Browsing Tag

LA Pop

Max Rae proves she’s the total pop package with the massive production in her latest single, March

Posted on 1 April 2022
Max Rae

The LA and Las Vegas quickly-ascending pop sensation, Max Rae, is set to send even more riptides through the industry with her latest stormer of an EDM pop anthem, March, which shares infectiously emboldened perspectives on individuality.

Based on March, and the scorching hot singles before it, Max Rae is the epitome of the triple pop threat. Her vocals that find strength through authentic expression, her hooky lyrics that prove her credibility as a stellar songwriter and the massive production are just three of the facets of her talent that secured her place in the future’s pop charts. That is before you consider Max Rae’s dance skills that she has been honing in on since the age of 3.

You can check out Max Rae via her official website, Spotify and Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

December Fades has released his ornately anticipatory pop single, Waiting

Posted on 11 February 2022

It is always a pleasure to discover an artist that has broken through their fear of expressive vulnerability, and few do it with as much panache as December Fades in his latest single, Waiting. The LA singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist always leaves us guessing what form of pop alchemy will follow the last. Waiting is an ornately passionate score of synths, keys and other ambiently minimal effects that serve as the platform for his effortlessly outreaching vocals.

Lyrically, the single goes so far past the old adage of anything worth having is worth waiting for. Waiting is a stunning reminder that life can’t always be in motion; waiting is just a part of the human experience as another verb.

Waiting will officially release on February 11th. You can check it out for yourselves here.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Nostalgia and neo-classic nuance drive Seven Layer Piano Cakes’ latest emotionally-charged synth-led indie single, Remy

Posted on 2 February 2022
Seven Layer Piano Cakes

From the first deep dive into the sticky-sweet indie magnetism in Seven Layer Piano Cakes’ latest synth-pop single, Remy, we were hooked. If you fused the cool edges of Interpol onto the retro bliss of Grandaddy, the sonic result still wouldn’t be as sweet.

In the infectiously ardent chorus, you’re caught up in a spacey impassioned bop-worthy feat of synth-pop. In the spaces between, you’re arrested by the cuttingly angular indie guitars that blaze around the consistently evolving synths. From playful polyphonic tones to deep grounding notes, the classically trained pianist and harmonically-blessed vocalist plays with them all in the intricate layers of his complex signature sound.

Each new release, Seven Layer Piano Cakes (Justin Hoyt), leaves us even more assured that he is one of the most exciting names to have entered the LA music scene as an independent artist in recent years. His nuanced neo-classic tendencies paired with his ability to make his music as evocative as any of the most revered ‘emo’ artists is a potent combination. With his humbly affectionate charisma, he’s almost the antithesis to every virtuoso that has existed before him. Naturally, we can’t wait to hear what comes next.

Remy will be available to stream from February 4th. It will be available to stream via YouTube, and Spotify.

Follow the artist via Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Embrace the chaos with Aimee Saturne’s alchemically ethereal dark pop single, Edge of the World

Posted on 15 January 2022

Dark pop alchemist, Aimee Saturne, proves that she’s still LA’s supreme in her latest single, Edge of the World, which incorporates her usual sultry air while encapsulating the same sense of trepidation that has been gripping us all a little too hard as of late.

Edge of the World finds an ethereal way to call out to anyone who is feeling trapped on our hell-scape of a planet where we can’t quite escape the unjustness or find an even footing within it.

The single starts with her smoother than smooth vocal timbre atop muted guitars; when the momentum begins to build in the electro-pop hit, there’s a tumultuous nature in spite of the arrestive pull of the moody melodies. Aimee Saturne deserves to be equally as revered as Billie Eilish, St Vincent, and every other pop visionary that is taking the future of pop into their deft hands. With her debut album currently in production, she is definitely one to watch.

Edge of the World is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Tyler Shamy has already released the breakup track of the year with ‘without a trace’

Posted on 13 January 2022

There are few sadder things than watching the co-creator of your memories disappear and become past tense; the up and coming pop sensation, Tyler Shamy, explored just that in his latest artfully crafted electro-pop ballad, without a trace.

Beyond the sonic finesse, it is the sentiment the single was created with that allows it to resonate as breathtaking from the first hit. With its vulnerability, the single calls all those possessive ‘I will never let you go’ pop singles into question as Shamy gives a far less toxic perspective on mourning an amorous loss. The visceral pain is there, but in place of the bitterness, there’s an acknowledgement of the tenderness in the intimacy that once existed. This gravitas-bursting break-up track should be on every coupled-up person’s playlists – just in case. The LA-based artist is evidently one to watch. Whether he’s scoring for TV and film or creating for the airwaves, he always knows how to deliver the maximum evocative effect.

Tyler Shamy’s latest single, without a trace, is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Sarah Proctor has released her essential LGBTQ+ ballad, Tired

Posted on 22 August 2021

In her latest single, ‘Tired’, Sarah Proctor treated her ever-growing fanbase to a stripped-back world-weary piano ballad that evades heteronormative stereotypes and hyper-normalised queer archetypes to paint a depiction of two women in love.

The semi-orchestral ballad carries all of the tenderness of a single by Bill Ryder-Jones, Tom Odell, Daughter and Bon Ivor. As her gentle, profound vocal timbre resonates above the sombrely minimalist keys, the vulnerability almost starts to feel like gravity.

As a queer woman who often feels ostracised by many facets of LGBTQ+ culture, it is beyond refreshing to find a relatable voice, a sincere artist looking to introduce reality onto the airwaves.

Since making her debut in 2020, the UK artist has garnered over 1 million streams on Spotify alone. Fans from all over the globe are drawn to the UK-born, LA-based artist’s intoxicatingly honest take on romanticism away from hyper-sexual toxic narratives.

The official video for Tired premiered on August 20th; you can check it out for yourselves by heading over to YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

LA Luminary Pop Singer-Songwriter Mariah Counts Has Released Her Haunting Single, Nothing

Posted on 3 August 2021

Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Mariah Counts has brought her hauntingly connectable presence to the airwaves once more with her latest single, Nothing. The softly downtempo contemporary electropop ballad is dark in an unexpectedly tender way that will leave you utterly mesmerised from start to finish.

With ethereal effects laced around the acoustic melodies and trip-hop beats, the progressive instrumentals take you for an evocatively tumultuous ride while Mariah Counts’ true-to-voice vocals expressing relatable hollowness that love can cause to linger.

It is easy to see how so many have been left enraptured by the luminary artist who has exactly what it takes to define the future of pop. Counts truly proved how out of trend plastic pop facades are with Nothing. With a 250k-strong fan base, it is only a matter of time before she sheds her up and coming status.

Nothing is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

LA’s Tyler Garrett shines in his latest album ‘Morning Star’.

Posted on 22 June 2021
Tyler Garrett

Emerging electronica singer-songwriter and artist Tyler Garrett has given us a sneak peek of what is to come in his upcoming album, Morning Star, due for release on June 22nd.

The title track is an intoxicatingly up-vibe mash of future bass, hyper pop, RnB and ambient electronica. The LA-hailing artist discernibly brings the energy, but no part of this visceral mix ever feels over facing. The 33-year-old has already discernibly perfected the balance between groove and aural euphoria.

Previously, his popular tracks have racked up over 1-million streams; it is easy to see how Morning Star will follow. He has a unique way of bringing raw intimacy to massive productions. We are sure it will see him go far in 2021 and beyond.

Morning Star will be available to stream, in full via Soundcloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Kubota got experimental with his indie-pop hip hop single, ‘Nothing for Today’

Posted on 2 June 2021
Kubota

LA-born and raised Asian-American artist Kubota found his signature sound in a fusion of hip hop and indie pop, the perfect introduction to his sound is his latest single, Nothing for Today, that captures relatable apathy, productivity guilt and that inescapable feeling of being over faced by reality.

Trappy 808s may feature in Nothing for Today, but, refreshingly, they are far more than the main course percussion-wise. The trap beats work around 8-bit style chiptune electronica to create a bed for Kubota’s endearingly deadpan vocals.

The Pacific Records signed artist is steadily racking up the streams with his prolific rate of new releases. Nothing for Today is just one of the singles released ahead of his upcoming EP that promises to be an evocatively eccentric playlist staple.

Nothing for Today will officially release on June 4th. Check out Kubota via his website or Facebook.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Find your inner strength with Charlie Hay’s piano-pop ballad ‘Truth’

Posted on 29 March 2021

Charlie Hay’s latest single ‘Truth’ is a timely addition to the airwaves, in a time of uncertainty, the semi-orchestral piano pop ballad is an empowering affirmation that any change needs to happen from within.

The lyrics unravel as a series of perception-shifting mantras versed through vocals which carry a touch of Daughter and Adele while the instrumentals boast timeless gravitas.

Truth smashes the misconception that guidance, validation and support are best found externally. It’s a powerful reminder that your mood and outlook on life doesn’t have to depend on the news.

Truth is a stunning single, in every possible way, the efficaciousness of the evocative instrumentals, the meta poetry in the lyrics, and the LA-based Swedish singer-songwriter’s vocals which could easily see her top the charts.

Truth was officially released on March 15th. You can hear it for yourselves via Soundcloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast