Category: Electro Pop

Single Review by William Ruben Helms

Lyric Video: WILDES and St. Francis Hotel Team Up on Broodingly Atmospheric and Yearning “Are You Gonna Speak?”

Ella Walker is an Irish-British, London-based singer/songwriter and the creative mastermind behind the rising pop project WILDES. Walker’s critically applauded full-length debut, last year’s St. Francis Hotel-produced Other Words Fail Me featured “True Love,” a collaboration with The Flaming Lips. Building upon a growing profile, Walker released her self-produced EP Subsidence earlier this year.

Declan Gaffney is an acclaimed Irish producer, best known as St. Francis Hotel. Gaffney has worked with the likes of Little Simz, Michael Kiwanuka, Wasia Project, Lip Filler and a growing list of others.

WILDES and St. Francis Hotel recently announced the forthcoming collaborative EP, Kopfkino. Slated for a February 19, 2025 release, the EP continuing their wildly successful collaboration together while drawing from 80s synth pop acts like Erasure, The Human League and Depeche Mode, and trip-hop acts like Massive Attack and Portishead. “Though regularly collaborating for various projects, we chose to come together for this EP because of our shared experience and grounding in the emotive meaning behind the songs,” Walker says of the forthcoming collaborative EP. “Exploring and getting lost in our own minds, being shut out of the minds of others, and trying to navigate the world at the behest of our subconscious.”

Kopfkino‘s second and latest single “Are You Gonna Speak?” features bursts of reverb-drenched, strummed guitar, throbbing and oscillating synths, skittering industrial clink and clatter, which help to create a broodingly atmospheric bed for Walker’s yearning delivery.

“Drawing from the silence and suffocation that can surface towards the end of a relationship, ‘Are You Gonna Speak?’ is a plea for connection,” Walker explains. “Exposing difficult conversations but trying to inspire hope, it’s a final cry for help before the moment ends for good.”

Video by William Ruben Helms

Throwback: Happy 46th Birthday, Nelly Furtado!

JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates Nelly Furtado’s 46th birthday.

Single Review by William Ruben Helms

New Audio: Joey Sachi Teams Up With AKINAT on Breezy “7 Seconds”

Joey Sachi is an Aussie-born, Tokyo-based singer/songwriter and pop artist, who can trace the origins of her career to her childhood: She grew up in a household where music was not only a pivotal and integral part of her life, but where she quickly became ins tired to follow in the footsteps of the pop icons she admired.

Before relocating to Tokyo, Sachi became intrigued by songwriting after studying Classical music at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

As a songwriter, Sachi cites the likes of Jamie xx, Daft Punk, and Sabrina Claudio as influences on her sound and approach, which sees her attempting to bridge the gaps between pop and electronic music while paired with introspective and emotionally intimate lyrics.

“7 Seconds,” the Aussie-born, Tokyo-based artist’s latest single is a hook driven and breezy pop confection featuring a simple yet propulsive beat and glistening synth arpeggios serving as an atmospheric bed for Sachi’s ethereal delivery. The pair explain that they “wanted to experiment making a track inspired by Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Dreams’ with a simple beat/layers and a topline influenced by Stevie Nicks’ melodic creativity. While nodding at Stevie Nicks, I think the song reminds me a bit more of JOVM mainstay ACES and others.

Sachi explains that the song is inspired by the life story of Clive Wearing. “Clive Wearing is a British classical musician whose life was devastatingly impacted by a rare and severe form of memory loss. The profoundly beautiful part of Clive’s story is that his wife Deborah remained a constant in his life – the deepest of connections…almost instinctual, that despite his memory resetting every few seconds allowed him to always seek comfort amongst his fragmented existence.

Inspired by his story we created ‘7 Seconds’, exploring the divine beauty in a love so deep, one that  endures all the ebbs and flows of life.”

Video by William Ruben Helms

Throwback: Happy 46th Birthday, Karen O!

JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates Yeah Yeah Yeah’s Karen O’s 46th birthday.

Single Review by William Ruben Helms

New Audio: ORKID Shares glistening “Skin and Bones”

Northern Sweden-born pop artist ORKID has made a name for herself in Stockholm‘s acclaimed and vibrant pop scene. Drawing influence from Nat King Cole and Sam Cooke while embodying the essence of modern Swedish indie pop, the Stockholm-based singer/songwriter possesses a vocal delivery that’s ethereal and fragile yet commanding. Behind the scenes, the Swedish pop artist has also made name for herself as a formidable pop songwriter, writing hits in studios from Los Angeles to London through collaborations with Armin Van Buuren, K-pop group Apink while working alongside Shane Stevens, Maths Time Joy and Eddie Serafica.

ORKID’s own work have appeared on Spotify New Music Friday playlists across 20+ countries while receiving praise from the likes of The Line of Best Fit, Complex and Beats 1.

Building upon a growing profile, the Swedish artist’s latest EP Where Flowers Grow may arguably be her most intimate effort yet: The EP’s material is a poignant love letter to her late mother. The five-song EP features carefully crafted songs that see her infuse luminous indie pop with a shade of melancholy, informed by grief and loss. “There’s no reception for a soul, so I go where your flowers grow and sit there with you for a while,” the Swedish artist says of the EP.

The EP’s latest single, EP opening track “Skin and Bones” is anchored around an ethereal production featuring glistening synth arpeggios and skittering beats that serves as a lush, Stevie Nicks “Stand Back“-like bed for ORKID’s yearning, pop star delivery, which sees her confronting mortality — her mother’s and even her own — and the aftermath of death on those left behind.

Single Review by William Ruben Helms

New Audio: Parra for Cuva’s Chilled Out Remix of Christian Löffler’s “A Life”

Christian Löffler is an acclaimed German musician, producer and DJ, whose work is widely celebrated across electronic music circles for a distinct sound that seamlessly blends elements of ambient music, techno and house. 

Released earlier this year, Löffler’s third album A Life sees the German-born musician, producer and DJ continuing to push his sound and approach in new directions while exploring new emotional depths. The album features “Y,” a lush and flirty, crowd pleasing banger featuring Mogli‘s yearning delivery paired with woozy and glistening synth arpeggios, thumping tweeter and woofer rattling low end, skittering beats and a rousingly anthemic, euphoric set of hooks and choruses.

Album single and album title track “A Life” is a lush electro pop tune featuring bursts of twinkling piano, glistening Giorgio Moroder-like oscillations that slowly boil dup in intensity, skittering beats paired with a yearning cooing vocal sample that’s chopped up and pitched down. The result is a song that’s mediative and cinematic yet intimate.

Recently Parra for Cuva remixed “A Life.” The Parra for Cuva remix retains the yearning and cooing vocal sample but places it within an lush and soulful production that pairs squiggling, reverb-soaked The Edge-like guitars, skittering beats and woozy synth oscillations. Sonically bringing Washed Out and Brothertiger to mind, the Parra for Cuva remix retains the original’s intimate feel but while giving it a moody, chilled out vibe.

Video by William Ruben Helms

New Video: Janiq Shares Lush and Hook Driven “Dior”

Trinidadian-born, London-based artist Janiq has made a name for herself in the local scene for music that draws from her Trini roots and her experiences living in London and meshes elements of R&B, dancehall, soca, reggae, and Latin American music. Her work explores themes of love, self-discovery and female empowerment. She also has received attention across the British capital for a high-energy live show.

Her third and latest single “Dior” is a lush and slickly produced bop featuring glistening and blocky synth stabs, skittering beats, a supple and funky bass line. Bringing Estelle‘s “American Boy,” and The Weeknd‘s work to mind, “Dior” reveals and artist with an uncanny knack for catchy hooks, with the production being a lush bed for the Trinidadian-born, London-based artist’s coquettish delivery boldly telling the listener that you can’t afford her, so don’t bother.

The stylish and slick accompanying video plays on magazine photo shoots — and Instagram.

Video by William Ruben Helms

New Video: GLOSSER Shares Woozy “Silver Star”

Washington, DC-based electro pop duo GLOSSER — Riley Fanning and Corbin Sheehan — developed an ethereal yet dance floor friendly sound that draws inspiration from Phantogram, Lorde and Beach House paired with lyrics that conveys a visceral truth.

After 2021’s self-titled debut EP, Fanning and Sheehan wanted to do something different. They started writing without any particular direction. And as a result, Fanning built her craft as a singer/songwriter. They eventually wrote the material that would comprise their full-length debut, last year’s DOWNER. With DOWNER, the pair created a more immediately gratifying pop experience that helped redefine who they are and what they’re capable of.

To celebrate the album’s first anniversary, the DC-based duo released a deluxe edition of DOWNER earlier this year that features a remix by Half Waif collaborator Zubin Hensler, a new version of “The Artist” with indie pop artist Sophie Coran, and a new take on “Disco Girls” remixed by Foxing‘s Eric Hudson.

Building upon growing momentum, the duo will be releasing their latest effort, Angel Dust EP on November 15, 2024 through If This Then Records. The EP reportedly sees the DC-based duo diving further into the depths of a murky, pop tinged world through the subtle incorporation of grit in the duo’s brooding dreamscapes.

Angel Dust EP‘s latest single “Silver Star” is a woozy track that features stuttering and skittering beats, glistening and arpeggiated synths, swirling guitars serving as a lush and dreamy bed for Fanning’s ethereal cooing, expressing the longing, desire, self-doubt and self-flagellation of a crush or a love that’s potentially unrequited.

The duo explain, “’Silver Star’ is about having an all-consuming, extreme infatuation with a person, and how that obsession can drive you to the edge. We really wanted to contrast the electronic and rock elements to mirror the emotional ups and downs of that kind of state of mind.”

Directed by Riley Fanning and Corbin Sheehan, the accompanying video for “Silver Star” was shot with a grainy Super 8-like feel and follows a brooding Fanning as she walks around DC and sitting on a stoop singing the song.

Single Review by William Ruben Helms

New Audio: Terciopelo Returns with Soulful “Nothing Can Stop Me”

Terciopelo is the solo recording project of a mysterious and emerging Costa Rican-born and-based electronic music producer and artist, who blends diverse instrumental elements, trap beats, jazz and soulful melodies into a unique and moody sound that has been described as thought provoking.

The mysterious Costa Rican-born and-based electronic music producer and artist’s forthcoming full-length debut, The Breakaways reportedly sees him collaborating with a talented and diverse group of female vocalists. Thematically, the album focuses on women and their journeys through life — with each vocalist singing lyrics that detail the trials, tribulations and joys of their life through their perspective. The album’s material delves into the depths of passion, love and all of the various aspects of human life. 

“This album represents a significant chapter in my musical journey,” the mysterious producer and artist says. The Breakaways is not just a music album, it’s a celebration of life, love and the magnetic power of music. We poured our hearts into every note, and we hope it resonates with our audience on a profound level.”

Late last year, I wrote about “Your Love . . .,” a brooding and slickly produced synthesis of Portishead-like trip hop, trap beats and contemporary electro pop paired with yearning vocals and evocative lyrics. The song thematically is a deep dive into the lives of women trapped in abusive romantic relationships. The song’s narrator paints a poignant and haunting picture of the internal and external struggles that domestic abuse victims face with a seemingly lived-in specificity. 

The Breakaways’ latest single “Nothing Can Stop Me” continues a run of slickly produced material that pairs contemporary pop with trap beats, shimmering acoustic guitar, bursts of twinkling Rhodes with a soulful vocal, pop starlet delivery. Much like its predecessor, the song capture the interior world of its narrator with a lived-in specificity.

Single Review by William Ruben Helms

New Audio: Lowly Light Teams up with Nouvelle Vague’s Liset Alea on 80s Synth Pop-Inspired “Chill Child”

Matt Gorny is an award-winning, New York-based songwriter and producer, best known as Lowly Light, who has collaborated with dance music artists like Ultra Naté, Amanda Lepore, Luca Perra and others. As a producer, Gorny’s work has show continually evolution, ranging from nu-disco jams like “Get Over Yourself,” the chilled out groove of “Prayin'” and “Candy Lied,” to the energetic indie pop of “Down the Coast.”

“Do You Feel Me” amassed over 115,000 Spotify streams. And building upon a growing profile. “Lose You (John “J-C” Carr & Bill Coleman 808 Beach Remix) along with The Weekend remix on Acid Stag and was on regular rotation on SiriusXM channel 312.

Gorny’s latest single “Chill Child” is a collaboration with Nouvelle Vague‘s frontperson Liset Alea. Alea’s ethereal pop starlet cooing floats over a percussive and ebullient, 80s synth pop and dance pop-like production that recalls Madonna‘s 1984 self-titled debut, Banarama‘s “Cruel Summer” and St. Lucia.

The New York-based songwriter and producer explains that the song lyrically is a meditation on the much-needed art of patience and perspective. Ultimately, it’s about “giving time a chance to work its magic to reveal what’s truly worth fighting for,” he says. He goes on to say that the collaboration came about when he pitched the song to Alea, who has been on the top of his list of artists he wanted to work with. She loved the track and the lyrical message and was eager to bring her own vision to the song.

Video by William Ruben Helms

New Video: Nature Loves Courage Shares Sleek and Dance Floor Friendly “Elevation”

Initially starting her career as a singer/songwriter and pianist, who drew comparisons to Annie Lennox and Kate Bush, McKenna Rowe (vocals, keys) found herself increasingly driven by an obsession with samples and beats when she founded the Los Angeles-based pop outfit Nature Loves Courage back in 2020 as a way to create her own take on lush, atmospheric grooves, inspired by the likes of Massive Attack and others. Rowe recruited Jacob Bergman (bass), Garrett Smith (drums) and Joe De Sa (guitar) to flesh out and polish the project’s overall sound.

The quartet aims to bridge electronic soundscapes with a dynamic rock sound, enveloping the listener in a pseudo live experience. Typically, the band’s material counterbalances airy string and piano arrangements with quirky synths and heavy rock and funk-inspired riffs.

Nature Loves Courage’s recently released and aptly named EP III managers to encapsulate the band’s sound and approach while seemingly drawing from Annie Lennox, Blondie, The Chemical Brothers and LCD Soundsystem. Thematically, the EP’s material dives into a completely storyline while touching upon heartbreak, practicing kindness to one another and more.

III EP‘s lead single “Elevation” is a dance floor friendly bop featuring a supple and funky bass line, twinkling, Larry Levan-like synth arpeggios and bursts of Nile Rodgers-like funk guitar paired with Rowe’s sultry pop starlet delivery and remarkably catchy hooks. Sonically meshing elements of house music and dance pop, “Elevation” thematically nudges the listener towards practicing some much-needed kindness towards others.

The Los Angeles-based quartet collaborated with Holy Smoke Photography on the accompanying video, which sees the band playfully experiment with animation to express different versions of themselves in a Nature Loves Courage multiverse.

Video by William Ruben Helms

New Video: Shrines Shares Eerie “Witch Season”

Arguably best known for stints with Ponyhof and Will Butler, Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter and musician Carrie Erving is the creative mastermind behind the indie electro pop recording project Shrines. Erving’s work, which sees her deftly weaving elements of pop, electronic music, indie rock and Irish sean-nós (traditional Irish folk singing) into a shimmering take on art-pop that The New York Times has described as “spellbinding.”

Erving’s latest Shrines EP, the four-song Rosana Cabán-produced Seasons is slated for an October 18, 2024 release. The EP’s material explores the fragility of the individual seasons, documenting the collective cognitive dissonance of the fluctuations between celebration and trepidation that come about during a time of rapidly escalating climate change. Each of the EP’s songs lyrically suggest to the listener that allowing ourselves to save the present moment may be one of the keys to grappling with one of the largest challenges of our moment.

Seasons‘ latest single “Witch Season” is an eerie and brooding bit of electro pop featuring buzzing bass synths, gently oscillating atmospheric synths, skittering beats paired with Erving’s soaring vocals. Sonically, the song reminds me of a synthesis of Stevie Nicks, Bjork and Portishead while being a homage to fall and spooky season, evoking creepy crawlies and spirits lurking around the corner.

Directed by Brody Bernheisel, the accompanying video follows the Brooklyn-based artist in a flowing, black dress, driving to the woods where she fittingly dances around a bonfire. Visually, the video seems to draw from Madonna‘s “Like A Prayer” and Victoria + Jean’s “Harlight Sverige.”

Single Review by William Ruben Helms

New Audio: The Real Mack The Knife Returns with Sensual “Paris Séduit”

The Real Mack The Knife is the creative project of a rather mysterious and prolific American-based electronic music producer. His latest single “Paris Séduit” is a lush and sensual dance pop tune featuring layers of arpeggiated synths, skittering beats and remarkably catchy hooks paired with a sultrily delivered vocals in French and English.

Resembling a sleek synthesis of Ibiza house and French touch, “Paris Séduit” was inspired by a trip to Paris during the 2024 Olympic Games and captures the seductive spirit of one of the world’s most beautiful cities.