This edition of LITM Pop Picks brings to you pop-rock ballads, sombre piano driven tracks, and more. The list features artists Ryan Collins, Micayla Shafran, NINA and Radio Wolf, and more.
Ryan Collins - THE MADNESS
Conceptualising on the hysteria and frenzy surrounding basketball’s March Madness season, ‘THE MADNESS’ by Ryan Collins has celebration and exuberance woven into its every note and melody. The instrumentation is fancy and there is nothing subtle about it, as it brings together roaring guitars, pounding drum patterns, and jazz elements which give the song its luxurious feel and its tones of celebration. The vocals in the song are brimming with the excitement and grandeur that colours the instrumentation. Give the song a listen and before you know it it will have you head banging into the air and will have you joining in on the celebration of madness.
Micayla Shafran - Fallen
Starting off with sombre, achingly beautiful piano notes, ‘Fallen’ by Micayla Shafran feels like a dip into an ethereal world, into which you will find yourself drowning soon enough. The instrumentation is simple and is exquisite in its simplicity. It is largely built with stunningly crafted piano progressions, melancholic violins, and steady percussion patterns which give the song its grounding and rhythm. Micayla’s vocals are angelic and brimming with emotion, and if you close your eyes they may just transcend you to another world. Lyrically, the song captures the unglamorous side of love, where no matter how many times you fall or they fall, you do not seem to be able to move from them.
NINA with Radio Wolf - To See You
Bringing to you a magnetic synthwave soundscape, ‘To See You’ by Berlin based duo NINA and Radio Wolf will have you utterly obsessed with its stunningly crafted sound. The instrumentation appears dense but in actuality the song uses, very intelligently, only a few layers. Atmospheric synths that surround the track, guitar riffs that drive the track, and shifting, dynamic percussion patterns. NINA’s vocals are smooth and rich, and glide through the track and take on the instrumentation’s emotive tones impressively well. The guitar solo section that comes in towards the end of the song will sweep you off your feet. You have a new favourite awaiting you in the form of this track.
Adrian Sood - My Junky Friend
Starting off with reflective, emotive piano progressions, ‘My Junky Friend’ by Adrian Sood is a deeply vulnerable, and truthful track, and is everything you wouldn’t expect. With an incredibly, surprisingly gentle instrumentation which features light piano notes and accompanying light beats, the song sees the intertwining of addiction and desire and love. The song captures the idea of the escapism achieved through the usage of drugs, and sees how solace in partnered usage is favoured over love itself. The song’s musicality can be compared to that of Sufjan Stevens and the exceedingly gentle songs of Radiohead. A song really unique in its story, this one is a one of a kind sonic experience.
Fish And Scale - Letter from Paulus
Finding its source in something that transcends the everyday and whose echoes are heard through time, ‘Letter from Paulus’ by Fish And Scale gives you a retelling through song of one of the greatest reflections of love. The song is influenced by the “Hymn to Love” which comes in the bible under 1 Corinthians 13. The song takes the reflection and turns it into a stunning pop-rock ballad, which does complete justice to the emotions and the gravity of the tale. The vocals in the song are raw, rugged and in that they find a great capacity for emotion. Give this song a listen to introduce yourself to the tale or hear it in another form, but either way you will find yourself coming back to it many more times.
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