New week, new Friday, new music reviews! For those of you who have been busy keeping up with school or work, or were focused on the rather turbulent days in American politics lately and thereby lost track of new releases; don’t worry, we’ve got your back. We’ve gathered some tunes that caught our attention and that we want to share with you. From indie rock trio Foster The People to EDM-popstar Dua Lipa’s newest collaboration, we hope you’ll find something that suits your mood and makes lockdown 2.0 more bearable!
FINNEAS – WHERE THE POISON IS
Only a few days after President Trump got voted out of office by the Americans, the LA-based singer-songwriter FINNEAS released his critical yet powerful song ‘Where the Poison Is’. Being a direct assault on the policy of Trump’s government, the lyrics hit home hard and represent the voice of many Americans who ached and suffered during the past four years of his presidency. Starting off with a typical FINNEAS-sound, the song takes a dark turn and evolves into a song that holds a lot of symbolism and imagism. “When all my friends get sick, it’s on the President; when all my friends get sick, it’s on his government” is an unmistakable reference to Trump his way of dealing with the pandemic which has been striking the United States and its citizens since the virus first set foot on US soil earlier this year.
Words: Ine Vanvuchelen
FEVER – DUA LIPA FEATURING ANGELE
Dua Lipa confirmed her pop reign with her second studio album ‘Future Nostalgia’ and has not just continued the ultra-dance/sing-along hits, but has provided a twist that one can only describe as original to the extent of finally getting to know who Dua really is. On her latest single ‘Fever’, the 25-year-old introduces Belgian-born, French-singing pop icon Angèle to the world. Angèle – who is already big to people who don’t let the French language barrier stop them – complimented the song in the only way she is capable of: soft, delicate, and oh so powerful vocals. Dua Lipa who is more known for her deep, raspy voice, uses the duality of both qualities in ‘Fever’and therefore makes it result in an unforgettable pop song.
Words: Lauren Dehollogne
BILLIE EILISH – THEREFORE I AM
Once again Billie Eilish proofs that she excels in the perfect crossover between alternative sultry vocals and catchy, rhythmic pop. With her latest single ‘Therefore I Am’ the listener gets transported in a world created by Eilish, where nothing else matters except the perception of her own self. In the accompanying music video, we see her move through an empty shopping mall. The 19-year-old picks up food from various fast food chains and lives out a fantasy, running through the empty halls whilst the robotic-yellow light of a once overcrowded mall shines on just you, no longer a place to feel claustrophobic in but a freeing experience. Alongside the catchy chorus, Eilish makes us aware that she is not weak-minded but rather a strong individual that doesn’t take anything from anybody. With the lyrics: “I don’t want press to put your name next to mine, we’re on different lines” she reiterates her own uniqueness whilst not falling prey to the conformity of everyday life, after all, she is the larger than life yet oddly relatable Billie Eilish.
Words: Lauren Dehollogne
THE WRECKS – PSYCHO KILLER
‘Psycho Killer’, the catchiest song ever written about a sociopathic murderer, is a very much known favourite of the 80s new wave pioneers Talking Heads. To take on the name and history as big as the one of the former New York-based group seems like a rather intimidating move, but indie-stars The Wrecks have dared the step and released a cover of the classic tune after premiering it during their latest live stream concert. Still having that eerie feeling that naturally comes with telling a story about a literal psycho killer, the five-piece has managed to put their own modern twist on the song, with frontman Nick Anderson effortlessly letting his voice push the track to new heights and his bandmates adding the very needed glistening electronic guitars and beats to round it all up. ‘Psycho Killer’ might be one of those songs that not many bands dare to cover, but The Wrecks have managed to make it their own, while simultaneously creating a very fitting homage to its originators.
Words: Laura Weingrill
FOSTER THE PEOPLE – UNDER THE MOON
What would it be like to drive on an empty road in the middle of a starry night when the whole world has turned into a simulation, almost resembling a computer game? In a very musical way, Foster The People’s latest single ‘Under The Moon’ tries to answer that very question, with spacey beats, glistening guitars, and the odd lonely violin in the background. It feels like a new era might just be around the corner for the electropop five-piece, with frontman Mark Foster’s chameleon-like voice moving seamlessly from the deepest lowest to the highest falsettos, revealing a new side of the band that has not been seen before. ‘Under The Moon’ may not sound like something from this earth, but that might just be what we all need right now – a short step into another world.
Words: Laura Weingrill
Edited by: Ine Vanvuchelen
GEM Magazine 