This edition of LITM Pop Picks brings to you old school pop, energetic pop-rock, piano driven tracks, and more. The list features artists Tiebreak, Kiey, Iri Antler and more.
Tiebreak - You Can't Bring That in Here, Our Drummer Has a Peanut Allergy
With a title that will have you undoubtedly immediately interested, ‘You Can't Bring That in Here, Our Drummer Has a Peanut Allergy’ by Tiebreak is the sound of the pop-rock music of today. The whole play between the bass guitar, the electric guitar feels so exciting and is the showstopper in the song. The shifts that come in throughout the track don't come totally unexpected, but they do come in in a way that will have your rewinding the track. The vocals accompanied by the backing vocals sound really good when they show up together. Lush, urgent in a way that feels intentional, and consisting of an anthemic energy, this song is everything that a song needs to be to top the pop-rock charts.
Kiey - Phan Thiet
Dream-like, and yet groovy at the same time, ‘Phan Thiet’ by Kiey brings together related genres to create a sound that will have you humming it long after the last note of the song has played out. The instrumentation brings together bedroom pop, indie-pop, and R&B, to make up a sound that is filled with lovely textures, laid-back grooves, and an irresistible rhythm.Kiey’s vocals also have that dreamy quality in them that fits beautifully with the atmosphere and the soundscape of the song. With such masterfully crafted production, this song deserves a good listen, and then many more.
Iri Antler - Finish Line
Emerging from a mindspace of frustration and helplessness, ‘Finish Line’ by Iri Antler has these emotions embedded in every single beat and riff of its sound. The instrumentation uses sharp beats, which does brilliantly in relaying that anger and frustration. Iri’s vocals have that searing quality while also being able to convey a raw vulnerability. Lyrically, the song asks how far are you willing to go and for how long in search of that “finish line.” The song brings together religious themes and ties them up with the existential crisis that stares you down through the song. With a unique conceptual framework this song is a very interesting listen.
VelumVelvet - Yellow Brick Roads (piano room)
Opening up with deeply reflective piano playing that wrenches your heart, ‘Yellow Brick Roads (piano room)’ by VelumVelvet takes a different route in thinking about the past. The song, as the name suggests, is piano driven, which brings about a whole different level of vulnerability to the track. Donna’s vocals are simply breathtaking, and will have your arms erupt in goosebumps through their honesty and vulnerability. The song does not approach the past through the lens of bittersweet nostalgia, but holds people accountable for what they did to her present. This song is made to be loved and its discovery to be cherished.
Ellijai - Outta Nowhere
Driven by an indie pop sound that will remind you of both the 2000s and the modern pop artists, ‘Outta Nowhere’ by Ellijai is a fresh sound, and one that will have you transported back to your younger days. The instrumentation is not saturated, but holds out sauce for all the different elements coming together to create layers. The shifts between spoken section and singing work greatly in favour of the song, and gives it that old school romcom feel. The song will remind you of Olivia Rodrigo in the current times, with its similar sounds and similar emotional lyrics that are oh so relatable.
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