Browsing Tag

NYC Pop

Ian McFarland Used Pop Punk to Augment Optimism in His Latest Single, You Are So Loved

Posted on 18 April 2025

If there’s any justice left in indie’s distorted underbelly, Ian McFarland will be recognised as the artist who gave serotonin back to pop-punk. The Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter has already earned a presence across regional charts and NYC live haunts, but You Are So Loved deserves to break much further beyond.

Following a sticky-sweet synth-pop intro, the single throws the genre right back to the golden era of visceral expression with its pop-punk crescendo of unfiltered optimism. But the stylistic transgressions don’t end there. Jangly new wave indie-pop nestles into the volition of the punk-tinged foundations, allowing McFarland to exhibit one of the most distinctive sonic signatures we’ve heard this year.

It’s not just the sound design that makes You Are So Loved cut through the cynicism often used as a crutch in alt scenes. McFarland weaponises sincerity as if it’s a subversive act. There’s bravery in broadcasting this much raw affection, especially within a genre known for self-deprecation and detached irony. But McFarland knew what he was risking—being written off as cloying or sentimental. He bypasses that pitfall entirely with his unshakable authenticity.

Born from a need to pull joy from bleakness, You Are So Loved is an adrenaline shot of altruism for anyone who needs to remember that the world can still look beautiful through a cracked lens.

You Are So Loved is now available to stream on all major platforms, including YouTube. 

Review by Amelia Vandergast.

Perenna King Fires Shots at the Elite with ‘Billionaire’

Posted on 21 March 2025

Perenna King isn’t here to play nice with the 1%. Billionaire is a slick, sultry rejection of the pop mould, drenched in bass-heavy afrobeat rhythms that instantly set the NYC singer-songwriter apart. With rap verses that cut through with razor-sharp conviction, she delivers a scathing critique of the ultra-wealthy, making it impossible not to get caught up in the hype of this protest anthem.

In a world where Elon Musk is unavoidable and the rich-poor divide stretches further by the day, King amplifies the frustrations of those grinding to get by, only to realise the system was rigged against them from the start. The track doesn’t just highlight the disparity—it vindicates the ones left fighting for scraps while the billionaires hoard power, influence, and entire economies.

Raised on a fusion of classic rock and literature, King has always had a flair for injecting her music with theatrical drama, but Billionaire isn’t just spectacle—it’s a battle cry. Her latest tour de force breathes fresh air into a genre often too cautious to take a stand. The message is as biting as the beat is infectious, proving that resistance isn’t futile.

Billionaire is now available on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Breaking the Sound Barrier: Eleri Ward’s ‘There You Go’ Spiritually Shatters the Monocultural Mould

Posted on 10 January 2025
Eleri Ward

‘There You Go’ by the Chicago-born, NYC-based spiritual seductress of alt-pop, Eleri Ward enmeshes an arcane aura that breaks through the monocultural mould with baroque beguile in a way that makes Björk sound positively pedestrian.

Every second of ‘There You Go’ is a revelation; as you sink into the scintillation, you’ll find yourself in awe of the singer-songwriter’s expansively seraphic octave range and how her harmonies effortlessly complement the transgressions in sound, which shift you into a state of transcendence.

Teasing dark aesthetics into the syncopated alchemy of the indietronica release, she pairs moody etherealism with crystalline embellishments to immerse you into a session of expression that goes beyond sound. In this labyrinthine soundscape, where each texturally electrifying twist offers a new sonic delight, Ward proves her connection to music runs as deep as her lyricism. She’s a convention-challenging phenomenon in her own right, making no pantheon prestigious enough for her to enter.

There You Go will hit all major streaming platforms, including Spotify, on January 10th.

For more information and more ways to connect with Eleri Ward, visit her official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Stella. paid ode to the intricacies of love and loss with his A Study in Balance EP

Posted on 25 June 2024

After hearing the title single from Stella.’s 6-track EP, A Study in Balance, the proverbial bar couldn’t have been set higher. The reflectively visionary composition style established the NYC-born-and-raised singer-songwriter as an artist who lures you into philosophical inquiry while conjuring imagination-sparking imagery with tenderly meditative poetry that could only have been prised from a soul of gold.

The opening single, Dreaming, in which he shares imposter syndrome with God before blurring the lines between mind cinema and reality, is a prime example of his eloquently originated wordplay. Immersing yourself in Stella.’s world is akin to sinking into a Murakami novel; there’s so much written between the lines, you’re submerged in a labyrinth of meta musings,

After opening on an exuberant note with Dreaming where Stella. wears his Paolo Nutini influence on his infectious hooks, the EP takes a more intimate and confessional turn with Something About You, as he softly verses directly to the unspoken name ceaselessly reverberating around his mind. With little more than reverb spilling from keys under his honeyed and honed vocals, the stripped-back rumination efficaciously captures the torment of self-doubt within relationships.

A Study in Balance lifts the mood once more before the EP winds back down with Not Today; a raw nerve rousing release that reaches the epitome of vulnerable candour. Maladies of heartache are laid out as a smorgasbord of emotional atrophy over the downtempo 80s pop chord progressions. Cohen himself couldn’t have written a more striking testament to how much sanctity lies in love.

The only people who won’t find something to adore about Broken Hearts are the ones who paint themselves as perpetual victims. The euphonic score forces you to take accountability for the hurt you’ve inflicted in relationships while swallowing the bitter pill that broken hearts can’t love the same as naively unaffected lovers who show no inhibition when letting down their defences. The EP culminates in Everything, a solemnly sweet vow of unrestrained passion to juxtapose Broken Hearts and give diehard romantics a reason to fall on their sword again.

Capturing the intricate complexities of love, loss and longing within six singles would be an impossible feat for most, and still, Stella. succeeded through a synthesis of sincerity and articulately offbeat artistry.  Even though we’re in an epoch in which the most vapid music rises to the top of the charts, Stella. remains one of the most promising indie artists of 2024.

A Study in Balance was officially released on June 14; stream it in full on Spotify.

Follow Stella. on Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

stella. playfully broached the implausibility of equanimity in love with the twee maturity in ‘A Study in Balance’

Posted on 19 May 2024

If you prefer your indie pop sans filters, facades and pretension, the latest convivial offering from stella.’s upcoming EP, A Study in Balance, raises the bar for confessional candour and introspective expression.

The title single from the breakthrough NYC indie pop artist comes alive through innocently playful piano chord progressions and vocal harmonies which soften the blow of the lyricism which holds no prisoners when confronting the most conflicting aspects of relationship dynamics. By finding an affable way to allude to the implausibility of equanimity within a relationship when too much is never enough until it tips the balance in the other way, stella. released one of the most relatable singles of the year.

Somewhat ironically, the symmetry between twee tendencies and songwriting sophistication within A Study in Balance was right on point; we already can’t wait to hear the lyrical wisdom bestowed within the singles that are still to drop from stella.’s sophomore EP.

A Study in Balance was officially released on May 3rd; stream the single on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Isla de Luca redefined the femme fatale archetype in her provocatively liberating alt-pop hit, I Already Am One

Posted on 16 February 2024
https://soundcloud.com/isladeluca/i-already-am-one/s-2uIRmKUEKZz?si=e1ec91131191412ab7cbbe435a4c3782&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Isla de Luca riotously fucked the gender binary with the launch of her debut alt-pop single, I Already Am One. With the rock licks augmenting the pop hooks and injecting them with adrenaline, the NYC icon staked a serious claim in the pop domain. After ensnaring just about everyone who crosses her on TikTok and Instagram, she’s more than ready to demurely dominate the airwaves with her scintillating synthesis of electronica, pop and rock.

While trad wives are falling over themselves to appease the male gaze as their sole aim in life, Isla de Luca has asserted herself as an indomitable queer pop icon with the refrain “I don’t need a rich man, I already am one”. It’s a subversive twist to die for and to live for. Through her mission to rip up the exploitative tropes around desire and empower others to embrace their provocative power, she stands just as tall as Kathleen Hanna in the feminist landscape.

If you thought femme fatales were all about seduction, feel the vindication cascading from Isla de Luca’s flawlessly electrifying vocal lines and realise the liberation of living as the archetype in their villain era.

For fans of MARINA, Paramore and Sophie, this single isn’t one you want to sleep on.

I Already Am One will be available to stream from February 16. Stream it and follow Isla de Luca on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

NY’s Cindy Rees turned on the ‘Effervescent Light’ in her latest EDM pop release

Posted on 10 February 2024

Cindy Rees’ standout single, ‘Effervescent Light’, is a vibrant testament to the power of healing in music. Clocking in at just under two minutes, this New York-based singer and dancer turns every second into a pulsating celebration of sound and spirit. Rees, who found her voice in the bustling cityscape of NYC, channelled her passion for dance and songwriting into a track that radiates positivity and energy.

The song is a kaleidoscope of genres, seamlessly blending elements of trance and house with pop sensibilities. It’s a bold move, but Rees navigates this eclectic mix with the ease of a seasoned artist. The beats are snappy, creating a rhythmic pulse that forms the backbone of the track. It’s this foundation that allows the rest of the musical elements to shine.

Rees’ Bollywood-esque vocal range is nothing short of phenomenal as she harmonises over the commanding bass-swathed beats. Her voice doesn’t just traverse different pitches; it explores a spectrum of emotions.

With some honing to her production style, she has some serious promise in the music industry.

Effervescent Light was officially released on January 5th; stream the single on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Leah Nawy has unleashed her iconic indie pop rock playlist staple, Friend of Mine

Posted on 3 January 2024

We’ve been obsessed with the NYC pop rock pioneer Leah Nawy ever since sinking into her lusciously groove-pocketed debut single, NUISANCE, which has racked up over 46k streams on Spotify alone since its release in 2023. In the opening verses of her sophomore single, Friend of Mine, the singer-songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist exhibited a softer and more vulnerable side in her confessional release which alludes to how opening yourself up to people is only priming for the scars that will be left when you inevitably part ways.

When there’s little to separate realism and pessimism after life experiences have taught you that optimism is the outlook of the naïve, sentiments which unravel with the same pensive sting as the lyrics in Friend of Mine are inevitable. Yet, by the time the track reaches the midway mark, it transcends into a soulful power ballad before metamorphosising into an indie rock anthem for the disenfranchised but tenacious despite the bruises masses.

By bursting the bubblegum pop bubble with spikes of cultivated indie rock, the melancholy within Friend of Mine adopted a brand-new ferocity as an attestation to how you can reflect on your shortcomings without falling into a trap of self-pity. With a voice as indomitable as Lady Gaga fused with a cutting-edge indie pop rock signature sound, she’s a rare artist whose work merits her being referred to as an icon. We can’t wait to hear what follows.

Friend of Mine was officially released on December 22. Stream it on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Fallyn weaved a cautionary tale into her debut pop track, Love Bomb

Posted on 7 December 2023

Fallyn’s debut single Love Bomb is a masterful blend of nostalgia and modernity, an ethereal journey that bridges the gap between the distinct pop sounds of the 80s and today’s contemporary landscape. The track is a melodious odyssey, laced with dreamy, choral textures that are as captivating as they are introspective.

Love Bomb opens with a celestial ambiance, immediately setting a tone that is both haunting and enchanting. Fallyn’s voice, reminiscent of icons like Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston, carries a delicate power that lures the listener into the intoxicating atmosphere of the single. Her vocal prowess is evident as she navigates through the layers of sound with ease and emotion. The genius lies in the track’s thematic depth. Fallyn delves into the complex phenomenon of love bombs, a manipulative tactic often employed by narcissists at the onset of relationships.

Fallyn and her collaborator, Trenton Michael, skilfully intertwine 80s pop elements with contemporary sounds, creating a track that feels both familiar and fresh with each element, from the ethereal synths to the layered harmonies, meticulously crafted to enhance the overall experience. Notably, she is one to watch.

Love Bomb dropped on December 1st; stream it on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Strange Neighbors grooved to a ‘Quiet Beat’ in their latest power pop single

Posted on 21 August 2023
Quiet Beat - Single by Strange Neighbors

NYC power pop outfit Strange Neighbors gave their vocal melodies all the country twang of an early Taylor Swift record in their latest single, Quiet Beat while allowing their retro sonic aesthetic to strip away the past few decades and safely transplant you into the sanctum of the 90s.

Between Aidan’s vocals and Zach’s guitars, there’s a sticky-sweet brand of alchemy that won’t fail to intoxicate you when the jangly chorus, which reminisces with the tones popularised by the Psychedelic Furs, is in full swing.

Quiet Beat is just one of the meticulously manicured singles crafted by the groove-driven outfit which has been spilling colourful aural euphoria onto the streets of New York City since 2018 by staying committed to their MO of orchestrating earworms you would need a concussion to forget.

Quiet Beat will officially release on September 14th; until then, stream and purchase the single via Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast