LITM Pop picks tunes for the weekend brought to you by Barbonus, 9’0 clock, Jamie Sidwell, Oryah and LEO!
Barbonus – Just Silence
Barbonus obviously understands the strength of a perfectly timed pause. "Just Silence" isn't a song; it's like cracking open a window in the middle of a virtual thunderstorm and discovering the silence outside is louder than the storm inside. His deep, smooth vocals float above minimalist electropop rhythms like smoke rising in a dimly lit room. It's melancholy, yes, but weirdly reassuring, like the aural equivalent of gazing into the abyss and discovering it… strangely chic. This song demonstrates that electropop doesn't necessarily require glitter and neon; at times, it flourishes under restraint, shadow, and muted despair. For indie electronic enthusiasts wanting introspection without sacrificing cool cred, Barbonus has created a dark, tasty haven in which silence speaks louder than words ever might. It’s not background music—it’s a reminder that even in a world buzzing with noise, quiet still has the final word.
2. 9’0 Clock – Game Fit
If you’ve ever wondered what happens when hip-hop swagger crashes headfirst into punk-fueled chaos, “Game Fit” is your answer. Born of a half-baked demo on a riverboat (yes, for real), this song somehow coheres biscuits-fueled arguments, hurried WhatsApp messages, and impromptu recording energy into a sound monster. It's chaotic in the best possible way: growling verses, massive chorus energy, and an undertow of cinematic drama that keeps it from imploding under its own glorious size. You can practically sense the tension among band members coursing through the lines, anger, elation, desire, bravado, all sewn together like a patchwork quilt of sound. What's the outcome? A song that won't fit neatly in one category, because mayhem doesn't play by rules. "Game Fit" is evidence that if you combine anger, beer, and a little tape-op shouted encouragement from the side of the stage, you don't merely create music—you instigate a mini-riot in less than four minutes.
3. Jamie Sidwell – Speak To You Always
Jamie Sidwell can do one thing extremely, extremely well: take a simple concept and make it seem monumental. ".Speak To You Always" doesn't yell in your face, it slips alongside, pats your shoulder, and before you know it, you're in its presence. This song is almost like an impromptu conversation one night when you weren't planning on talking, but every sentence feels oddly profound. Sidwell’s delivery is restrained yet confident, floating effortlessly over a backdrop that’s just lush enough to wrap you up but never so heavy that it drowns out the intimacy. It’s the kind of song you play on repeat without realising you’ve been in its world for half an hour. Think of it as indie minimalism with a warm, human touch, never rushed, never forced. Sidwell’s charm lies in his ability to make music feel personal, even if you’ve never met him. A beautifully understated gem.
4. Oryah – Fall Back
“Fall Back” is the sound of cinematic introspection bottled into a track. Oryah creates music that feels bigger than the room you’re in, yet somehow still touches the personal corners of your heart. The production is sophisticated but never cleaned to the bone, so the emotional heft of the track seeps into every pulse. There's a pull and push to the arrangement, a tension between uplifting parts and subdued introspection, that encourages you to lean forward a little more each time you listen. It's not a song; it's a soundtrack to a film not yet made, where the protagonist finally realises what she's running from. Oryah strikes a balance between atmosphere and intimacy, presenting something enveloping without being suffocating. "Fall Back" is not so much about flash but about resonance, the kind of song that sticks with you after the fact, like a bad thought that won't leave you alone. A quiet but forceful listen.
5. LEO – Warm
LEO (or LOS LEO, should you prefer) presents the sort of song that catches you off guard and arrives squarely in your chest. "Warm" is stripped-down indie folk/pop in its best form—tender guitar melodies, atmospheric room, and vocals that have both vulnerability and strength in equal portions. The tune sounds serious, nearly reverent, but it isn't heavy; rather, it moves with a natural ease, as if a person were giving comfort without a single word. What gets it to shine is the emotional authenticity; there's nothing here that's been overproduced, just raw longing for wondering who will keep you safe when the lights go out. Reviews commend it for its poignancy, and rightly so: it's quietly heartbreaking, but strangely uplifting. This is the kind of song that gets you in the mood to stop, catch your breath, and perhaps text someone you love. LEO doesn't only warm you up, he leaves an afterglow.
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