This edition of LITM Pop Picks brings rich compositions that reach for your heart from artists Cassandra Liu, Mystery Friends, Helena May, Linda Sussman, and The Heroic Enthusiasts.
Cassandra Liu - Chaos Is Me
Chinese American songwriter-producer-vocalist Cassandra Liu crafts an expansive and visceral dark-pop sound in her debut single "Chaos Is Me." In the lyricism, she celebrates the power and liberation inherent in chaos and embodies these formidable qualities in her psyche. She expertly brings out the dark allure and beauty of this phenomenon through a stirring fusion of synth, pop, and electronica sounds. The music takes shape with pulsating bass melodies, swirling synth ambiance, and a slow-building tempo, gradually developing into a fierce and magnificent soundscape. The might of her vocals adds dynamism to the music and elevates the song’s appeal to soaring heights. Cassandra fuses the brilliance of rich and cinematic production with powerful lyricism to create music that engulfs you in its tones and themes. Listen here!
Mystery Friends - serotonin
Witness disco-pop and synth-pop revival like no other in Mystery Friends’ latest release serotonin. Coming alive with the vibrancy of synth textures and the energy of disco music, the song instantly lifts your mood, like serotonin. The sprawling synth atmosphere glows warmly with undulating tunes, pumping basslines, airy percussions, and harmonic echoes heightening the cheer. The singer’s light and velvety vocals infuse the music with elation and love. Mystery Friends impress with their refreshing style, blending upbeat rhythms with breezy instrumentation, and nostalgic aesthetics with modern sensibilities. It is a feel-good track that will linger in your mind and in your playlists. Listen to serotonin by Mystery Friends here!
Helena May - Lifetime Supply
Helena May sweeps you off your feet with her rendition of funk grooves and soul music in Lifetime Supply. Her infectious energy and passion spills onto you, through spirited vocal performance, lively beats, and moving lyricism. Pulsating guitar plucks, warm funky basslines and vibrant riffs set a buoyant mood to the music, which is heightened by the thumping beats and warm synth haze. Her voice is the most striking feature of the track, strutting with charming confidence and conviction through the music, declaring every word with raw emotion. Teeming with pop characteristics, the music also retains the authenticity of funk-soul styles, rendering a sound that is entirely unique to Helena May. She claims this aesthetic with an unforgettable charisma and delivers an impressive performance. Listen to Lifetime Supply here!
Linda Sussman - Win or Lose
NY-based, award-winning singer-songwriter Linda Sussman channels her emotional and musical maturity into a poignant soundscape in Win or Lose. The alt-folk, blues artist weaves a stripped-back yet stirring tapestry of melodies by combining evocative singing, poetic lyricism, and pristine instrumentation. The bluesy guitar riffs, vivid acoustic strums, and reflective ambiance create a soft melancholic glow to the music, over which the luminous voice of Linda Sussman forms magical patterns of tune and tale. She narrates a fateful story of romance with the utmost sincerity and emotionality, encapsulating in her vocals feelings of grief, longing, and heartache. The guitar solos reach for your soul with their character and clarity, consuming in the rise and fall of their melodies. Win or Lose is a masterful creation from Linda Sussman that hides emotional grandeur behind its seemingly simplistic sonic design. Listen here!
The Heroic Enthusiasts - You Don’t Own Me (The Heroic Enthusiasts Remixes)
The Heroic Enthusiasts revive the charisma and appeal of Lesley Gore’s hit song ‘You Don’t Own Me’ in their remixed version, You Don’t Own Me (The Heroic Enthusiasts Remixes). The electronic music duo does not hold back, unleashing sound that is intriguing and cinematic, yet embodying the originality of the classic version, a feat that is rare and commendable. The duo treats us to two versions: an electronica anthem that is brimming with energy and passion, and a grand dramatic piece with rousing production. They incorporate a mosaic of percussion textures, pumping basslines, and swelling synths in the production to heighten the emotionality of the sound. Lesley Gore’s vocals rise tall above the soundscapes, with towering expressions and tender utterances pieced together in seamless patterns. You Don’t Own Me (The Heroic Enthusiasts Remixes) is an exquisite recreation, claiming a place of its own in the history of the classic song. Listen here!
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