Browsing Tag

Experimental Pop

Samantha Wolverton Has Released Her Second Striking Alt Pop Single “Moon”

Posted on 8 March 2020
https://open.spotify.com/track/7emIDelgSDQ44E74tvwyq3

With her latest single “Moon” Samantha Wolverton blended striking elements of baroque Art Pop with a more contemporary and accessible style of Pop ensuring that a connectable unique soundscape was shared with the airwaves.

Samantha Wolverton’s bold experimental approach fed into a nuanced and mellifluous production which shares very few reminiscences to any other artists around right now. But as she garners acclaim, undoubtedly there will be plenty of Kate Bush comparisons heading her way.

Moon may only be the up and coming artist’s second single. But there’s already a mature air which is all too perceptible around her masterfully arcane sound. If you make space for any Alt Pop artist on your radar this year, make it this one.

You can check out Samantha Wolverton’s single Moon for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

DK – Okay: Soulfully-Sweet Inventively-Fresh Polyphonic Pop

Posted on 29 February 2020

We can always tell when good vibes have been made the cornerstone of a single, and it’s all too evident that Urban Alt Pop artist DK made it the essence of his recently released single “Okay”.

Throughout the tonally vibrant track, you’ll hear the repetition of the mantra “I’ll be okay”, with plenty of inspiring introspection in between. By the time you get to the outro, don’t be surprised if the playfully polyphonic mix has lifted your spirits and organically offered a heavy serving of optimism. It’s impossible not to be endeared by the feat of Hip Hop, Pop, Soul, and RnB.

I have a feeling of any fans of Nintendo-style chiptune tracks will definitely want Okay on their playlists.

You can check out DK’s latest single Okay for yourselves by heading over to Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Sofia Werner – Y: Experimentally Progressive Fiercely Refreshing Alt Pop

Posted on 9 February 2020

The prelude to Sofia Werner’s Pop single may fool you into believing that you’re in store for yet another archetypal quiescent delicate offering of sad Pop – then comes the unexpected addition of reverberant fuzzy experimental basslines. From there on out, the soundscape is transformed into an energetically commanding track which will keep you hooked right up until the outro.

If you could imagine what it would sound like if Taylor Swift and Muse collaborated on a record, you’ll get an idea of what Sofia Werner has to offer from her latest single. This is exactly the kind of pioneering nuance all artists should be aspiring to with their sound. Naturally, we’re all too excited to see what will come next from Sofia Werner.

You can check out Y along with Sofia Werner’s debut single “Like I’m Beautiful” for yourselves by heading over to Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

La Roboká – Incel Boy: An Unapologetically Avant-Garde Aural Assault on Incel Culture

Posted on 31 January 2020

Ever since La Roboká appeared on our radars in 2019 with their unapologetically Avant-Garde Alt Pop single “Misophonic”, we’ve eagerly awaited the expressive ingenuity which would undoubtedly follow.

And sure enough, the Berlin-based artist didn’t disappoint with their single “Incel Boy” which dropped on January 31st. If Amanda Palmer and Peaches did a collaborative record, I can’t imagine the results would be far from what you can expect if you hit play on the evocatively sobering track.

If you’re lucky enough to have never previously heard the term ‘incel’ before or encountered one for yourselves, be prepared for a drastic awakening. It’s so much more than your average “friendzone” toxic diatribe women deal with constantly. It’s innocent women, randomly picked out, assaulted, and killed just because men can’t deal with their odious expectation and frustration.

Throughout the track I was torn between absolute awe for La Roboká’s dynamic classical soprano vocal range, acknowledging the empowering chills that creep across me every time I listen to viscerally defiant music and feeling the existentialism over Incels being a very real problem in our society.

I’m not ashamed to say that hearing La Roboká’s vocals whilst seeing real-life CCTV footage of men randomly assaulting women in public had me in tears. Yet, the momentously entrancing beats fed me the disgust-instilled anger which is necessary to feel if Incel Culture is ever going to be stamped out. It’s not going to magically erase itself overnight. It’s going to take having a long and hard look at the way women are objectified and then expected to open their legs on demand just like in the films. THANKS HOLLYWOOD.

In the artist’s own words, here’s what inspired the track:

“With the rise of the Involuntary Celibates (Incels) the Berlin-based alt-pop duo La Roboká is setting a statement against violence and hatred towards women. The new music video “Incel Boy“ is an emotional rollercoaster that lashes out against cowardly attacks from the comfort of the living room, the quick hunt for a cheap laugh that spreads hatred and eventually spills over into the real-life as brutality against women.”

You can check out the official music video for Incel Boy for yourselves via YouTube.

Keep up to date with the latest releases from La Roboká via Facebook.

Leo Aram-Downs – As Is: Innovatively Enamouring Indie Acoustic Pop Rock

Posted on 12 January 2020

When an artist throws as much energy into a track as Leo Aram-Downs did with their standout single “As Is”, it’s practically impossible not to become enamoured.

In a world of Ed Sheeran assimilations, it’s incredibly refreshing to hear an up and coming singer-songwriter compelled to create an innovatively distinctive hit which pushes the boundaries of sound.

Leo Aram-Downs’ rapid-fire Indie Rock vocals start off resting against a mellow Indie Acoustic Pop soundscape. Yet, As Is has plenty of seamless progressions up its aural sleeve which will catapult you into a high-octane offering of Alt Rock complete with mind-blowing guitar riffs.

You can check out As If for yourselves by heading over to Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Heads or Heads – Nightfall: Lo-Fi Trip-Hop Laced Psych Pop

Posted on 10 January 2020
Low Angles by Heads or Heads

The intellectualism practically drips from the synth-led latest single to be released by up and coming Alt Psych Pop artist Heads or Heads. “Nightfall” laces the dreamy lo-fi mix with subtle elements of Trip Hop to ensure that it offers plenty of Funk to take with you on your cathartically psychedelic Trip.

The Missouri based artist utilised archaic urban elements, deconstructed them, and revived them in an absorbingly fresh work of ingenuity.  Expect a kaleidoscope of colour to be spilt as it softly unravels.

If you can imagine what it would sound like if Mike Patton started releasing more ambient and melodic music, you’d get an idea of what Nightfall offers. Aural ambient treats don’t come much more indulgent than this.

You can stream or download Heads or Heads latest single Nightfall for yourselves by heading over to Bandcamp now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Day Potion – To Go Without: Atmospherically Enamouring Synth Pop

Posted on 27 November 2019

Any fans of the Midnight are going to want to check out the standout Synth Pop single “To Go Without” from up and coming NYC-based artist Day Potion’s debut EP.

While the beats are incredibly familiar and accessible, the layers of lush atmospheric reverb which weave through the single allow To Go Without to unfold with plenty of refreshing appeal. To Go Without finds the perfect balance between the sounds of artists such as Editors, Depeche Mode, and Psychedelically uplifting trancey Synth Pop.

As far as Synth Pop debuts go, Day Potion has made quite the impression. We’re already excited to see how Day Potion follows on from the success of their seminal work. Each of the tracks on the EP was inspired by the concept of how distractions can change your state of mind. Considering that the soundscapes are psychologically altering themselves, be prepared to go on an aural journey every time you hit play on any of Day Potion’s singles.

You can check out Day Potion’s single To Go Without along with the rest of Day Potion’s debut EP “Flora Hex” via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Veronica Eileen proves herself as the queen of creepy Pop with latest single “Hollow”

Posted on 14 November 2019

Singer-Songwriter Veronica Eileen has recently released her latest single “Hollow”. In doing so, she also released one of the sultriest eerie Pop singles we’ve heard this year.

Not that we’ve heard all too many. But there are plenty of artists such as Pale Waves and Billie Eilish who have already infused gothic and Alt Rock sensibilities into their Pop sound. Yet, With Hollow, Veronica Eileen went much darker whilst keeping the soundscape accessible and immersive from the first hit. How that was achieved whilst the instrumentals carried reminiscences in part to Rob Zombie’s Dragula is a feat of alchemy.

It really wouldn’t surprise me if American Horror Story wanted Veronica Eileen on their next soundtrack.

You can check out the official music video to Veronica Eileen’s single which dropped on October 26th by heading over to YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast