This edition of LITM Pop Picks will have you daydreaming with that warm, fuzzy feeling in your heart and will also probably give you an existential crisis on the other hand. The list features artists ben clemo, Jerusha, Fir the Band, and more.
ben clemo - Everything Looks Strange On TV
Bedroom pop and indie pop coming together, ‘Everything Looks Strange On TV’ by ben clemo is for all of us who are grappling with the uncertainty that’s constantly on the rise all around us. The instrumentation might make you think that the vocals would be soft, but they aren’t, and this choice is quite interesting because, the energetic, intensity driven vocals showcase the frustration, the confusion that is in line with the themes of the track. The instrumentation is not overtly complex and allows the vocals to be at the centrestage with its emotionality. If you are looking for a song that explores themes that stray from the usual, give this one a listen.
Jerusha - WAR
Enchanting you with ethereal vocals right from the get go, ‘WAR’ by Jerusha will make you feel like you are watching a Broadway show. The song has got a solid theatrical quality, the way it moves and builds. The song feels like a whole play in itself, with a start, an emotionally loaded climax, and then the move towards a cathartic acceptance. Lyrically, the song alludes to the many things we put ourselves through out of our love for someone and the hurt that consumes us when our sacrifices are not acknowledged. Musically brilliant, you should absolutely listen to this song to be wowed.
Fir the Band - Twin Bed
Synths from the 80s taking over the song with a contemporary polish all over the song, ‘Twin Bed’ by Fir the Band is an infectious dream pop track that is here to have you absolutely obsessed. The instrumentation is characterised by subtle and steady percussion, catchy guitar riffs, and swirling synths, creating lush sound textures. The soundscape moves from full textures to stripped down textures as the song changes in its intensity. Lyric wise the song is full of yearning and longing and the confusion that comes from not being sure about the other person’s feelings towards you, making it a song that will hit us right at the core.
Lottie Willis - Rosie
Featuring synths that are reminiscent of the retro synthpop age, ‘Rosie’ by Lottie Willis is coloured vibrantly with yearning and longing, the type that will have you imagining scenarios for yourself. The song is as emotionally loaded as it is energetically loaded, with its jumpy, upbeat synths and percussions. The textures of the song are thick and rich and are a pure sensory treat. The vocals are dynamic, as they shift beautifully from verse to chorus. Lyrically, the captures the yearning that colours young love, where nothing else seems more important than the person that’s taken over your mind and heart. The song also has every potential to be the new sapphic anthem.
K A T R I N A - Different Life
Gentle piano notes opening the track, ‘Different Life’ by K A T R I N A will have you absolutely enchanted with its uniquely beautiful soundscape. The sound the song takes on its cinematic, as it blends emotive R&B, electronic pop, and with tiny bits of jazz due to the occasional saxophone notes. Lyrically, the song reflects on the shock and then the acceptance that comes after, when you lose someone dear in your life. In its tones, the song captures grief as well as bittersweet acceptance and hope. With a soundscape that perfectly captures the mood of the song, this might help your heart feel seen too in its turmoil.
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