On this edition of LITM Pop Picks, tracks take on a vast array of emotions over bright, sentimental soundscapes. The list features Thammarat, Akira Sky, Kris Kolls and more!
1. Thammarat - Normal
‘Normal’ by Themmarat is a rousing acoustic track that feels like a self-affirming anthem. Its lyrics describe this strong sense of personality, full of pride and bright affirmation. “...Didn’t ask to be different, always wanted to fit in…”.The lines acknowledge those dark, lonely moments of hurt that are now seemingly on the road to healing.
“...Normal is what you feel inside, the pulse that helps you find the light…”. We move from deep darkness to empowering light. A sentiment supported by bright guitar melodies and sounds. “...I raise my voice, I sing, I fight so all the kids can sleep at night…”. A fight song, warm with healing.
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2. Spinafex - Nothing
‘Nothing’ by Spinafex is a short, but bright guitar-led interlude that dwells on questions of identity. The lyrics juxtapose the track’s light, close to shoegaze feel with reflections on loneliness and identity. The narrator seems to question who they are, who their friends are while leaning on an answer that says they are nothing. A short, bright, dynamic rhythm and melody that heads towards a fearful, lonely and almost scared place.
The song feels like a bright stopping point, or a stepping stone that takes us onto the next while teasing a theme that feels deeply thought-provoking and sharp.
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3. Michellar - Cross My Heart
‘Cross My Heart’ by Michellar is a bright, synth-pop track fuelled by tight promise. The opening line, “...cross my heart, I will never leave you even when you shake my bones and break me…” highlights our narrator’s optimistic loyalty laid into this promise.
Bright melodies seem to take on a new light, while the narrator hopes that their pretty much living promise & loyalty is reciprocated. “...Promise me you’ll be here even when it’s empty…”. The soundscape compliments the lyrics and narrative with its expansive sound and rhythm. All full of love, promise and a bit of hate.
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4. Akira Sky - Block My Number
‘Block My Number’ by Akira Sky reels from heartbreak with no closure. “...I feel weird, I want to see you again…”, backed by acoustic guitars that feel wistful with heartbroken longing. The narrator seems frustrated that they can’t simply forget, wanting to move on like their ex seems to have. The track’s subtle percussion feels distant, like movement is present but alludes the song, just as closure seems to allude the narrator. The final lines of the song, “...block my number, give me closure…”, almost beg for closure with a vulnerable, close to impassioned plea.
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5. Kris Kolls - Joy
‘Joy’ by Kris Kolls feels like healing after the heartbreak with bright piano melodies and rhythms that feel slow, expansive and vulnerable. The soundscape here feels like a stand-in for the slow stretch towards healing and growth, acknowledging the joy after hurt. The energetic movement after stagnancy.
“...Each day begins like a brand new start…that’s the joy that fills my heart…”. Now, to the narrator, “...time has healed what once as raw…”. And now they “...smile in the sunlight…”. The song moves through what feels like growing pains, healing what was once lost and moving on.
Listen here:
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