From soulful synth pop to vintage-modern blends, this editon of LITM Pop Picks brings you variety! Featuring artists Laela, PLAYKNOW, Kim Rysstad, One Empty Toybox, Matt Deangelis and Annika Bellamy.
1. Laela – Together
If you’re in the mood for slow, soft escapism with a catchy hook to sink into, Laela’s ‘Together’ is a great place to start. It is one of those songs you would get totally lost into, with its hazy mix of loosely bound synth notes, hypnotic, swirly undercurrent that slowly drawing you in, along with vocals that wash over you like foamy waves. The tone is a moody blue, with instrumental textures interwoven together to form one cohesive groove, where the singer swerves around the rhythm. This synth pop track is short, yet high impact, check it out here-
2. PLAYKNOW, Kim Rysstad – Is It So Hard To Be Good
With silky instrumental backdrops, a shimmering atmospheric haze, and lyrics like “We don’t need kings or queens, we need someone who sees us,” PLAYKNOW and Kim Rysstad give listeners the perfect 3 a.m. material. ‘Is It So Hard To Be Good’ is not just a fun dance groove, but also poses several thoughtful questions we normally ponder upon. The arrangement brings a vibrant mesh of textures, including fluttery and smooth synth lines, a distinctly gruff bassline that anchors the framework into one solid plane as the fluid vocals drift in and out of the instrumental layers, and a soft atmospheric iridescence blanketing the track. Listen here:
3. One Empty Toybox – Cyberstalking
One Empty Toybox brings an unusually trippy and experimental mix from the synth-pop sphere in their new track ‘Cyberstalking’. The song’s eccentricities come from two distinct tones: one being an unnatural, glitchy synth pattern meant to bring a bit of unease, and the other, grungy and almost humorous. The line “unknowingly hunting” feels quite tongue-in-cheek alongside the humorous hook, remaining true to their ‘toybox’ name. In isolation, the sounds wouldn’t make sense, but they work well when put together, giving rise to organized chaos and near-tactile levels of instrumental texture. Check it out here-
4. Matt Deangelis – Playing God
Matt DeAngelis’s latest track ‘Playing God’ is a catchy, fun tune for your next holiday or gathering, with its playful unravelling of synths, sharp lyrics, and vintage-modern style blends. The instruments—including synth, piano, drums, and guitar—interlap textures ranging from clean and buttery to gruff and hazy, creating new riffs and flourishes that get into a jive-like groove while building on the texture. You can expect a sly, talent-packed vocal riff at the end that trails off into a fade-out that won’t go unnoticed! Definitely one for the indie-pop lists.!
5. Annika Bellamy – That’s What I’m Thinking
Sometimes you just want to kick your shoes off, sip on a drink, and put on some positive, peppy music; Annika Bellamy’s ‘That’s What I’m Thinking’ is just that. Overall, it’s a fun hang with catchy instrumentation—stylish brass, a wandering bass, and soft backing vocals supporting the singer. The vocalist has a satisfyingly thick timbre to her voice, and listening to the song feels like the singer is sat right next to you as she delivers cheeky, read-between-the-lines lyrics. The Southern California-based artist crafts a funky pop soundscape with cozy harmonies, successfully carving out a niche between peppy and cozy where one line just slides into the next.
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