Browsing Tag

Pop Duo

Elias Kopp tames the black dog in his melodic pop mental health advocation, Low

Posted on 26 August 2022

Many things in the UK feel absurd right now; you can add Elias Kopp’s underground status to the list of nonsensically baffling things. His latest single, Low, is the epitome of a melancholic melodic masterpiece.

The moody synths and the sweetly lamenting vocal harmonies pull together to make all the mornings you have woken up with the metaphorical black dog beside you fleetingly worth it. As the lyrics yearn for serotonin, Low ironically delivers.

The Brighton, UK-based artist remains committed to proving to people struggling with mental health that they’re not in the minority and that it is possible to come out the other side stronger. From an artist with a fraction less finesse in their sound, that may come across as a little cliché, but Kopp’s sound is always soaked in sincerity. With an album in the pipeline, there has never been a better time to save space on your radar.

Low is now available to stream on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

UK indie pop duo ISYLA has unveiled their consciousness-driven cinematic single, Pretty Lies

Posted on 30 April 2022

The UK’s most promising pop duo, ISYLA (Lizzie Freeborn & Woodburn) has further staked their claim with the release of their latest dynamically cinematic single, Pretty Lies.

There is a touch of Nadine Shah’s Kitchen Sink to the jazz-tinged prelude, but ISYLA soon breezed into their ethereal own through the breathy vocals, flamenco guitars and arresting lyricism. “I live and let live but what if a choice takes a life” may just be the most perfect lyric I’ll hear this year. Yet, that’s just a splinter of the refreshing consciousness carried by the duo that formed in 2020 as a musical response to the climate crisis.

Since making their debut, they have featured on BBC Introducing, Music Declares Emergency, and the Consciousness Festival. Their selfless sense of holistic interconnectedness makes every soundscape they touch resound with a rare sense soul that is enough to make everything else on the airwaves feel superficial.

Pretty Lies is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Super Love showed us the light side of ‘The Moon’ in their latest 80s-inspired polyphonic alt-pop single.

Posted on 15 April 2022

Here with another slice of polyphonic 80s alt-pop nostalgia is the indie power couple Super Love; their synergy and chemistry more than translated in ‘The Moon’.

Oscar Wilde may have created the old gutters and stars adage, but why get your interstellar bliss from anyone else but someone already living it? Metaphorically speaking, of course, but you get the gist.

Despite the instrumental minimalism, The Moon is radiant under the polyphonic keys, the low and almost dreamy basslines and vocals that effortlessly exude a Blondie-level of cool while wrestling with sticky-sweet lyricism.

The Moon will officially release on April 15th; you can check it out for yourselves via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The British-Swedish pop duo Small Changes illuminated the airwaves with their latest single, The Sun

Posted on 1 February 2022

Few female pop duos can rival the soulfully powerful British-Swedish duo, Small Changes, especially on the basis of their latest single, The Sun, which creates parables between the warmth of the spiciest planet in our solar system and the cosy affection in human connection.

Their life-affirming and perception brightening single was a charity release to raise money for MIND. Yet, it is safe to say that Lina Nilsson and Elisabeth O’Connor did their part for the advocacy of mental health through writing the single alone. Notably, with their meaningful lyricism, immense vocal talent and spiritually awakening instrumentals, they are one to watch. They’re already receiving plaudits from up high from BBC Introducing and gracing notable venues, such as The O2 Academy Islington, Notting Hill Arts Club and Under the Bridge.

You can check out The Sun for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Indie folk-pop duo The Graes have released their 80s-inspired earworm Figure it Out.

Posted on 10 October 2021

If you can’t get enough hits of nostalgia recently, hit play on The Graes 80s pop-rock banger, Figure it Out. If Boyz II Men made their debut in the contemporary indie-pop era, we’re fairly convinced their tracks would unravel as eclectically and harmonically as Figure it Out.

With sticky-sweet lyrics such as “I know we’ve got issues, but I like them too”, The husband and wife folk-pop duo brought realism into the romantic narrative without ever bursting the affectionate bubble. At this point, we shouldn’t need to tell you that the single comes charged with commercial and earworm potential. If any song is going to convince you to accept your other half’s idiosyncrasies, it’s this infectiously honest release.

Figure it Out officially released on 22nd October 2021; you can check it out for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

UK urban pop duo Rara Loud have made an anthemic comeback with Forever Love.

Posted on 5 October 2021

The trailblazing urban pop duo monikered Rara Loud have made an anthemic comeback with their bass-dubbed, orchestrally infused hit, Forever Love.

The British duo consistently strives for authenticity; through Forever Love, they discernibly delivered. Their floor-filler consistently twists and turns around the progressive bass lines while their contrastingly magnetic personalities flood the mix with high vibes that are nothing short of infectious. Do your serotonin levels a favour and hit play.

The official music video for Forever Love launched on September 24th; you can check it out for yourselves on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

MG II – Sorry for the Love: A Debut of Emotion-Driven Indie Pop

Posted on 29 April 2020

Twin duo MG II has just released their emotion-driven Indie Pop hit “Sorry for the Love”. The sweetly melodic number perfectly captures that inconsolable feeling when you become apologetic for loving someone. The lyrical inspiration for the downtempo soulful hit may have been melancholic, but the light shimmering tonnes ultimately make Sorry for the Love an uplifting track to slip into.

There’s a beautiful humility and honesty in Sorry for the Love. Which, if we’re all being honest, we can probably relate to. MG II’s ability to convey raw visceral emotion is a testament to their talent. You’ll definitely want them on your radar as there’s currently an EP in the works to follow on from their sensationally unforgettable debut single

Sorry for the Love is now available to stream via all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast