This edition of LITM Pop Picks brings to you songs packed with emotion and instrumentations so varied that you’ll find yourself adding each and every one to your playlist. The list features artists Jacqui Beaa, Dust Cwaine, Ambraya, and more.
Jacqui Beaa - Grid Me
Echoing the current times where relationships are measured quite a bit through social media engagement, ‘Grid Me’ by Jacqui Beaa brings together good old pop energy with modern themes. With the instrumentation it uses, the song leans towards a pop rock energy. The guitars in the song are full of groove and dynamics, while Beaa’s vocals are fun, witty, and full of sarcasm, making it the perfect pop lyric delivery. The key change towards the end heightens the emotionality in the song. Relatable and fun, this song is perfect for a group sing along on a car drive through town.
Dust Cwaine - Twin Lakes
Muffled beats introducing us to the song, ‘Twin Lakes’ by Dust Cwaine is the kind of indie pop song you play when you are on a drive pretending you are running away from all the pain. The song weaves together ideas of past trauma and home that once was, and thereby has themes of generational pain and unresolved grief. The song doesn’t have heavy instrumentation and is instead delicately layered which lets the emotiveness in the lyricism shine through beautifully. Honest, raw, and achingly vulnerable, this song deserves a listening session with the world all quiet around you so you can let the lyrics speak to you.
Ambraya - Nightfall city
Sombre piano notes and equally sombre vocals starting off the track, ‘Nightfall city’ by Ambraya has all the qualities that will fit it perfectly within a musical. The song blends pop, jazz and soul to create a dramatic sound. There is a vintage touch to the skillful vocals which makes you think of movies with dark, brooding characters. At the 2:34 minute mark the song ascends to a whole another level altogether, which further increases the theatricality of the song. Full of depth and equally full of musical and vocal brilliance , this one is no doubt a must listen.
Micki XO - Power Outage
Hypnotic and alluring, ‘Power Outage’ by Micki XO is an intoxicating electronic pop and dance pop track that might just be your new favourite in the genre. The song juxtaposes two different moods. While the beats are groovy and fun, the lyrics allude to pressure and tiredness from engaging the world as it is today. This juxtaposition can act as an unexpected cathartic release – you letting your hair loose and shaking off all the weariness and giving into the beats. Relatable and so very groovy, this song is the perfect kind of stress buster after a long day of hustling.
Lera Shemi - such a gooD boy
Edgy, dark, and simply irresistible, ‘such a gooD boy’ by Lera Shemi blends industrial pop and alternative pop sounds to create a sound that will have you hooked from the first note. Thumping, upbeat, and steaming with energy, this song will literally not allow you to sit all poised and quiet – it will demand that you move along to its beats. The vocals and the overall tone also add a sultry touch to the song that acts as a cherry on top. The track is very different in all the best ways from the generic pop sound that is dominating the music industry at present, which is exactly why you need to listen to it.
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