A selection of new and/or relevant Pop and Pop-leaning tracks that have recently left an impression on us. For the full playlist click here
XINTRA – “MIND”
“MIND” is the debut single by German artist XINTRA also known as Heiko Ritt, as part of his upcoming EP ‘Daydreams’. As a multidisciplinary creator, XINTRA uses vintage drum machines and a physical piano in this track, intertwining electronic and organic elements, resulting in a surreal and spectral atmospheric blend.
Using expansive synth, a muted rhythm like the soft, deep beating of a heart, and solemn, distorted vocals laden with reverb, XINTRA crafts an unearthly love song that is at once eerie and calming. As the track progresses, the murky vocals and indiscernible harmonising make you feel like you are listening underwater, building a complex soundscape defined by uncompromising quality. Enter the immersive soundscape of XINTRA’s “MIND” and let him guide you as you “swim in sounds and feelings” together.
Me.Kai – “MISSMELIKEU”
Me.Kai’s latest release “MISSMELIKEU” is an hyper-electro, Indie pop love song that grabs your hand and pulls you along onto the dance floor.
Self-described as “PINK PLANETARY POET”, Me.Kai serves up an irresistible sonic palette driven by bright synths and an upbeat, pulsing rhythm. With vibrant and well-structured electronic elements, it creates a fun and flirty charm that makes it feel light and addictive. Wrapped up in a glossy girlie-pop aesthetic with a tinge of nostalgia, the lyrics carry a subtle emotional edge, capturing the push and pull between confidence and quiet doubt. The catchy hook, cinematic reverb, and confident, self-assured vocal delivery come together to create a playful, high-energy sound. Full of groove, “MISSMELIKEU” will have you singing along and bopping your head as you hit replay.
50mething – “Gaza (On and on and On)”
Arising from Ealing, England, 50mething A.K.A Paul Jenner is a musical dynamo who professionally entered the limelight in his late fifties. Having mastered guitar, keys, vocals and lyrics, all from scratch, he has been recording all of his music in his home studio.
50mething makes “music to be mindful of” with songs that are lyric-driven, reflecting on current socio-political events through a lens of empathy and awareness with the intention of provoking public conversation. His recent single “Gaza (On and on and On)” embodies downtempo electronic textures by pairing rhythmic drums and guitar with soft, intentional vocals. Carrying sorrow and hopelessness, the track focuses on the futility of war, and the harrowing cycles of violence it perpetuates. The titular refrain “on and on and on” prompts you to question whether humanity has truly evolved when it still seems to possess a preposterous appetite for brutality and meaningless destruction.
