In this edition of LITM Pop Picks, we feature unforgettable releases from artists TANKATAKA, ELDERLY WHITE MAN, Matthew Bonnan, Asta Bria, and Alex Cambridge.
TANKATAKA - Anesthesia
Ukrainian indie-pop singer, songwriter, and producer Tetiana Kozhukharenko brings captivating soundscapes under the musical banner TANKATAKA. Her music serves as a medium to explore and reflect on human emotions and experiences–both the beauty and tragedy in it–through affecting melodies and eloquent lyricism. The latest release, Anesthesia tells a hard-hitting story of a young woman that survived a missile strike in the on-going war in Ukraine and the emotional aftermath of enduring such trauma. The soundscape, made of somber, contemplative synths and pulsing beats, takes a brooding, melancholic tone. TANKATAKA’s magnetic voice draws immersive melodies that heave with the pain, shock, and grief in the story. Anesthesia masterfully captures the devastating and bleak consequences of the war, the worst one of which is driving humans to a state of non-feeling, to numbness. Listen here!
ELDERLY WHITE MAN - Only Memories
We’re no strangers here to the memorable soundscapes of ELDERLY WHITE MAN, a Portugal-based duo bringing you music that feels like a trip to the sonic aesthetics of the 80s and 90s on a 21st century-made musical vessel. Their sound blends the timeless with the modern in a truly original and refreshing fashion. The latest release, Only Memories, is teeming with exuberant, radiant instrumentation, expressive vocals, and heartwarming lyricism. An ode to the bittersweet comfort and joy of nostalgia, the song radiates an uplifting and healing warmth. A mosaic of sonic textures–guitars, synths, bells, beats–converge mesmerically, each one galloping, glowing, shimmering, and chiming in unison, creating a musical backdrop that feels energetic, grand, and enthralling. The singer’s vocals, raw and resonant, delivers earworm melodies, soaked in sincerity and soft-feeling. Only Memories will definitely get you hitting that replay button instantly. Listen here!
Matthew Bonnan - A Sound of Thunder (And Lawn Care)
Self-taught musician and producer, Matthew Bonnan is a dinosaur paleontologist and singer/songwriter, not two descriptions you would usually see together. And that is exactly the spirit of his soundscapes, unique and unforgettable. His lyricism, with witty, humorous, and imaginative quotients, is a medium for science outreach, bringing you both personal and historic stories. A Sound of Thunder (And Lawn Care) is a single from the latest album An Ode to Everything. With bits of time travel and dinosaur lore, the song tells the story of a pristine lawn in the most intriguing and immersive way. The soundscape has a nostalgic pop-rock vibe, and is laden with luminous piano notes, swelling synths, and airy percussion. The steady and soft rhythm is not hurrying or rushing, allowing you to settle into the story and be transported to the Jurassic era. Matthew Bonnan’s singing, expressive and excited, colors the story with a sense of infectious wonder, making this song memorable and enjoyable. Listen here!
Asta Bria - Dream No6
Talented composer, virtuoso violinist, and eloquent lyricist Asta Bria envelops you in the plush, joyful, and warm embrace of her stunning pop soundscapes. Imbued with the wealth of experience, ingenuity, and mastery gained over her long musical journey, Asta Bria’s compositions are a class apart. The latest release, Dream No6 takes shape through prismatic riffs, lively rhythms, and radiant vocals. Opening with the vibrant and exuberant guitars, the song sets the spirits high right from the start. Segueing into a more softer, tender passage, the music highlights Asta Bria’s delicate and velvety vocals soaked in emotion. Swelling strings, thumping drums, bright guitars, and orchestral directions take the music to soaring highs, taking your soul along to these infectiously jubilant and exuberant realms. Dream No6 leaves you feeling invigorated and full of life. Listen here!
Alex Cambridge - Rupture
Singer-songwriter Alex Cambridge takes you through wistful, mystical, and immersive folk, country sonic realms. Defined by honest and vulnerable storytelling, her soundscapes are evocative and resonate deeply with the listener. The latest release Rupture, reaches for your heart with its incisive melancholy and immersive emotional openness. Swirling, wistful atmospherics welcome contemplative, gleaming guitars, creating a ruminative, somber soundscape. A gentle, yet driving beat propels the sound forward. Emerging from this absorbing ebb and flow of music, is the arresting vocals of the singer. Mature and masterful, descending with the weight of grief and pain, the voice glides between ethereal harmonies, towering highs, and heavy lows with a divine grace and captivating poise. Rupture is a deeply moving and heart rending release. Listen here!
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