This edition of LITM Pop Picks brings to you 2000s pop, cinematic emotional pop, and more. The list features artists ErickOscar, Maxwell Knowles, Fernando's Eyes, and more.
ErickOscar - Hold The Light
Soulful guitar strumming starting off the track, ‘Hold The Light’ by ErickOscar feels like a shoulder you can rest your heavy and tired head on. The instrumentation leans towards a soft rock sound with pop elements, and creates an expansive atmosphere that pulls you in magnetically. The arrangement is beautifully done, with gentle guitars holding the raw, vulnerable vocals and allowing them to be at the center of the track. The song will remind you of Lewis Capaldi’s music, owing to similar musical arrangements and lyrical and vocal styles. The lyrics are all about navigating distress and hopelessness with an eye on the light at the end of the tunnel.
Maxwell Knowles - The Fight for Forever
Grand, cinematic, and deeply emotionally resonant, ‘The Fight for Forever’ by Maxwell Knowles feels like a journey, an odyssey, where the destination is not predetermined. The musical production in the song is lush while holding enough space for each layer to shine through to give the song its epic-sounding, grandiose sound. Pianos, violins, and more come together with atmospheric electronic synths and beats, and creates a sound that culminates into something that stays with you. Maxwell vocals feel like a conversation, which adds to the genuineness in the track, and aids better engaged listening. The ebbs and flows in the song work beautifully, especially the bridge section where the lushness is stripped back and peak emotionality is reached.
Fernando's Eyes - Room On Fire
With a fiery yet enigmatic and dark sounding pop-rock sound driving the track, ‘Room On Fire’ by Fernando's Eyes will have you imagine windy nights and empty roads and swaying forests. The instrumentation can be said to be leaning towards a distinct goth-rock sound, and feels like a blend of sounds, that of The Cure and She Wants Revenge. The saxophone in the song comes across as a total surprise within the arrangement that is characterised by swirling and echoey electric guitars, steady, pulsating drum patterns. If you enjoy songs coloured with that tone of alluring darkness, then you must absolutely give this track a listen.
Nine Petals - Turn It Up Now! Hey Hey..
With a blend of reggae beats and R&B sound characterising the track, ‘Turn It Up Now! Hey Hey..’ feels like something that is straight out of a musical. The song has a fun, playful sound going for it which is also reflected in the lyrics. The slow-paced beats give the song a laid-back, relaxed sound with a slow, effective groove, which is the perfect kind of sound to unwind to or play for the mood setting. The dual male and female vocals in the song give the song a conversational tone, a story, which is quite engaging, because one begins to see themselves within the words of another.
Trey Bruce - All Americans
A super magnetic bass riff starting off the track, ‘All Americans’ by Trey Bruce is a sharp commentary on the political conditions of the States, making it extremely relevant and important given the times. The instrumentation leans towards an early 2000s pop sound, with hip-hop rhythms and arrangements. The vocals have the right balance of tones of inquisitiveness, of appeals, of persuasion, all of which is important when making a song with themes such as in this track. The lyrics consistently focus on the idea of equality of oneness, which is of paramount importance, not only with regards to America, but also the entire world.
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