From festive bops to dance-worthy beats, this LITM Pop Picks list features Fons & the Chargers, Michellar, Vacant Shores, Leopold Nunan and E.L.W.12.
1. Fons & the Chargers The Last Little Christmas Tree
This festive song by Fons & the Chargers is sure to bring you some end-of-the-year holiday cheer! ‘The Last Little Christmas Tree’ is a whimsical take on the infamous, yet underrated symbol of Christmas himself- the tree! The lyrics dance to a groovy beat, with amusing descriptions of a wobbly bobbly Christmas tree which is “perfect as can be”, capturing the essence of the holiday season – cherishment. The vocals deliver a smooth and funky syllabic singing style at some parts of the song, while the brass section, piano and drums accompany joyfully with solid grooves. The bassline adds to the swing by delivering a great boogie style one can dance to, and with all this, the track makes for a fun ode to a Christmas tree.
2. Michellar ft Lillian- CROSSED
Another great track to dance to, but in the EDM genre is Michellar’s CROSSED featuring Lillian. With a catchy and euphoric vibe, the song taps into shuffle-y rhythms, melodic pops and swirling synths to bring out the youthful energy, worthy of a good dance number. The verses build up a great dark tension using ambient bass notes, and the chorus brings in the release in good measure. The vocal lines are smooth and dynamic, and the added harmonies are a standout feature. If you’re looking for a trippy, danceable song from the house genre that would be a hit at the party, this is a good recommendation.
3. Vacant Shores- Flat Circle
Bristol-based dark-pop band Vacant Shores have released their latest track ‘Flat Circle’, a funky yet meditative groove that’s sure to have your feet tapping and head buzzing. The song is a product of the EDM genre, leaning heavily into the vocal trance category with its use of mesmeric synths and vocal flourishing. The atmospheric vibe creates northern lights imagery using layers of thin, hypnotic chords, with exploding bright tones, much like bursts of colour in the dark. The vocals are also a standout feature with minimal distortions to echo the instrumentation, and along with that, there’s also the element of vacant moments with just the synths that’ll leave space for breathing, allowing for the listener to nestle in fully. All in all, a trippy earworm to sink your teeth into!
4.Feliz Navidad- Leopold Nunan
Another festive one in the lineup is this fun, celebratory cover of José Feliciano’s Feliz Navidad. While the original has the ‘90s vintage charm of instrumentation and vocals, the cover brings the same energy of vibes and joy, but with different elements and chirpy tones, with its use of instrumentation. The genre leans into tropical or Latin pop with a hint of a bossa nova style of rhythm, and the track brings in a great balance of rustic vocals with some panpipe frills and quintessential Latino flourishes. If you’re thinking less snowy, more summery, southern hemisphere Christmas cheer, look no further than Leopold Nunan’s Feliz Navidad!
5. E.L.W.12 – Fast Lane
E.L.W.12’s latest ‘Fast Lane’ is the recipe for endless shuffle with its foot-tapping and engaging syncopation. Surfacing from the thriving electronic music genre, the track uses many frills and special effects to create a string of dynamic hooks using a combination of beats, hooks and vocal techniques. It also uses slick ambient bass segments to highlight the lead singer, and while the lead vocals retain the velvety timbre for the most part, the artist isn’t shy of adding electronic infusions to the vocals for variety. Overall, a great bop to wrap up this list with, and definitely a song worth checking out!
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