Browsing Tag

Genre-Fluid

Zach Hodges Bottled an Atomic Glitch in Jazz Fusion Form in ‘Nuclear Muskrat’

Posted on 26 April 2025

Zach Hodges let chaos reign in Nuclear Muskrat and conducted it with a conductor’s cultivated touch and a mad scientist’s curiosity. The 19-year-old Midlands-based musician, composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist may be early in his career, but through his LP, Baby Landmark, he’s already proven that genre loyalty is a concept best left in the past.

Hodges, known for his work as a theatre musical director for String Cheese Theatre, his position behind the kit in Midlands jazz trio Head to Head, and his international touring experience, funnelled every inch of his multidisciplinary pedigree into this 7-minute experimental tour de force. Nuclear Muskrat isn’t content to sit still—within its frenetic framework, it flexes polka funk motifs, indietronica laced with avant-garde effects, funked-up disco grooves, blues-drenched riffs, erratic polyphonic keys, and incendiary synth bursts.

While it could have been easy for this to feel like a pure act of self-indulgence, it’s easy to go along with the ride with Hodges as he demonstrates the malleability of sound in a way so seamless it is as though all of the textures, tones and tempos have always been complementary pairings. It’s as though the contemporary history of music has been condensed in the explorative mind-melter that continually pulls the rug and lays down a different one before the last footstep can land.

If you’re always on the hunt for music that challenges mediocrity, Nuclear Muskrat is the ultimate contender.

Nuclear Muskrat is now available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify. 

Review by Amelia Vandergast.

Ben Z Breaks the Mould with the Shape-Shifting Alt Trap Pop Anthem, ‘Wanderin’’

Posted on 10 March 2025

Ben Z made an unapologetic introduction with Wanderin’, a debut single that refuses to follow a straight path. What starts as a cinematic composition that wouldn’t be out of place in Zimmer’s repertoire chameleonically morphs into a moody trap flow, with bars blazing over the sharp beats that bring intensity to the production, amplifying every syllable that Ben Z lays down with conviction and charismatic swagger

Succeeding in his mission to lay down hits that blaze past the mould right out of the gate, the innovator has a promising career, and if the visceral impact of Wanderin’ proves anything, it is that he’s an artist with the fortitude and fire to deliver. The seamless transition from orchestral grandeur to brooding hip-hop dynamism is a bold move, but one that pays off by showcasing the full force of his creative instincts.

With a vision this sharp and a debut this potent, Ben Z has already set the bar high. If this is just the starting point, whatever comes next is bound to hit just as hard.

Wanderin’ is available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Goodfellow delivered the antidote for obsessive rumination with his alt-pop hit, Think 2 Much

Posted on 15 September 2024

Goodfellow, accompanied by the honeyed harmonies of female vocalist seleen, dropped a genre-defying single that seizes the RnB Trap Pop scene with an undeniable groove. ‘Think 2 Much‘ hit the epicentre of the contemporary genre-fluid zeitgeist by weaving pop elements reminiscent of Maroon 5’s chart-dominating era with ‘Payphone’ into a foundation of trappy beats.

In ‘Think 2 Much’, the lyrics paint a chaotic whirlwind of thoughts induced by an overwhelming crush, offering listeners a sticky-sweet vignette of emotional turmoil. This perennial earworm doesn’t just narrate; it plunges you into the heart of melodious obsession where there’s no escaping the razor-sharp hooks which are embedded within the quintessential soul of RnB.

The slick production ensures that the beat remains too addictive for just one listen, and the same goes for Goodfellow’s cheeky, hedonistic charm that permeates the track, resonating through augmented summer-vibe melodies that promise to outlive the season.

For those entangled in the messy throes of romance, here’s your anthem.

Think 2 Much is now available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Jojo and Wo shook up country hip-hop with ‘Beer Money (Champagne Wishes)’ ft Fred Lockett

Posted on 12 September 2024

JoJo and Wo, the self-made sibling duo from Houston, have once again proven their genre-blending mettle with their latest single, Beer Money (Champagne Wishes). It’s a track that hits all the right notes for fans of country hip-hop, with Fred Lockett adding an extra layer of grit to an already unapologetic banger.

If Yelawolf, Kid Rock, Colt Ford, and Lil Nas X are staples in your playlists, you’ll instantly be gripped by the beat in Beer Money, which slams and slaps over acoustic guitars that pull you straight into the soul of the country scene.

The dynamic interplay between JoJo’s fiery, polished vocals and Lockett’s gruff, whiskey-soaked tones gives the track its undeniable edge. It’s impossible not to lose yourself in the rhythmic magnetism of the hit that kicks you into a foot-stomping groove.

JoJo and Wo’s legacy started in Houston, where they discovered their passion at just five years old. With appearances on NBC’s America’s Got Talent and Clash of the Choirs, and performances alongside the likes of Kelly Rowland, Alicia Keys, and The Pussycat Dolls, they’ve proven they were born to be on the big stage.

After signing to Pulse Publishing as songwriters, their global influence skyrocketed, securing placements on major TV shows and penning hits for LMFAO and Flo Rida. Now, with Beer Money (Champagne Wishes), JoJo and Wo are making waves yet again.

Beer Money was officially released on August 24 and is now available on Apple Music.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Mars Playground carried an arsenal of earworm potential in his alt-pop hit, ‘S.O.S.’

Posted on 9 September 2024

Mars Playground, helmed by Chris Dixon, embarked on a bitter-sweet alt-pop exploration of angst and existential rumination with his latest track, “S.O.S.” The South Florida native melded the nostalgic beats of mid-2000s hip-hop with the crisp innovation of modern bedroom pop, set to the pace of hyper-pop while touching the raw nerve of pop-punk to craft a boldly original sonic profile worthy of drawing comparisons to the likes of Dominic Fike and Post Malone.

The icon of genre fusion synthesised trap’s rhythmic dynamism and indie’s subtle introspection to create a masterpiece of modern sound which oozes commercial potential. After initiating with percussive breaks that nod to the likes of Alexisonfire, the song subverts expectations with its euphonic pop aesthetics which envelop an emotional upheaval wrapped in a veneer of sticky-sweet melodies that cling relentlessly to memory.

As Mars Playground continues to chart a course towards critical acclaim, S.O.S. is yet another testament to the resonance of his boldly candid sound. The universal plea for solace amidst chaos sends a lifeline, woven with the threads of his vibrant, varied influences and the unvarnished truths of his journey.

S.O.S. hit the airwaves on August 28th; stream the single on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Def Ember synthesised the future into retro melodies in their expansively fusionistic track, Quiddity

Posted on 27 February 2024

Def Ember’s latest seminal release, ‘Quiddity‘, from their double A-side single established the aural alchemist as a forerunner of genre-obliterating innovation. Released on January 26th, this track is a bold venture into unchartered melodic waters. Known for their genre-fluid approach, the Los Angeles-based artist ensured ‘Quiddity’ stands out with its warm meandering rhythms that guide listeners through a serenely dynamic soundscape.

The track skillfully balances a solid, kicking backbeat with mellifluous synth lines and soulfully arresting guitar licks, creating a mesmerising contrast that you can lose yourself in time after time without any of the magic in the polished production getting lost. While the synths bring a touch of nostalgia, the other layers in this smorgasbord of style push the release into the future.

The layered synthetics add depth and complexity without overwhelming the rhythmic pulses, thanks to the track’s meticulous construction and sci-fi-esque ambience. It’s a track that doesn’t just play to the ears but engages the soul, marking an exciting chapter in the artist’s evolving musical journey.

Stream the latest release from Def Ember on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Rukudzo called time in her fiery pop hit, Big Things

Posted on 6 November 2023

The Hertfordshire, UK singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Rukudzo exhibited what a perfect pop hit should sound like in 2023 with her latest hook-rife and soul-lavished single, Big Things, which allows indie guitars to weave an intricate melodic tapestry across the lush layers of reverb and the Afrobeat rhythms that give the genre-fluid track a solid backbeat.

The sonic ingenuity, which also leaves room for Rukudzo’s signature rock attitude, is only matched by the poignant lyrical message which unravels as a fiery vignette of a depiction of the necessity of knowing when to be forbearing in a relationship and when to draw the line and call time.

In every conceivable way, Rukudzo made an unforgettable impression with Big Things. You’ll be humming the melody for days and revelling in the introspection for even longer.

Big Things will drop on November 3rd, stream it on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Jasno sharpened his hooks for his ethereal alt-pop earworm Runaway

Posted on 31 October 2023

Sink your senses into the latest synthesis of trap, dream pop, synthwave and indie rock from the Michigan-hailing genre-bending evocateur, Jasno, whose experimentalism knows fewer bounds than his talents in creating texturally sublime modernist masterpieces.

With a song structure which keeps the level of scintillation visceral through a never-ending barrage of aural curveballs to emanate the same progressively exhilarant air as the most infectious tracks from Mumford and Sons, the artist who keeps his sound fresh with each new release has exactly what it takes to go far in the industry which increasingly favours genre-fluid and stylistically uninhibited orchestrations.

If the instrumentals which are all self-recorded and produced by the artist’s fair hand aren’t enough to reel you in hook, line, and sinker, the clever confessionalism and candour will drag you into the candied gravity of Runaway.

Runaway dropped on September 15; stream it on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Jaeya poured the perfect sonic summer cocktail in her genre-fluid hit, 510

Posted on 9 September 2023

Taken from her seminal retrowave hip-hop EP, BAYANI, the up-and-coming artist, Jaeya’s slick with sublime style standout single, 510, is a melodic cruise through ingenuity and gripping grooves that will hold your rhythmic pulses like a vice.

Her sun-kissed amalgamation of RnB pop vox and tropic hip-hop beats unravels as the perfect sonic summer cocktail that you can savour time after time to devour her witty wordplay and the introspection that allows her bars to hit so resonantly hard.

Even at a young age, the Bay Area Filipinx artist’s creativity knows relatively few bounds; she’s made herself known in Cali and beyond for her songwriting and emcee skills. Her debut EP flawlessly exhibits her cultural contribution to the music industry, and her ability to fuse urban genres until they’re an intoxicating pool of refreshingly curve-transcending bliss.

Stream 510 on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Spotlight Feature: Luminary Lyricist J. Matthews is set to unveil his debut coming-of-age EP, Courage

Posted on 3 March 2023
J. Matthews

After a phenomenally hooky alt-pop debut, Connecticut’s sharpest lyrical narrator, J. Matthews, will release his debut EP, Courage, on March 3rd.

If All the Small Things by Blink-182 reserves a special place in your soul, you will need to make room for the opening single, Courage for Fools. It abstracts the punky bite and implants sticky-sweet melodies comprised of innocently hesitant romantic lines, euphoric beats and buzzing synths.

Wanderlust is a dreamily honeyed indie-pop masterpiece which brings the titular allusion aurally to life. Jack Kerouac would have been enamoured by the restlessly adventurous soul, spurred on by a lust for life.

For You toys around with 80s-ESQUE nostalgia before bringing the indie-pop polaroid of affectionate intoxication into the modernist realm with the poetic lyrical lines that tie together the seamless shifts between indie, electro, and future pop.

Nothing to Fear, which traverses personal growth in an infectiously gratified style, is a resonantly impactful conclusion to the EP that is sure to see the singer-songwriter go far in his career.

It is only a matter of time before the songwriting accolades start cascading upon J. Matthews. His razor-sharp lyrical hooks coalesce with the ensnaring immersivity within his melodies, making each track a soul-awakening hit of sonic ecstasy.

J. Matthews Said:

“My Courage EP carries the weight of my experience, starting as an insecure college kid and growing into confidence. From figuring out love and life in Courage for Fools to the narration of lockdown stagnation and fear of missing out in Wanderlust. For You is a love song, through and through, capturing the serendipity when your idealised partner manifests as though they appeared from the production line in your own mind.

The concluding single, Nothing to Fear, celebrates the freedom of a new-found perspective, such as the one you gain from returning to your hometown after college when you find pride in your scars because, without them, you would have never become better than you were before.”

Courage will be available to stream in full on Spotify and SoundCloud from March 3rd.

Connect with J. Matthews via Facebook.

Review by Amelia Vandergast