Browsing Tag

UK Pop

Amber Prothero shares the secrets to sass with her vibrant soul-pop track, ‘Confident’.

Posted on 5 July 2021

UK-based pop artist Amber Prothero always takes an emotionally multifaceted approach to her lyricism; the best introduction to her confessional lyrical style is her latest single, Confident.

It’s practically a 101 guide on how to exude as much confidence as you will hear in the vibrant pop hit. Prothero’s soulful RnB-tinged vocals will throw you back to the 90s era of pop. While lyrically, you can expect the same introspective grit as found in a track by Lily Allen, Kate Nash or Marina and the Diamonds. The single was created over Zoom in collaboration with the Parisian songwriter and musician Ny Aina Ramangasalama.

With her former releases, Prothero became a BBC Introducing playlist staple; we are sure that Confident will allow her to work her way onto even more A-lists.

Confident released on June 18th; it is now available to stream and download on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

T.I.G.Y. have made an ethereal ambient dream-pop debut with ‘Only Way to Let the Light In’

Posted on 23 June 2021

The UK alt-pop duo T.I.G.Y. have released their ethereal dream pop debut single, Only Way to Let the Light In; the timely release utilises meta poetry to spark a connection amongst listeners battle-scarred by depression and anxiety.

It is singles like this that highlight the trite nature of archetypal-feel good pop that mostly just over faces and alienates the serotonin-deprived. With elements of shoegaze and art-rock weaved into the release that outros on a steady heartbeat, the instrumentals match the consoling nature of the vocals. The steady downbeat rhythms entwine with your rhythmic pulses as Only Way to Let the Light In unfolds; allowing the succinct crescendos to lift you as they tonally soar.

T.I.G.Y.’s moniker came from a diary that had been passed down through Bailey’s family. Since their inception, they have written a collection of songs that became an expression of those diary entries. Only Way to Let the Light In is the first single to be released from their collection of songs that will periodically follow the diary entries.

Only Way to Let the Light In released on June 18th. You can check it out for yourselves via SoundCloud.

Connect with T.I.G.Y. via Facebook and Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Miss Garbo avert archetypes in their latest love song, ‘Every Other Week’.

Posted on 2 June 2021

South London’s soul outfit, Miss Garbo, released their latest single, Every Other Week, on May 21st; the founding members, Louise O’Hara and Andy Chapman have exactly what it takes to become the Sonny & Cher of this generation.

The easy guitar melodies coalesce with the ardent harmonic ebbs and flow from O’Hara’s endlessly mesmerising vocals as they stay true to the storytelling style of folk while incorporating elements of soul-pop.

Every Other Week is dedicated to anyone who has been in a complex romantic situation. Given that Monogamy isn’t a one size fits all kind of affair anymore, it is incredibly refreshing to hear this social paradigm shift reflected honestly in one of the most relatable love songs that you’ll hear this year.

Every Other Week is available to stream and download on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Faith Louise has released her empowering EDM pop anthem, ‘Boss’

Posted on 8 April 2021
Faith Louise

While finding fragments of inner strength is harder than usual, Essex-based singer-songwriter Faith Louise is making up for the shortfall with her upbeat KPop-inspired tracks that pay ode to 90s pop and bring the blazing beats of club anthems.

‘Boss’ is the latest single to be released by the 15-year old performer who could easily teach women twice her age a thing or two about empowerment. The high-vibe track provides hard-hitting bass-riding beats, as the vocals bring a touch of RnB hip hop into the verses, easily paralleling the instrumental energy.

You can check out Faith Louise’s music here.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Leon Seti delivered the ‘Antidote’ with their latest compassionate pop single

Posted on 16 March 2021

With his authentic sound, Leon Seti has graced the iTunes Electronica Chart in Italy and caught the attention of BBC Introducing in the UK. Usually, he’s a one-man-melodic-machine, taking charge of writing, performing and production, but for his latest single, ‘Antidote’, he utilised the arpeggio guitars of guitarist, Francis. It’s safe to say that the collaborative chemistry melancholically blossomed.

Antidote is a stripped-back affair instrumentally, but with Leon Seti’s vocals atop of the minimalist acoustic folk-pop guitars, the single has enough gravity and gravitas to pull you in. Even though there is plenty of reminiscence in the single to Tracy Chapman’s Fast Car, the distinction lies within the realism. It oozes affection yet, Leon Seti kept the lyrics grounded within realism, making it infinitely more resonant than your average pop hit paying ode to an unattainable Hollywood-style romance.

Since making his debut in 2015, the Italy and London-based artist has moved from strength to strength and amassed plenty of type along the way. They may have diverged from their usual sound with Antidote, but this timely release was an all too welcome introduction to Seti’s softer side that will allow the listener to feel braver about baring their own.

Antidote is now available to stream via Spotify.

You can find out more about Leon Seti via his website and Facebook.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Maddison Skies instilled even more assured positivity on the airwaves with their pop-rock sophomore single ‘Fireworks’

Posted on 9 March 2021

There was no forgetting British pop group, Maddison Skies after hearing their inspiringly optimistic debut single, ‘To the Moon and Back’. Their sophomore single, ‘Fireworks’ hit the airwaves in February 2021, instilling even more assured positivity on the airwaves.

This time, they’ve moved away from the perfect pop formula to incorporate elements of indie rock into the electro-pop hit which boasts a slightly 90s pop feel, but when the guitar solo starts blazoning through the track, Fireworks becomes anything but assimilative.

With another track in the pipeline, it is definitely time to start paying attention to the UK-based trio.

Fireworks is now available to stream via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Seb Turner-Moore proves the evocative potential of dance pop with ‘Another Love’

Posted on 9 March 2021

Prepare for your dance pop preconceptions to be obliterated by teenage singer-songwriter, Seb Turner-Moore’s latest entrancingly melodic single ‘Another Love’ which proves that earworms can have just as much evocative potential as classic ballads.

The perfect pop formula was definitely found when Seb Turner-Moore penned Another Love which may remind you of pop from previous eras, but the essence of the energetic track is futuristic feel from the sheer pioneering distinction.

At just 18-years-old, the East Sussex-based artist discernibly has what it takes to take 21st-century pop to resounding new heights. They may say that through age comes experience, but the proverbial ‘they’ would probably also agree that Seb Turner-Moore is a natural born talent.

Another Love is available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Faith Louise – What I Need: K-Pop-tinged 90s Dance Pop

Posted on 27 February 2021
Faith Louise

When you’re fifteen and already produced by Ashea, with your second single debuting on BBC Introducing, you’re clearly doing something right. 1,000 Spotify streams in 48 hours, and 12,000 YouTube views in the official video’s first week of release is worth taking.

Now, Essex’s Faith Louise is back with new single ‘What I Need’, a delicious slice of K-Pop-tinged 90’s club/dance with a catchy little hook and a earworm of a chorus that sticks in your head and follows you round for days. Again produced by Ashea at SAFO music, ‘What I Need’ is a perfect little pop track – think Ariana Grande mixed with Little Mix – dancey, energetic, and catchily upbeat.

You can check out ‘What I Need’ on Faith Louise’s website or on Facebook.

Review by Alex Holmes

Take a hit on pop singer-songwriter Veronika Utri’s ‘Cigarette’

Posted on 8 February 2021
https://soundcloud.com/veronika-utri/veronika-utri-cigarette

With a style heavily influenced by Tom Odell, Taylor Swift and Avril Lavigne, Austria-born, London-based singer songwriter, Veronika Utri’s, sound offers tender intimacy, cinematic imagery and a magnetic spike of attitude.

The warm embracing tones in the standout single ‘Cigarette’ will undoubtedly be of appeal to anyone else dealing with the emotional fallout from unsated romantic cravings. The soul in the vocals is just as addictive as the substance which shares the name of the dreamy single.

With her accessible ‘girl next door’ vibe and evocatively brave lyricism, it’s hard not to anticipate big things in the immediate future for Veronika Utri.

Cigarette is available to stream via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Lina and the Lions – This Fire: 80s Synthpop with a K-Pop Kick

Posted on 30 January 2021

‘This Fire’ is the first single to be released from the forthcoming debut album ‘Second Nature’ by UK-based artist Lina and the Lions which revives the New Wave 80s Pop sound with a K-Pop kick.

With shimmering glassy synths and melodic hooks, sharp enough to ensure that this entrancing earworm isn’t easily forgotten, fans of 80s Pop and contemporary dark Pop alike are going to encounter a playlist staple when they delve into this amorously visceral and stylistic release.

The instrumentals may be cutting and atmospheric, but Lina Lane’s soulfully effervescent art-pop vocals burst through and demonstrate her ability to make higher pitches resonate with infectiously high-energy soul. It’s hard not to get excited about the potential of Lina and the Lions. They’ll be releasing their album gradually over 2021. Get them on your radar.

This Fire is available to stream via Spotify now. For more information on Lina and the Lions head over to their official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast