This edition of LITM Pop Picks brings to you industrial dark synth-pop, piano driven vocal heavy tracks, and much more. The list features artists Ruut, Junonuno, Maribelle // A new spring, and more.
Ruut - Life Is Beautiful
Brought to life through piano arrangements that are laden with a depth so affective, ‘Life Is Beautiful’ by Ruut is a bittersweet song, rooted in the reality of unfavourable circumstances bringing in hope and clarity in the end. The piano is the heart of this song, and this stripped back approach to the song allows for the entire focus to be on the thematics of the song. Ruut’s vocals are ethereal and achingly beautiful and urge you to lose time in its sonic world. What makes her vocals so potent is that it does not try to mould itself according to the instrumentation, and instead the instrumentation shapes itself according to the vocals. The song won’t leave you for a long time
Junonuno - Feeling Good
The 90s House music scene making its presence felt through every rhythm and groove, ‘Feeling Good’ by Junonuno is here to live up to its title. Magnetism and electricity woven into every single beat, the production is truly infectious while offering something different every step of the way. Sections in the song don’t remain identical, and instead stray from the dominant rhythms and then come back again. The song might remind you of Calvin Harris’ style of music in the contemporary house music scene. Embodying unbridled joy, this song should be your go to when you need a break from the world that gets so heavy so often.
Maribelle // A new spring - A Prayer
Lifting you up and floating you away into its shimmering, dream-like world, ‘A Prayer’ by Maribelle // A new spring is quite the sonic experience. The instrumentation brings together many layers, ranging from electronic beats to tactile instruments, and yet they paradoxically work together beautifully. Maribelle’s vocals and the harmonisations act like instruments in themself, as they ground the floaty, ethereal feeling. There is a meditative quality to the song that relaxes your senses and allows you to take a step back from the things that weigh your mind and soul down. With this song, Mirabelle is truly marking her place within the music industry by not conforming to the norms and staying true to her artistic leanings.
Johannes Jae - Touch Down
Capturing the early 2000s electronic-pop sound, ‘Touch Down’ by Johannes Jae is the song to get you hooked and grooving from the very first beat, quite helplessly. The instrumentation sees the blending of dance-pop elements with subtle, but very-much-there house music elements. The instrumentation is not heavy and loaded with numerous layers, and instead makes use of recurring layers that are arranged in a manner that does not let stagnancy set it. Jae’s smooth vocals that don’t shy away from expressing emotion and vulnerability work effectively to fix the emotionality of the song. There is a tropical, summery, beachy feel to the song, making you imagine yourself on the shores against orange skies.
Lakeside X - Factory Flowers
Dark, broody and fierce at the same time, ‘Factory Flowers’ by Lakeside X is here to make a statement in the alt-pop scene. The instrumentation borrows from synth-pop, alternative pop, and also some dark electronic-pop musicality. This rich blend of genres helps in foregrounding the mood of the song, which acutely leans towards a sort of dystopic, dark atmosphere. The guitars in the song are noteworthy, for their rawness and their grit. The song might make you think of Depeche Mode, owing to similar musical approaches. Weighty and oozing with a tension that does not let you look away, this song is here to have you hooked to its magnetisms.
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