Browsing Tag

Lorde

Empara Mi Tears Into the Fabric of Grief with ‘I Can’t’

Posted on 22 February 2025

Empara Mi has long been a voice that defies convention, and her latest single, I Can’t, is no exception. As the first chapter of her forthcoming album, Monsters & Masochists, this heartbreak-laden anthem traces the contours of loss and lets them bleed into every note. With lyrics that seem to be torn from the pages of premonition, Empara Mi wrote I before experiencing the very devastation she feared, turning this track into a cruel case of life mirroring art.

Proving how frivolously the word ethereal is thrown around, Empara Mi’s vocal delivery is as otherworldly as it is gut-wrenching. The sombre introspection quivers through each aching vibrato harmony, carried by a sparse yet cinematic arrangement that makes every moment linger in the silence.

In parts, the instrumentation strips itself to the bare iridescent bones of reverb bleeding from a lone synth note, yet nothing is left hollow—this is a masterclass in knowing when to hold back and when to let the weight of emotion fracture through.

From one soul to another, I Can’t is a reflection of alienation, a meditation on grief that deepens in resonance with every discordant beat.

I Can’t is out now on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify, setting the stage for what promises to be Empara Mi’s boldest and most vulnerable era yet.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Bella Gate usurped Lorde in her introspectively arcane piano-driven indie ballad, The Death of an Icon

Posted on 18 September 2024

Bella Gate has ushered in her debut album ‘Gateway‘; a sonic anthology that promises an introspective journey mirrored in its poignant title. At 23, the London-based evocateur has evolved from a child prodigy to an artist with a mature, resonant voice, chronicling her odyssey from adolescence to adulthood with lyrical sincerity and a rich sonic palette.

‘The Death of an Icon’, an iridescent highlight from the album, offers a narrative steeped in personal revelation and artistic struggle. This single, draped in folk nuances and anchored by an ornate piano arrangement, gazes into the torment of an agoraphobic, creatively stifled protagonist. Whether reflecting Bella’s past selves or purely fictive, the track’s emotional gravity is undeniable.

Produced remotely by Jordan Round and polished by Geoff Pesche at Abbey Road, ‘Gateway’ spans a spectrum from balladic solemnity to buoyant folk, all the while maintaining an emotive coherence which eschews conventional hooks for lyrical imagery which pierces the soul and haunts long after the last note fades.

Forget Lorde, Bella Gate is reigning supreme in the sphere of introspectively stylised indie ballads.

Stream Bella Gate’s debut LP, Gateway, on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Chelsea Silva delivered the ultimate exposition on tentative anxiety with her canderous alt-indie-pop single, frontline

Posted on 31 January 2023
Chelsea Silva

After the Australian alt-pop singer-songwriter, Chelsea Silva ensnared us with her devilishly quirky 2022 single, Hades Has a Daughter, she’s shown us an equally disarming new side to her cogent talent with ‘frontline’.

With 70s folk pop tones behind her soft indie pop vocals in the intro which build into scintillating reminiscences to the likes of Lorde while sharing the same command of dark and gothic vocal ranges as Evanescent and Nightwish while never losing the stylish pop edges, frontline is definitively a triumph.

Silva set the lyrical bar high with her former releases. She transcended it with elevated grace in frontline. Exuding a tentative sense of disquiet uncertainty that grips us all while we attempt to work around anxiety and the landmines that our disparate society leaves us, only a sociopath would fail to get on the same page as Silva and resonate with every soul-shivering line.

Frontline will officially release on January 31st. Hear it on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Georgia Jones digs through ‘Ruins’ in her melancholically cold debut pop track

Posted on 24 August 2022

Contrasting the warm climate that she hails from, the 23-year-old Australian singer-songwriter, Georgia Jones, unleashed a sombrely cold serenade with her debut single, Ruins.

With a penchant for poetry and influences from Taylor Swift, Lorde, Bon Ivor and Billie Eilish, Georgia Jones found her signature somewhere in between her inspirational artists. From the bruisingly raw lyricism of Eilish, the tender melodicism of Bon Ivor and the stylishly melancholic edge of Lorde, Ruins serves as a candidly contemporary introduction to the artist, who frequently traverses fear as the prevalent theme in her music. Considering that there’s little else but fear in the atmosphere these days, you would struggle to find a more timely release.

As far as pop debuts go, Georgia Jones left nothing to be desired – apart from the sophomore single.

Ruins was officially released on August 12th; stream it on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Fair Verona roll their cigarettes with ‘Starlight’ in their latest evocative alt indie pop single.

Posted on 26 July 2022

‘Starlight’ is the latest sorrowfully ornate single from the Charlottesville, Virginia-hailing up-and-coming alt-pop duo, Fair Verona. In a sea of Phoebe Bridgers, Angel Olsen, Daughter and Lorde assimilators, Fair Verona gracefully went against the tide in their raw candour led soundscape.

While the lyrics bite into your sense of empathy, delicate piano keys and the twilight textures envelop you in their efficacious ethereal catharsis. It is impossible not to take on the emotional weight of the single. Unless you are a complete sociopath, in which case, I pity your immunity to the lush spacey blows hammered home by Mickey Vaughan’s evocatively glistening vocal timbre.

Check out the alternative mix of Starlight by heading over to YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Amela is the epitome of individuality while advocating it in her hook-decorated pop hit, Who You Are

Posted on 11 July 2022
https://soundcloud.com/amelamusic/who-you-are/s-3VatgJQOYAa?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

With ample resonance to the structure of Lorde’s hit, Royal, there is no denying that Amela’s latest single, Who You Are, has the earworm factor nestled into the contemporary production.

Beyond the catchy pop vocal hooks, there’s a sticky-sweet celebration of autonomous freedom around the feisty and moody electro instrumentals that give the track enough of an edge to ensure it etches itself into your synapses and demands repeat attention.

There’s nothing more irritating than pop artists that encourage individuality while presenting themselves as fresh from the cookie-cutter stars. With Amela, she leads by infectiously quirky example. The Australian singer-songwriter has blown up across her home continent, but clearly, her sound carries all of the hallmarks of an internationally successful artist. We can’t wait to see her climb the charts.

Who You Are will officially release on July 8th. You can check it out for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud or Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Hannah Harper Whets Audiences Appetite

Posted on 17 November 2017

London based Hannah Harper seems to make music which wonderfully captures the city that she is based in. It is at once artistic and slick, pushes pop music into quirky, staccato dance realms, feels wonderfully urban, uptown, classy and shimmers with the pace and edgy energy of the city around her. At a time when pop music seems to have hit a formulaic, production line creative process, where most are content only to make music in the mould of what has already been successful, Hannah’s debut single marks a fascinating departure.

Already picked up by BBC movers and shakers, Appetite is the sound of things moving on, of barriers being pushed aside of new paths being beaten through previously unexplored territory. But the clever thing is that whilst offering something new, it isn’t too radical either. The beats and the structures are still familiar it is just the way they are put together is intriguing. It is, in fact, the best of both worlds, a new sound but one for which there is already a captive audience via popular radio and clubland playlists. It is safe to say that the evolution of pop music just took a very big stride forward.



Listen To “Bloodline” By S.O.S – A Strong And Cool Electro-Pop Masterpiece

Posted on 1 November 2017

S.O.S is the creation of Anglo-Maltese singer, songwriter and producer Sophie Debattista, who is working hard and making lasting impressions in the music industry with her quirky electro-pop sound. Upon first listening to “Bloodline” it is evident that this song is very well crafted with strong songwriting skills and performed with conviction and a solid artistic vision. As the chorus unfolds it is clear that this song is a hit and an evident reflection of S.O.S’ ability to mould a unique sound.

Amongst the several factors which make this song great is primarily the melodic aspect which features angular embellishments on syllables as well as smooth underlying vocal carpet which creates contrast and further interest. Apart from this, the electro-pop instrumental arrangement also complements the angular melodic embellishments with sweeping sounds, crisp beats and a well developed texture which leaves space for the vocals to shine above everything else. With intelligently crafted lyrics focusing on our humanity’s ability to work together as one bloodline, this song not only presents a great message but also showcases great musicality and songwriting skills, definitely making S.O.S an artist to look out for.

-Sarah Marie Bugeja

Anja Kotar’s first single from her forthcoming album ‘NOMAD’

Posted on 14 July 2017

Anja Kotar’s first single from her forthcoming album NOMAD deals with a perennial issue, the one at the heart of young lives across the globe, the one that determines the hierarchy of all our formative years, the issue flagged up in the title, the issue of How To Be Cool. Not that she needs to worry as the song itself is one of the coolest things to happen in pop for a long time and is all the better for the attitude that drives it. For this track isn’t acting as some sort of blueprint, a fast track to popularity, far from it. Rather it questions the whole notion of what being cool is and why you would even subscribe to such an idea in the first place.

A wonderful irony lies in the fact that whilst raising that question, she has blended some eighties vibes, contemporary lyricism and forward thinking dance grooves into the coolest of tunes and the perfect calling card for NOMAD, her musical exploration of the pressures of today’s generation growing up in America. The album is full of infectious tunes and though provoking ideas and unintentionally begs a whole different question. Why be cool when you can be smart?

http://www.anjakotar.com/

Words: Dave Franklin

A&R Factory Present: The Sunset Kids

Posted on 5 February 2017
https://youtu.be/3aPcN9Cr6FY

The Sunset Kids are a unique Canadian Electro Folk/Dream pop music duo created in early 2013 by Josh Palmer (Guitar, Synths, Vocals) and Ally-V (Synths, Vocals). . Beyond providing energetic performances throughout the country, they share their enthusiasm and passion for music and film. Nominated for best Independent Music Video at the 2016 HMMA’s ( Hollywood Music in Media Awards). Their merits as artists also extend internationally, all their main official videos have been produced in California in collaboration with videographers and other crew members from the TV series Breaking Bad.

Ally V , grew in post Soviet /post Berlin wall Siberia, with no money and political unrest for years. She later immigrated to Saskatchewan Canada and her cinematic eye and musical ears were inspired by her journey to Canada. Her other worldly experiences bring a uniqueness to the Sunset Kids music and videos that’s all their own. The Kids make exciting Electro Folk music and also Cinematic music videos  and short films. For their live show they combine this cinematic eye for a multimedia experience with video projection.

The Sunset Kids have become well known for implementing visual art during their performances.  This comes in the form of original videos that capture the attention of their audience by mimicking the essence and mood of their music. To date, The Sunset Kids have played nearly 100 shows, including local, national, and international venues. The Sunset kids are heavily influenced by the New-Wave and Synthesized Sounds of the 80’s and folk pop of today. Their music represents a blend of many genres, from folk to synth electronic and indie.

Other than the most recent Music Video Nomination, one of their exciting milestone was the release of their first EP Seventh Sky on March 23, 2014 in front of a Los Angeles audience at the famous and Historic, House of Blues HOB on Sunset BLVD. Thanks to the overwhelming crowd response.  In fact one of the last performances their before the legendary club closed down.

Find out more here