ReportWire

Tag: alt-pop

  • Introducing You To Alt-Pop Visionary Erin LeCount

    [ad_1]

    As far as alternative music goes, Erin LeCount is paving her own path. Taking inspiration from artists like Fiona Apple, Kate Bush, Lorde, Imogen Heap, Charli xcx, and Sampha, it’s no wonder the result is brilliant. Hovering in her own realm between alt-pop and synth-pop, Erin LeCount’s sound is distinctly her own, and you don’t want to miss out on it. Her most recent single, ‘I BELIEVE,’ follows two others: ‘808 HYMN’ and ‘MACHINE GHOST.’ With the thundering beat of a drum backing her equally forceful vocals, each song packs a punch. So if you’ve been looking for an artist who’s as powerful as she is honest, read on. We’re going to highlight each of her most recent singles and tell you exactly why you need to look out for Erin LeCount.

    ‘I BELIEVE’

    This song is a great introduction to Erin if you value vulnerability in music. Immediately, she throws us into existential questioning. What is the meaning of life? How do we find it, given the current state of the world? In this song, she searches desperately for answers. We’ll let you, the listeners, decide for yourselves whether or not she finds them. But she seems to have landed at something solid by the end of the song. If not answers, at least a belief that she will find them someday.

    “‘I BELIEVE’ is a cynical, existential song about apathy, passiveness in your own life, disillusionment with the state of the world, what it feels like to turning to every possible external source to tell you how to feel and exist – religion, self help books, magazines, astrology, lovers, antidepressants. I wrote it about a pursuit of perfection, faith and meaning soundtracked to relentless synth pop production.”

    Erin LeCount

    ‘MACHINE GHOST’

    In this haunting track, Erin explores the feeling of dissociation. She muses about her relationship with her own body, and that body’s relationship to the world around her. Between the sound, lyrics, and music video, she conveys exactly what she needs to. ‘MACHINE GHOST’ tells a story of being lost, and of trying to claw your way back to yourself. And as we listen, it’s impossible not to be fully immersed.

    “’MACHINE GHOST’ is a song about dissociation, the feeling of separation from your body in everyday life, at parties and the most intimate moments. It’s about going to extreme lengths to try and evoke some feeling again, no matter what it takes and what risk it involves, seeking cheap thrills and painful pleasure. An observation of my own body, relationships and my take on what it means to be both the ghost, and the machine.”

    Erin LeCount

    ‘808 HYMN’

    Listening to these three songs altogether, it is clear that Erin knows exactly what she wants to do with her music. Her sound is confident and cohesive without getting boring. Although hers is a voice that we could hear and instantly recognize, no two songs sound the same. We can hear the inspiration from all the artists she notes as her influences come together in this song in particular. Quite like Lorde’s Virgin, for example, she blends deeply human lyrics with an experimental electronic sound. And she nails it.

    If you loved these songs, the good news is it doesn’t end there. Discover the rest of Erin LeCount’s songs wherever you listen to music, and lose yourself in her world. Once you’ve become familiar (obsessed) with all of her tracks, join us in seeing what she does next. If anything is clear, it’s that this is just the beginning for Erin. Head over to @thehoneypop on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to keep watch with us!

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ERIN LECOUNT: 
    INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | WEBSITE | YOUTUBE

    [ad_2]

    Caitlyn Tarney

    Source link

  • X. Ari’s New EP, Neuroplastic As Tarot Cards

    X. Ari’s New EP, Neuroplastic As Tarot Cards

    [ad_1]

    We at The Honey POP love Toronto alt-pop artist, X. ARI. Her previously released singles, ‘Frenemy’ and ‘Lifeline‘ got us hooked. We’ve been anxiously awaiting her new EP, Neuroplastic and it’s finally out! Neuroplastic is all about X. ARI’s mental health journey. While it’s personal to her, the tracks will resonate with anyone who’s also ever struggled with mental illnesses. You can stream Neuroplastic on Spotify! While listening to the EP, we found parallels between the tracks and tarot cards.

    ‘Neuroplastic’ — Justice

    The title track is all about taking accountability and putting in the work needed to heal. And the Justice card represents cause and effect. If you put in the effort, it will make a difference!

    “If I want to be rewired, it’s up to me to build my powerhouse.
    Construct a fortified force field, shelter of love,
    morphing ’til I’m healed.”

    ‘Frenemy’ — The Tower

    There’s no denying that sonically, ‘Frenemy’ is an absolute bop. But the song itself is about the chaos of bipolar disorder. The Tower card is just like it looks. It represents chaos and destruction. Although it’s always temporary, it doesn’t necessarily make the situation easier.

    “I used to pretend it wouldn’t happen again,
    ’cause when he shows up everything blows up.”

    ‘Thank Me’ — Strength

    This is one of our favorite songs from the EP. ‘Thank Me’ is all about inner strength. Sometimes we don’t give ourselves enough credit, especially when mental illness is involved. Even just taking it one day at a time is an accomplishment!

    “The biggest champion I need is me.
    Now I gotta thank me.”

    ‘How Are You Really?’ — The Hermit

    ‘How Are You Really?’ may be a short song title, but it packs a big question. Especially if “I’m fine” is your “go to line.” The Hermit represents introspection and self-reflection. If you ask yourself, you’ll find an answer to ‘How Are You Really?’

    “Why bother with the small talk?
    Let’s get to the hard stuff, like healing.”

    ‘Lifetime’ — The Star

    ‘Lifeline’ is about self-forgiveness. We chose The Star because it represents positivity and healing, especially after going through a difficult time. In the deck, it comes directly after The Tower card (like we said earlier, represents chaos and destruction), which makes it even more meaningful.

    “Give me forgiveness, give me a chance to carry on.
    Heal from the past, break free at last.”

    ‘RIP’ — Death

    Okay, this one is kind of obvious, but it matches up perfectly. Just like ‘RIP,’ the Death card is all about transformation and rebirth. Despite its appearance, it’s honestly one of the most positive cards in the deck, in our opinion.

    “If I gotta bury the old me, I’ll dig my grave.
    Anything to save my sanity, gonna be born again.”

    So, what do you think of our picks for X. ARI’s new EP, Neuroplastic? Have any additions you’d like to add? And what do you think of Neuroplastic? Let us know on Facebook, Instagram, or by tweeting us @thehoneypop!

    Want more tarot content? We got you, honey!

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT X. ARI:
    FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | SPOTIFY | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

    [ad_2]

    Aera Ahn

    Source link

  • 5 Mark Ambor Lyrics You Need To Scream At The Rockwood Tour

    5 Mark Ambor Lyrics You Need To Scream At The Rockwood Tour

    [ad_1]

    If you haven’t heard of Mark Ambor yet, brace yourself because we know the whole world will buzz about him sooner rather than later! Hailing from small-town New York, Mark has nailed his own refreshing brand of alt-pop guaranteed to pull at your heartstrings and get you on your feet. His singles and EPs so far have racked up hundreds of millions of streams, and we can’t wait to hear his debut Rockwood album, which he wrote and produced in his childhood home. Make sure you pre-save it and give it a listen on August 16th!

    But that’s not all we have to look forward to! Starting in October, Mark is heading out on his worldwide Rockwood Tour, trekking across the U.S. and Europe through the spring. We already know these shows will be full of life and make amazing memories. To celebrate Mark’s success and get you excited for the Rockwood Tour, we’re choosing five lyrics you’ll need to yell at the top of your lungs if you get tickets! And Mark, feel free to take notes on this while you’re preparing the setlist. 

    “You and me belong together like cold iced tea and warmer weather…”

    ‘Belong Together’ is, simply put, one of the cutest love songs we’ve ever heard, and there are so many lyrics we debated putting here. But we ultimately decided on this one because it really speaks to the bond between two people who love each other… much like the bond you notice between a performer and a passionate crowd at a concert. How fun would it be to sing about warmer weather at the European shows or daydream about summer at the colder U.S. stops?

    “I’ll be singing to the lights of a crowded sold-out room…”

    First step: we need our fellow Mark fans to sell out as many of the Rockwood Tour shows as possible. Second step: yell this line from ‘I Hope It All Works Out’ back at him as loudly as possible! The song beautifully explores heartbreak and nostalgia, while this line looks forward to a future where Mark gets to pursue his dreams and find excitement in his life even if the relationship didn’t work out how he hoped.

    “We might be lost, but we’ll find our way…”

    Being in the right fandom can really feel like a found family, and we hope all Mark Ambor lovers get that comforting feeling around fellow fans! It’d be so special to sing this lyric from ‘Our Way’ with an audience as passionate about Mark’s music as you are. And can you imagine how powerful it would be to hear an entire crowd echoing this hopeful line? We have chills just thinking about it.

    “Damn it, it’s so good to be alive!”

    This lyric appears in ‘Belong Together’ and ‘Good To Be,’ so there’s a bit of a double whammy here! And yes, you should scream it both times if both songs make it onto Mark’s setlist. Concerts are one of the most thrilling things any music lover can experience, so singing along with this lyric will make you appreciate the present moment. It’d also be an adorable Instagram caption for your post-show photo dump!

    “All the ways that I’ve held on to every single moment, all the promises you’ve broken…”

    We got a little preview of Mark’s Rockwood track ‘Academy Street,’ with a title paying homage to his hometown, on a TikTok Live, and this line has lived in our heads rent-free since then. When you look back on a relationship, you probably see a mosaic of the good and bad times in your head: romanticizing the happy memories and still reeling a bit at the sad ones. This lyric will be so cathartic to sing along to for anyone who’s had their heart broken, along with the rest of the impactful bridge!

    Which of these lyrics is your favorite? Is there a certain song you’re hoping to hear live on the Rockwood Tour? Be sure to grab your tickets, then tell us your thoughts in the comments below, or hit us up on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter! 

    Check out more sweet music recs! 

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MARK AMBOR:
    FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | WEBSITE

    [ad_2]

    Madison Murray

    Source link

  • Interview: Haven’t Heard Of Alt-Pop Artist Caroline Romano? ‘It Doesn’t Matter,’ We’ll Introduce You!

    Interview: Haven’t Heard Of Alt-Pop Artist Caroline Romano? ‘It Doesn’t Matter,’ We’ll Introduce You!

    [ad_1]

    Ever since we saw her on tour with Smallpools and Grayscale this past spring, we’ve been absolutely obsessed with alt-pop artist, Caroline Romano. We immediately went home and did a deep dive into her discography and fell even more in love with her music. We’re so excited because we have an exclusive interview with Caroline Romano where we get to know more about the 22 year old musician, talk about her past tour experience, and more. Let’s jump right in!

    Hello and welcome to The Honey POP! We’re so excited to have you! For our readers who may be unfamiliar with your music, could you introduce yourself? 
    Hi! Thank you so much for having me! My name is Caroline Romano, I’m 22 years old, and I’m an artist and songwriter based in Nashville, Tennessee. 

    Which artists and/or genres influence your music? 
    I feel like this is an ever fluctuating answer, but some staple influences of mine are artist2s like Holly Humberstone, Twenty-One Pilots, Noah Kahan, Charlotte Sands, and Taylor Swift. I love anything very lyric-centered over weird guitar or drum sounds. 

    Image source: Kelsey Runge

    Was there a pivotal point in your life where you knew that you wanted to make a career out of music? Or is it something that has always been on your dreamboard of life? 
    Music has always been one of the most important aspects of my life. Even as a little kid, I remember finding so much comfort listening to CDs in my mom’s minivan on the way to kindergarten in the morning. It’s always where I’ve felt most like myself. I think a really pivotal moment for me though was the first time I came to Nashville when I was thirteen. I had started writing songs about a year earlier, and I wanted to play some open mic nights around the city. I remember getting on stage at this tiny college bar as a 7th grader, singing a song I wrote in my bedroom to a room full of strangers, and just feeling so at peace. It’s one of the only moments in my life where I’ve felt so incredibly sure about something that it was undeniable. I know from that first show that music was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I couldn’t live without it. 

    You’ve released a ton of amazing music over the last few years. What’s your writing and recording process like? 
    The writing and recording process looks a little different each time, which is partly what I love about it. I’m a very lyrics driven person, so that’s typically where it always begins with me. I’ll have a line or an overall idea, or even just an emotion I want to start writing about. Whether that’s to a guitar by myself in my bedroom or to a track with a producer varies from situation to situation. I love writing both ways though, I think it’s cool how much writing to track vs just to an instrument influences the overall song. I typically record vocals in one of my friends’ studios, which are always in their homes. I really love that environment, feeling like we’re all just hanging out and tracking at the same time. 

    You just released a new single, ‘Doesn’t Matter,’ which we absolutely love. Do you have a favorite lyric from it? 
    Thank you!! I think my favorite lyric is “I won’t ask if you kissed her, it doesn’t matter – – where you go on the weekend” just because of the double meaning it’s sort of showcasing for the entire song. 

    The Night Shift Tour with Smallpools and Grayscale is your first time on tour. Congrats! What’s been your favorite part about touring? 
    Thank you so much!! I had the absolute time of my life on tour. Live performance has always been just so important to me. It’s where I feel the most like myself, and where I feel like I get to connect with people the most. I’d say my favorite part of touring is just getting to do what I love every night, with a band that I love, and meet so many new people and see so many new places. 

    What’s your favorite memory from the tour?
    I’d say my favorite memory from the tour happened in LA when we played the El Rey theater. I was really nervous just because it was such a big show, but I go out there and on the first song I hear people singing back the words. It was just such a cool experience to see people I’d never even met or played in front of before know every word to one of my songs. I got pretty emotional, haha. 

    What was choosing the setlist like? Were there any songs you wanted to play that didn’t make the setlist? 
    Choosing the set list was SO hard! I’m someone who wants to fit everything I possibly can into a 25 minute set, so I really struggled to choose. Some of my favorite songs that I often play live like “Guts” and “St. George” didn’t make the cut just from a tempo/timing standpoint and I was pretty devastated about that. But I think the set we ended up with was great, as it moved quickly but still told a story. It was a good mix of released and unreleased music as well.

    Caroline Romano photographed by Kelsey Runge
    Image source: Kelsey Runge

    Speaking of wrapping up your first tour, if you could tour with any two artists, who would you choose and why?
    This is a very hard question haha, but I’d have to say it would be Taylor Swift and Noah Kahan. Those have been probably the two most influential artists in my life, both personally and professionally. Their music has truly changed my life, and to get to tour with either of them would be an absolute dream come true. 

    Last question! We are all about the power of manifestation at THP. If you could speak one thing into existence for yourself, what would it be?
    I’m going to say selling out a headline tour by myself! I believe it’s going to happen someday, and I’m working towards it every day 🙂

    We’d like to thank Caroline Romano for taking the time to chat with us! Did you also see her this past tour or did we just introduce you to your new favorite artist? Let us know in the comments, on Facebook, Instagram, or by tweeting us @thehoneypop!

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CAROLINE ROMANO:
    FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | SPOTIFY | TIKTOK | TWITTER | WEBSITE

    Want more exclusive interviews? We got you, honey!

    [ad_2]

    Aera Ahn

    Source link