Experience love, longing, and hope through expansive soundscapes in LITM Pop Picks this week, with artists Abbey Scott, Grace McLean, Xan Palma, Mesmershade, and Hollywood Principle.
Abbey Scott - Nobody
Los Angeles-based artist Abbey Scott revives the glamor of retro synth-pop melodies in her single, Nobody. The song is an instant boost of confidence, encouraging you to block out the noise from the naysayers, and the nobodies, and to embrace your best self with pride and love. The music has all the sensibilities of an infectious pop anthem–catchy hooks, groovy rhythm, and charismatic vocals–with potent mood-lifting effects. You get a funk-pop feel throughout the music in the heavy warbling basslines, swirling synth spreads, and bright guitar riffs, and yet there is a modern flair to the production, reviving the nostalgia with a refreshing style. The sheer boldness and drama in her vocals dazzle your senses and evoke a sense of carefree elation. Listen to Nobody by Abbey Scott here!
Grace McLean - Albertine
Grace McLean, an actor-singer-writer, orchestrates a rousing symphony of melodies in Albertine. She weaves together the visceral and the cerebral, tying the two realms in an intricate tapestry of sounds and stories. Intriguing sonic textures- piano, violins, cello, and gentle percussions invite you into an expansive soundscape, with your only guide—Grace’s voice, ethereal and mellifluous—helping you navigate the trenches and peaks of the music. Staying true to her defiance of duality, she transforms a sparse musical backdrop into an epitome of abundance, treating you to a sound that is calming yet cathartic. Albertine is the opening track of her debut album ‘My Lovely Enemy’ and gives you a gripping introduction to the degree of musical sophistication and emotional abstraction in Grace McLean’s artistry. Listen here!
Xan Palma - Kiss Me Through the Phone
Kiss Me Through the Phone by Xan Palma is a pop-rock anthem for long-distance lovers. Xan Palma, a Nashville-based musician, creates a distinctive and captivating sound that is a melting pot of genres, reflecting her diverse musical influences. With her roots in country, classical, and jazz music, her style has evolved to incorporate rock, country western, and global music. In this song, thumping drums drive the rhythm as distortion-soaked riffs inject the music with passion and intensity. Her voice is the star of the show, melodic and emphatic, embodying the frustration, desire, and love explored in the lyrics. The production is uncomplicated and neat, allowing you to savor the warm basslines, synth tunes, and other tasteful sonic elements. The rock energy and pop aesthetics give you the melodrama of the story with a hopeful and positive feel, making it an entertaining experience. Listen here!
Mesmershade - Postmarked
We’re no strangers to the mesmerizing soundscapes and manufactured melancholia of Mesmershade. In their single Postmarked, we get a contemplative indie-pop sound that outlines the intense longing and passionate love in a long-distance romance. The music is immersive and engrossing, absorbing you in the anxiety and sadness of separation, yet it gives you glimpses of the hope and love that pervades this deep connection. Piano melodies glisten through the soundscape, tangled in a waltz with the velvety vocals, over the hazy glow of the choir-like synth backdrop. This dance is anchored to a slow rhythm of thumping beats, giving the music depth and dynamism. In a seamless expanse of melody, the vocals and the lyrics come together like matter and energy, forming a musical entity capable of expressing emotions and connecting with the audience. Listen to Postmarked by Mesmershade here!
Hollywood Principle - Run Away
Run Away by Hollywood Principle featuring AL3JANDRO, is electronica exuberance with a sublime sonic design and stunning vocal display. Hollywood Principle is an electronic music group hailing from San Diego, CA and they paint a vivid canvas of sprawling synth spreads, pulsing beats, and evocative vocals in Run Away. In its magnetic sound, the song holds a sense of adventure, thrill, and passion that the human spirit yearns to chase. This feeling is injected into the listener, engulfing the senses in its intensity and instantly invigorating your soul. Within the deep and immersive layers of sounds—towering melodies, heart-racing rhythm, trickling electronic chimes, and airy whooshes—you can easily find yourself lost in trance, moving to the steady flashes of textured beats. Listen to Run Away here!
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