Category: Synth Pop

Video by William Ruben Helms

New Video: The Slick and Decadent Visuals for Sofi Tukker’s “Awoo”

Soft Animals’ second single “Awoo” is a mischievous song that features guest vocals from Betta Lemme and the single pairs a tribal house/classic house music-inspired production in which tribal drum programming and stuttering samba-like keys are paired with Lemme’s and Hawley-Weld’s alternating sultry vocals and child-like shouting in what may arguably be the duo’s most buoyant, dance floor friendly and mischievous song they’ve released to date.

The recently released video for the song is a slick and vividly colored bit of decadence and ostentatious wealth that seems to draw from Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette, Cruel Intentions and Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous with Robin Leech.

Video by William Ruben Helms

New Video: The Brooding Visuals for Ten Fe’s R&B-Leaning “Turn”

Over the past year or so, I’ve written a bit about London-based indie duo Ten Fe. Comprised of comprised of Ben Moorhouse and Leo Duncan, the indie pop duo took the blogosphere by storm with the release of their critically praised single “Make Me Better,” before closing out last year with the equally anthemic and atmospheric “In The Air.” Interestingly, the duo’s latest single is a subtle but discernible expansion of the duo’s sound, as the slow-burning single gently nods at R&B and soul, as swirling, ambient electronics are paired with shimmering guitar chords and plaintive vocals that express vulnerability within a turn of a phrase, and stuttering drum programming in what may arguably be one of the duo’s most restrained single they’ve released to date. And while being a taste of what the duo’s forthcoming and highly-anticipated full-length debut, the song lyrically speaks about a relationship fraught with bitterness, uncertainties, miscommunications and deceit — both real and perceived. As a result, the relationship is filled with suspicion, with the song’s narrator openly questioning everything his lover is telling him, while wondering if there’s someone else.

The recently released music video features the duo of Moorhouse and Duncan, along with their backing band playing the song in several different locales and appropriately brooding about London.

Video by William Ruben Helms

New Video: Following Young People Hanging Out and Partying in JOVM Mainstay Lust For Youth’s “Tokyo”

Now over the past few years, the Danish electro pop trio have become JOVM mainstays — and you may recall that I wrote about that I wrote about “Better Looking Brother,” and “Sudden Ambition” the first two singles off the their sophomore effort Compassion, which was releaesd earlier this year. And both singles further cemented their reputation for crafting melancholic and aching synth pop that was simultaneously dance floor-friendly. The album’s third single “Tokyo” continues on the same vein of the album’s preceding singles but lyrically the song evokes the sense of confusion, loneliness and disconnectedness and wonder of being on the road, as the song’s narrator describes a life of hotel rooms, hotel room food, a brief chance to wander around a town and get a sense of it, the late night crowds and neon lights, the longing for someone who you either can’t have — or is thousands of miles away, removed from your unusual life on the road.

The recently released video for the song was shot by Tokyo residents, who filmed themselves and their daily lives in their hometown — late nights with Lust For Youth fans, who catch their idols playing at a local club, and then speeding off to the next thing, the next adventure or just goofing off with your crew. And in many ways, the video seems to capture young people almost anywhere.

Video by William Ruben Helms

New Video: The Coquettish, Night Club Inspired Visuals for Body Language’s “Addicted”

With the release of “Addicted,” the first single off the Brooklyn synth pop act’s forthcoming effort Mythos, the act reveals that the quartet has gone through a subtle change in sonic direction, as the single draws from New Jack Swing and classic house as shimmering and cascading layers of synths, handclap-lead percussion and stuttering beats paired with Angelica Bess’ sultry, come-hither vocals. Is it love? Is it lust? Maybe it’s both? And we’ve all been there — and as confusing as it could be, the possibilities both contain are endless and fun, and the song manages to capture that all with aplomb.

The recently released video accurately captures the spirit and feel of dance videos shot in the 90s — full of neon bright colors, extreme close-ups, tons of confetti, and it emphasizes the sultry coquettishness of the song.

Video by William Ruben Helms

New Video: JOVM Mainstays denitia and sene Return with Slick Visuals for Their Genre Mashing Single “open wide”

denitia and sene’s latest single “open wide” pairs enormous, tweeter and woofer rocking beats, wobbling synths and industrial clang and clatter with Odigie’s ethereal cooing — and while being somewhat chilly and industrial, the song possesses a sultry sensuality as its narrator is spends her time swooning over her object of attention and love. The duo’s latest single will cement their burgeoning reputation for crafting earnest, hook driven pop that’s equally coquettish.

The recently released music video was directed by Brian Mac and was edited by Nolan Theis and features the duo shot in almost heavenly white backgrounds brooding and being flirtatious and employs the use of slick split screens, pulsating lights and other effects.

Single Review by William Ruben Helms

 

Comprised of Gold Coast Australia-born, Manchester, UK-based siblings Adam Lyons (vocals) and Nathan Lyons (keys), along with Patrick Huerto (guitar), Tommy Davis (bass), the now British-based band have developed a growing international profile for a hook-laden, 80s synth pop/New Wave-inspired sound, as you would hear on “Breathless,” a single that’s reminiscent of  The Fixx’s “Saved by Zero.” The sextet’s latest single “Relevance” will further cement the band’s reputation for pairing an incredibly anthemic hook with shimmering synths, a sinuous bass line, and Adam Lyons’ plaintive and earnest vocals — and much like “Breathless,” the single reveals a band that’s been writing some of the most self-assured and sexiest material of their careers to date — all while focusing thematically on a relationship that’s on uneasy footing and the uncertainty that it brings into one’s life while suggesting that sometimes one has to slow down and let things just happen at their own pace. And they do in a dance-floor friendly fashion.

Single Review by William Ruben Helms

With the release of lead single “Atlantis,” off her forthcoming and highly-anticipated EP Nemesis, Los Angeles, CA-based singer/songwriter and actress Bridgit Mendler first caught the attention of the blogosphere for a sound that possesses elements of hip hop, glitchy and contemporary electro pop, R&B and dancehall — and as a result, the track hit #2 on Spotify‘s Viral Chart, #1 on Hype Machine , garnered over 3 million streams across all digital streaming services and received praise from the likes of MTV, Nylon, Stereogum and Pigeons and Planes. And when you hear the song you’ll see why it burned up the internet charts as the slow-burning song pairs Mendler’s breathy coos with a slick, hyper modern production featuring stuttering drum programming, vocoder fed vocals, glitchy electronics, various bleeps, bloops and blips and twinkling synths and a flirtatious verse from Kaiydo. Sonically, the song is reminiscent of Abby Diamond‘s “Love to Watch You Leave” while nodding at Timbaland‘s revolutionary production — in other words, stuttering and bizarre angles while being airy and coquettish but underneath there’s an aching vulnerability.

Recently, young and renowned, Philadelphia, PA-based producer Tunji Ige remixed Mendler’s blogosphere burning single, pairing Mendler’s breathy coos with swaggering, tweeter and woofer rattling beats, glitchy electronics turning the song into a stomping, trap music-leaning club banger while retaining the original’s vulnerability. Check out how it differs from the original below.

Single Review by William Ruben Helms

With the release of “Cold” and “Thread,” Melbourne, Australia-based multi-instrumentalist and producer Matt Connelly’s solo recording project Retro Culture went viral for a hazy, 80s synth pop that sound as though it could have been part of the soundtracks for the major motion picture Drive and Netflix‘s hit series Stranger Things — and as a result both singles received more than 1.2 million streams on Spotify , appeared on Spotify‘s New Music Friday playlist and others and have been championed tastemakers like Majestic Casual.

Connelly’s latest single “Fading” will further cement the Australian multi-instrumentalist and producer’s growing reputation for a retro-futuristic, synth pop sound as the single, which was co-produced by Jack Arentz, who has worked with Kult Klyss and I know Leopard and mastered by Huntley Miller, who has worked with Bon Iver and Sylvan Esso, pairs Connelly’s plaintive vocals with swirling electronics, shimmering synths, Nile Rodgers-like funk guitar, a sinuous bass line and an anthemic hook. Interestingly, the song sonically speaking will remind some listeners of St. Lucia and the Cascine Records roster, as the song manages to be danceable but just under the surface is a thoughtful, contemplative nature.

 

 

‘Fading’ builds on Connelly’s previous thoughtfully curious and hazy pop debut releases ‘Cold’ & ‘Thread’, which were released earlier in 2016 to early and unexpected international success. Full of fuzzy beats & shoe gaze sounds, both ‘Cold’ & ‘Thread’ went viral and achieved an impressive 1.2 million streams on Spotify, appearing on several Spotify playlists including New Music Friday and championed by tastemakers including Majestic Casual.

Brought to life by a kaleidoscope of inspirations and experiments with live-recorded drums, guitar, bass and synths, his new single ‘Fading’ finally took form as an ode to the nostalgic and 80-gazing soundtrack to Netflix TV hit ‘Stranger Things’.  The single was co-produced with Jack Arentz (Kult Klyss, I Know Leopard) and mastered by Huntley Miller (Bon Iver’s, Slyvan Esso).

Influenced by the likes of Daft Punk and The 1975, Connelly describes the inspiration for ‘Fading’ as being inspired by, ‘The film Drive has played a big part in my musical inspiration recently so I guess that’s where that comes from. Also I was watching Stranger Things at the time of writing Fading and it has this really amazing synth sound track. It reminded me of Drive. That 80s sound is my current obsession. Lyrically, I tend to draw from what’s going on around me or from my own life’

Retro Culture will be coming over to the UK to debut live early next year. More info to follow.

Video by William Ruben Helms

New Video: The Bittersweet and Contemplative Sounds of Norwegian, Synth Pop Trio Chain Wallet

Comprised of Stian Iversen, Christian Line and Frode Boris, the Bergen, Norway-based electro pop trio Chain Wallet specialize in a shimmering, reverb-heavy and deeply 80s inspired synth pop tinged with bittersweet nostalgia, and the trio’s full-length, self-titled effort, which was released by renowned Oslo, Norway-based label Jansen Platerproduksjon thematically explores themes of betrayal, idleness and crushed dreams against the backdrop of an existential breakdown. And while loosely portraying different aspects of the quarter-life crisis, the album reportedly manages to capture the almost universal feeling of creeping unease and uncertainty of our time, as you’ll hear on the hauntingly moody and shimmering single “Faded Fight.”

The recently released video for the song captures a group of 20 somethings goofing off in bars an house parties with a youthful, exuberant urgency — but underneath that exuberance are a bunch of awkward, uncertain and dysfunctional adults, who have to recognize that no one ever really has it together; that people generally pretend to have their shit together until life inevitably breaks their hearts.

Single Review by William Ruben Helms

With the release of “Swedish Guns,” off their soon-to-be released fourth, full-length album Running Out of Love, Stockholm, Sweden-based electro pop production and artist duo The Radio Dept. received quite a bit of attention across the blogosphere, and as a result the track shot up the Hype Machine charts, landing at number 1. Running Out of Love‘s second and latest single “We Got Game” will further cement the duo’s burgeoning international reputation for crafting slickly produced electro pop that channels mid 80s New Order and classic house but paired with socio-politically charged lyrics. Interestingly, the Swedish electro pop duo’s fourth album focuses on how life in their homeland seems to be quickly moving backwards politically, intellectually, socially — and about how a sense of impatience and privilege has lead to anger, hate and apathy. Sounds familiar doesn’t it?

Check out the song’s lyrics below:


There’s a choice to be made
We never used to blindly disobey
But now, make some noise
Never fade
Retrace the steps of millions before us
What is fair to get ahead?
It’s not an even game if you can’t bid
They don’t care
Never did
If we want it we will have to take it from the overfed

We got game
And we were put to shame
Acting kind
So we came to speak our minds
And what else?
What else?
What else could we do?
Jumpcut
Horses
Riots

You keep talking middle ground
So sick of hearing about that middle ground
This is it, you can’t go ’round
There’s just no other middle to be found
Like with this bunch of racist loons
The kind of guys you wouldn’t like to spoon
If in power
One whisky sour
And everyone I love would be jailed within the hour
So…

We got game
And we were put to shame
Acting kind
So we have changed our minds
And now what?
Now what?
Now what will they do?
Jumpcut
Horses
Riots
Is it true?
Laser beam
Swat team
Not a dream

I believe Paris Grey
Singing “the sun will chase the clouds away”
I believe what she say
Because I want and have to believe that way

Is it true?
Paycuts
Gunshots
Riots
Yes it’s true
It is true
Mind you
It’s true

 

The band will be embarking on a North American tour next winter and it includes two NYC are dates — March 8, 2016 at Bowery Ballroom and March 9, 2016 at Music Hall of Williamsburg. Check out the rest of the tour dates below.


North American Tour Dates

Feb 14 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
Feb 15 – Washington, DC @ Black Cat
Feb 16 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle
Feb 17 – Atlanta, GA @ The Earl
Feb 18 – New Orleans, LA @ Gasa Gasa
Feb 19 – Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall
Feb 20 – Austin, TX @ Barracuda
Feb 22 – Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom
Feb 24 – Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theatre
Feb 27 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
Feb 28 – Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore Cabaret
Mar 1 – Seattle, WA @ Neumos
Mar 3 – Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock Social Club
Mar 4 – Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall
Mar 5 – Toronto, ON @ The Mod Club
Mar 6 – Montreal, QC @ Théâtre Fairmount
Mar 7 – Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall
Mar 8 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
Mar 9 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg