Browsing Tag

LA Pop

Pop Culture’s Powder Keg: Maeve Riley Lights the Fuse with her EDM Pop Anthem, ‘Oops’

Posted on 11 April 2025
Maeve Riley

After a year where pop icons have openly paraded the imperfect and the unruly, Maeve Riley set the dancefloor on fire with Oops—a decadent pop explosion that anthemises digressions with no intention of cleaning up the mess. From the first hit of the tropic house kicks and 80s polyphonic motifs, Riley slams the accelerator on sonic excess, riding a disco groove fuelled by one of the rawest rock riffs ever dropped into a pop production.

The hedonism only intensifies around Riley’s meteorically magnetic vocal lines, which invite you to shed shame, strip away your inhibitions, and groove to the realisation that few things in life are as pristine as idealism, so get lit to the rapture of chaos. Every beat is a rebellion, every lyric a permission slip to abandon composure in the name of unapologetic pleasure.

Born in Rancho Cucamonga and now entrenched in LA’s music circuit, Riley sharpened her performance edge at UCLA’s School of Theatre, Film, and Television before becoming a fixture in the entertainment world. With 200K+ followers across TikTok and Instagram, she’s turned visibility into credibility without sacrificing authenticity.

Connect with Maeve Riley on Instagram and TikTok and wait for the drop of what will undoubtedly become one of the hottest tracks of the summer.

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

Kendra Erika let her beats talk rhythmic anatomy in her latest EDM Pop earworm, Body Language

Posted on 30 November 2024

Kendra Erika’s latest hit ‘Body Language’ is a monumental dance-pop anthem that could easily hold its own among the illustrious hits of Dua Lipa and Calvin Harris. With its kinetic euphoria pulsing through every beat, this track is a masterclass in rhythmic anatomy.

The music escalates from shimmering disco-pop crescendos to deep, heart-thumping drops, creating vortexes of ecstasy as Erika’s harmonies weave through the meticulously polished layers of the track, binding seductive hooks with a vibrancy that resonates deep within the psyche.

The success of ‘Body Language’ is evidenced by its ascent to the number two spot on the iTunes Chart and the virality of its accompanying music video, which has amassed over a million views on YouTube. This achievement is punctuated by its rotation on MTV’s “Spankin’ New” Music Video Show, signalling Erika’s undeniable impact on the EDM scene.

Further solidifying her influence, Kendra Erika has secured a distribution deal with KDM Music, expanding her reach across 19 Asian territories. Collaborations with industry heavyweights like Ellis Miah, Marvin Buessau, and the GRAMMY-nominated DJ StoneBridge, who remixed the track, underscore her pivotal role in shaping the dance music landscape.

Body Language is now available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Experience the intimate opulence of Jonathan Thomas Maiocco’s cinematic pop ‘Heaven’

Posted on 14 May 2024

Jonathan Thomas Maiocco’s latest single, Heaven, is a cinematic pop production far too arcane to dissect; each element converges and creates a divine intervention of vulnerability, exhibited with aching sincerity, thematic intensity, and profound artistry.

The distinction within his harmonic inflections, his ability to come across as the virtuoso next door and the progressive ingenuity of Heaven ensures the single reaches the epitome of striking an emotional chord.

Using the afterlife as a parable for the degree of separation following the dissolution of a relationship that leaves you feeling beneath your former significant other is a striking ode to the artist’s ability to tune into meta phenomena to bring profound meaning to the most tormenting aspects of our mortal coil.

Heaven is the ultimate paradox for the way Jonathan Thomas Maiocco fuses chamber pop opulence and drama with the intimacy of introspection with neither aspect diminished by the gravity of the other. The Atlanta-born singer, songwriter and producer’s strong foundation in music composition evidently culminated in this expansive tour de force.

He’s come a long way from his Christian music beginnings to producing for the Grammy-Award-winning artist for KING & COUNTRY to releasing his debut in 2019. After moving to LA in 2020, Jonathan Thomas Maiocco has written for hit Netflix and ABC shows, including Russian Doll and Carol and the End of the World. Yet, if you tune into his new album, Religious Trauma Syndrome, you’ll find that’s his biggest achievement so far. It’s stunning enough to simultaneously tear your soul apart and lead you to nirvana.

Heaven was officially released on the 29th of April; stream the single on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Lana Oniel reached the pinnacle of cerebral electro-pop with her darkly ensnaring sophomore single, hypothalamus

Posted on 14 November 2023

After finding her fire in the City of Angels, Lana Oniel put the devil on her shoulder to release her darkly ensnaring sophomore single, hypothalamus, which reaches the pinnacle of cerebral electro-pop.

The moodily spectral release seductively defies the pop mould with a vocal delivery which finds a way to stylise histrionic eccentricity and a beat that consistently switches, never allowing you to feel complacent in the aesthetic. hypothalamus wasn’t orchestrated to entice you into comfort; Oniel efficaciously used her early years in musical theatre to confront her rapidly growing audience with an earworm which makes no bones about using its claws to sink into your synapses.

If you can imagine meeting Lady Gaga in a dark and nefarious dream soundtracked by Melleefresh and Chelsea Wolfe, you’ll get an idea of what awaits when you delve into this perfect follow-up to Oniel’s debut, Hard Just to Be.

Hypothalamus was officially released on November 2nd. Stream it on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Skinny G Radio’s latest hit ‘Whatcha Gonna Do?’ is a euphoric indie earworm worth tuning in for.

Posted on 10 November 2023

Skinny G Radio rode their authentic indie pop signature across the cosmos in the latest exuberantly sweet hit, Whatcha Gonna Do? The sugared-with-uninhibited passion vocal lines run in parallel to the experimental instrumentals which dabble in 80s new wave nostalgia while carrying the histrionic flair of a polyphonic pop opera. It is impossible not to get swept up by the soul in this loved-up hit that is potent enough to give even the most melancholic nihilists lust for life.

By taking influence from Billy Joel, Mark Ronson, and John Mayer and always staying true to his own rapturously distinctive style, the Connecticut-born & raised LA-based songwriter, producer, and performer is an unforgettable indie pop icon who is set to make major waves with the release of his sophomore LP, The Heightening, which is due for release in 2024. Whatcha Gonna Do is just a taste of what the rest of the presumably infectiously hook-y album will deliver.

Whatcha Gonna Do is due for release on November 10th; stream it on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Riley Rex took her staunch fanbase to ‘The Shadowy Place’ in her hyper-pop Halloween floor-filler

Posted on 6 October 2023

The dance-pop icon Riley Rex asserted her claim to the LA pop crown with her infectiously flawless Halloween hit, The Shadowy Place. It may just be the biggest Halloween hit since Kernkraft 400 delivered Zombie Nation in 1999. It at least stands up to the debauched decadence in Emerge by Fischerspooner while incorporating the contemporary magnetism of Dua Lipa, Ava Max, and Charli XCX.

By contrasting the dark lyrical themes with the hypersonic textures and upbeat pace in the polished production, Rex extended euphoria to those who need it most with The Shadowy Place, which breaks EDM pop boundaries in definitively sensuous style.

The single, which was written while she was enrolled on a course with One Republic’s Ryan Tedder, is a narration of the escapist ideation which consumes you when you’re stuck in a pit of anxiety and depression. The bass-driven electro-pop hit may not have what it takes to cure mental illness, but you couldn’t ask for a more potent sonic serotonin source.

The Shadowy Place hit the airwaves on October 6; stream it on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Ines Belayouni delivered a hit of pure wanton decadence with ‘Attention’

Posted on 20 September 2023

In her two-year stint away from the airwaves after dropping her debut single, The Way You Make Me Feel, in 2021, Ines Belayouni has been hard at work honing her sound into one that stirs the soul, mesmerises rhythmic pulses and epitomises the phenomenon of the perennial pop earworm.

With her latest single, Attention, the Tunisian LA-residing singer who has been ingrained in the arts from a young age and has dominated the live circuit in jazz and pop circles, unveiled a fusionist masterpiece which transcends genres and era hallmarks to deliver a hit of pure wanton decadence.

Even though we can all relate to the innate desire for attention, it took a brave artist with a sublimely soulful vocal register to turn the trait into a sonic experience of pure empowered seduction. Ines Belayouni invigorated the smooth 80s RnB pop motifs that proliferate the synthetics of the track to an addictively infectious degree. It is only a matter of time before she moves from criminally underrated to critically acclaimed. Be part of her ascent from the underground.

Attention is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

LA’s most harmonic pop-rock pioneer, Johnathan Dax, evoked mindfulness in his latest single, These Are the Days

Posted on 17 August 2023

Johnathan Dax spun the ’60s psych-pop tones through a spacy, future-ready kaleidoscope to orchestrate his odyssey of a single, These Are the Days.

The single efficaciously finds a poignantly compelling way to prove that these times may not be perfect, but on this point on the space-time continuum, they’re all we have, and they were made for living in.

Our era may be choked with a wanton lust for nostalgia, but if any spacey pop-rock sonic universe can bring you back to the present and give you lust for contemporary life, it’s These Are the Days, which picks up momentum through rock licks toward the outro, while emanating the liberating transcendence of an ELO epic.

These Are the Days will be available to stream from the 17th of August; hear it on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

ARO’s fierce femme aesthetic picked up luscious vehemence in her moody synth-pop single, Let Me Go

Posted on 28 July 2023
ARO

The LA-hailing singer-songwriter ARO singlehandedly defined the future of pop with her debut evocative synth masterpiece, Let Me Go.

With far more soul than your average earworm and her sonic signature scribing distinction through every succinct progression, this emotionally heated hit is the ultimate moody moving-on anthem.

By painting with light and dark tones, the process of coming into your own away from what no longer serves you was euphonically visualised in Let Me Go. With just as much lyrical depth as Mitski and Louise Dacus paired with an electro-pop score that cushions the blows of the sharp lyricism with lush reverb, it is only a matter of time before ARO is considered LA pop royalty.

“So much of my art is about giving the darker parts of myself a platform. There are these aspects of myself that cannot be tamed, and so instead of beating my head against a wall trying to control them I’ve found that my art allows me to be in relationship with them. When I write I’m not butting in to tell them how they should be, I’m not trying to get them to behave, or do better, or have a positive outlook, I’m just letting that part of me speak freely. And I learn a lot about myself through this process.”

Check out Let Me Go on all major streaming platforms from July 28, or hit ARO’s official website for more info.

Review by Amelia Vandergast