the dreamy, lush layers of saturation, making the track an effortlessly magnetic listen.

Fargo, born Jack Fargotstein, is a Memphis-raised musician who sharpened his artistry through hip-hop mixtapes as Bigmac Jack before earning acclaim in LA as half of The Motel Brothers. Post-duo, Fargo returned to his solo roots, pulling influences from Ed Sheeran’s pop-rock effervescence, Mac Miller’s legendary ease, and classic R&B richness, all vividly showcased in this latest sonic concoction.

Drugs on the Weekend perfectly captures Fargo’s lyrical exploration of authentic connections, resonating through melodies that mirror the intimate rush of genuine chemistry. Fargo isn’t chasing superficial buzzes here; he’s illustrating that the purest high flows naturally.

Drugs on the Weekend is now available to stream on all major platforms, including SoundCloud. 

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Breaking Chains with a Beat: Isabella Chiarini’s ‘Gotta Be’ Shatters the Illusions of Toxic Love

Posted on 22 January 2025

Imagine the raw vocal power of Lady Gaga spiritually amplified by the hypnotic aura of Stevie Nicks, and you’ll get close to the visceral impact of Isabella Chiarini’s latest single, Gotta Be. Throw your perceptions of pop anthems by the wayside with the battle cry wrapped in melody, which tears down the illusions of toxic relationships with unapologetic candour and electrifying pop liberation in its purest form.

Chiarini’s ability to project emotional depth with soaring vocal conviction is nothing short of magnetic. The track’s lyrical narrative cuts to the heart of unhealthy dynamics, where manipulative partners masquerade as saviours. In Gotta Be, Chiarini flips the script, transforming her own lived experience into a universal reminder that happiness doesn’t hinge on anyone else. “It’s okay to do what’s right for you,” she affirms, “because, in the end, that’s what will make you happiest.”

Crafted with co-writers Teresa Nocita and Canadian Idol winner Brian Melo, Gotta Be showcases Isabella’s commitment to authenticity. Her influences may be rooted in personal pain, but the result is a fearless declaration of self-worth that uplifts as much as it empowers. The track seamlessly fuses bold pop hooks with subtle subgenre influences, creating a sonic identity that etches its way into the memory and refuses to fade.

From her beginnings at age eight to honing her craft with PCG Universal, Chiarini’s career has been fuelled by resilience. With Gotta Be, she’s sparking a revolution in how we approach love, freedom, and independence. Cast stones with her by hitting play.

Gotta Be was officially released on January 8th; stream the single on all major platforms, including Spotify, now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Micah! is California dreaming in their latest alt indie pop release, STAY UP

Posted on 7 October 2024

You don’t need Micah!’s bio to tell you that they’re a Cali-residing artist, you can hear it in the dreamy warmth of the hazy melodies in their latest alt-indie-pop single, STAY UP, which teases nuances of hip-hop into the mix with sharp pseudo-rap cadences in the verses.

After honing their songwriting, recording and production skills for a decade, STAY UP is a catharsis-soaked culmination of all the time invested in their unflinching dedication to carve out a niche that listeners will want to nestle into time after time.

Fans of the deliciously delirious tonal palettes alchemised by NewDad, Jibba, Just Mustard and other contemporary indie icons in the same vein will find endless appeal in STAY UP, which is yet another attestation to Micah!’s potential that has already been actualised after the artist opened for Snoop Dogg and hit the 1 million stream mark on SoundCloud.

STAY UP was officially released on September 19; stream the single on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Get into the vibe-heavy groove of Jboz’s Cali pop hit, California

Posted on 27 July 2024

Cali pop has an irreplicable sonic flavour and after Jboz debuted his latest single, California, the geographical genre became immensely sweeter. With his vibe-driven approach to production, the earworm fills the soul as much as it commands the senses.

California is a flood of feel-good fervour which ripples through the funk-heightened, bass-heavy electro-pop beats which provide the perfect soundtrack to sun-kissed hedonic escapades. The luxuriantly paced release cuts across the contemporary curve, propelled by the San Diego-hailing singer-songwriter’s mellow with iconic style vocal lines that cruise across the hip-hop-adjacent beats.

In just a few days since its release, California has shot to the top of Jboz’s list of biggest hits which are on repeat for his 7.5k monthly Spotify listeners who know that following Jboz invites them into so much more than a fandom; they become a part of his community, knitted together with his profound love and connection to his followers.

California arrived on the airwaves on July 19; stream the single on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Visit the ‘Golden State’ with Out in Front’s Breakthrough Indie Pop-Rock Debut

Posted on 12 May 2024

The indie scene has been crying out for ingenuity; Out in Front answered the plea for sonic salvation from assimilative monotony with their debut single, Golden State, which may have only been on the airwaves for two months, but the LA newcomers have wasted no time racking up close to 100k streams on Spotify alone with their inaugural release.

After the prelude teases just another twee indie pop single to add to the indie landfill, Golden State shifts gears with a brashy crescendo of overdriven guitars that hark back to The Manic Street Preacher’s earlier records before the jangle pop melodies add yet another scintillating dimension to the dynamic earworm that you’ll beg to stay.

With the Southern Cali sound an integral part of their sonic signature, the trio who met by chance at a tennis court before jamming together and realising they had the epitome of creative chemistry to share with fans all across the indie pop-rock spectrum, Golden State drenches the airwaves with glistening golden tonal bliss, wrapped in a hazily hued aura that almost feels like a second skin when you’re immersed in this instant hit.

Golden State is available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Mia Laren navigates passion and fatal dysfunction in her Latin Dance Pop track, My Heart

Posted on 2 May 2024

Since 2019, the Baltimore-born, Cali-based singer-songwriter, dancer and producer, Mia Laren, has rhythmically and emotionally moved her international fanbase; her latest Latin Dance Pop track, My Heart (can’t live or live or without you), captures Laren at her most infectious, intimate and powerful.

After an intro which nods to Gaga’s Alejandro, Laren opens her single up to a sensually electrifying, moodily hypnotic groove which constructs an exotically rich platform for her arcane harmonies to ascend from. The monocultural mould disintegrates around her infusion of folky Eastern mysticism and Latin guitars in the electro-pop mix which explores the tormenting nature of your heart beating for someone that will ultimately be the death of you if you keep clinging to the dysfunction in the name of passion.

It’s a rare feat to discover a release that is organically rooted in the heritage of Latin and folk yet transcends contemporary pop trends with a stylish flair that embodies couture pop, yet, five years after learning how to produce music on her laptop, Mia Laren achieved it with plenty of sincerity and authenticity to spare.

My Heart was officially released on April 24; stream the official music video on YouTube now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Mia Laren is on rhythmic fire in her latest self-produced pop hit, Woman Like Me

Posted on 16 March 2024

Mia Laren’s latest single, ‘Woman Like Me‘, is a masterclass in contemporary pop production, interweaving nostalgia with a fresh, electrifying approach. The guitar tones shimmer with a transcendental quality, while the basslines run as hot and heavy as the empowered lyrics. The anthem of self-worth and confidence is a striking testament to her burgeoning prowess in the pop music sphere.

Hailing from Baltimore and now based in San Diego, Laren, a singer, songwriter, producer, and professional dancer, infuses her music with the rhythm and expression of her dance background. This is vividly apparent in ‘Woman Like Me’, where she combines sharp rhythmic beats and sultrily magnetic vocal lines which hark back to Shakira’s ‘Whenever, Whenever’ while exhibiting her ability to create aural auras which reflect her lyrical themes. Coupled with her impressive octave range, which borders on the celestial, Laren is undoubtedly on the cusp of becoming a significant name in the pop genre.

‘Woman Like Me’ is a reflection of her belief that music is the connection to the soul. It’s a track that not only awakens the rhythmic pulses but also invites you to connect with its deeper message. The track is the perfect opportunity to align your actions with your worth.

The official music video for Woman Like Me was officially released on March 6th; you won’t want to miss the conceptually fire gender fuckery Laren uses to prove her worth and inspire other women to find their own.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Get into the euphoric electro-pop groove with Zach Schuh’s synthy and celestial single, Blurry Pictures

Posted on 26 October 2023

Capturing the sweetness of a perfect moment you never want to leave behind, the latest single, Blurry Pictures, from the ever-ascending independent artist Zach Schuh is, somewhat ironically, the perfect polaroid of euphoric gratitude.

The bedroom pop artist who never leaves any clues within his soundscapes to his DIY approach has discernibly mastered the art of song crafting, arranging, producing, mixing, mastering, and visualising emotional experiences to make them universal.

The Cali native’s vibrant style has all the trappings of an infectious electro-pop earworm; the 80s synths lend themselves effortlessly well to the funk-carved grooves that are cut as deep as the most body-rocking hits from Daft Punk, as for his vocal lines, they couldn’t be dreamier. You might want to pinch yourself to make sure you’re awake while you’re being consumed by the ethereal soul of them.

Blurry Pictures was officially released on September 1st; you can get into the kaleidoscopic groove with it by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Positronic signed, sealed, and delivered a 80s synth-pop postcard with his latest single, A Long Goodbye

Posted on 31 March 2023
Positronic

With an edge of 80s synthpop sharpening the future-embracing textures in the ardently dreamy release that picks up plenty of visceral weight from the crooned harmonies, the latest single, A Long Goodbye, from Positronic will warm even the most sub-zero souls.

Odes to the 80s can often sound trite at best – there was never any danger of that with the reminiscences to icons of aural cool such as Editors, noted through the harshness of the snares, the chillier timbres and the sheer depth of emotion in the vocals.

The unassimilated gravitas of A Long Goodbye starts to make infinitely more sense with a glimpse at the artist and producer’s biography; the solo artist has been in the synth-pop scene since 1988, spurred on by the love of The Pet Shop Boys, OMD, Erasure and Depeche Mode. The Cali solo artist is just as talented as the artists he pulled inspiration from.

A Long Goodbye will officially release on March 31st; hear it on Positronic’s official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast