I’m far from the first person to say this sounds like Owl City, but it really does seem like a track off Ocean Eyes! Even though the upbeat and danceable instrumentation is fantastic in itself, it’s SpinScissor’s vocal performance that really shines through on this song. The dynamic range between the soft-spoken verses and shouted choruses, the tastefully tuned vocals, the little touches of call and response lyrics; it all comes together to make an excellent song!
Solo post
Posts with single songs, fresh from YouTube
PrinceWhateverer – Shallow Naivety 2022 ft. Frozen | Metal
A household name with an orchestral twist! PrinceWhateverer and Frozen Night bring us an emotional track about King Sombra’s relationship with Princess Celestia that fans of the IDW comics will especially appreciate. Keep an ear out for the drum solos as well as the orchestral breakdown by Frozen Night, which beautifully contrasts with the heavy guitar that Prince is known for, putting Sombra and Celestia’s heartbreak front and center. Add to that the wonderful animation by Nootaz, and you have a collaboration that’s definitely worth a watch!
PSFMer – Pontextual | Techno
I’ve been reliably informed that this is actually techno, not just an outdated label for EDM! It feels close to a trancey beat, but there’s something about the way the arrangement slow progresses and how the bass repeats the same pattern that makes it feel very eerie and unnerving. The image used probably helps to convey that feeling too! Check it out for something a bit different to normal from PSFMer.
Vale & Fl0 – The Legend of Somnambula (Dubstep Remix) | Dubstep
There’s something almost nostalgic about dubstep that samples clips from the show… Vale & Fl0 nail this classic style in this short but sweet piece about the legendary sphinx-busting pony. It’s full of deep and heavy modern bassy sounds, with a nice use of the harmonic minor scale to hint at a Middle Eastern vibe.
H8_Seed – The Pickup (PegasYs Remix) | Pop
Is it a remix? Is it a cover? Doesn’t matter, it’s just great! PegasYs’s take on H8_Seed’s fandom favourite showcases a production style somewhat reminiscent of the original. It’s outside the norm for what I’m used to from Pega but he’s managed to put his own spin on it with his own solos performed as well. And did I mention the vocal processing? Not just the use of talkbox (which is always appreciated), but the way pre-chorus hits gives me chills! Take a listen for a new spin on an old classic!
[ASOS] Night Blaze – We Are Everfree | Hybrid Orchestral
Originally released on ASOS’ 2021 album Eclair, this hybrid orchestral piece from Night Blaze acts as a score to their own story about the Everfree Forest. The arrangement of a combination of orchestral and electronic elements, as well as the occasional modal interchange in the composition, works amazingly to create an atmosphere of something that’s beautiful and grandiose, but not quite natural… The electric-guitar-like lead sound really stands out for me as well! Definitely worth every moment of its almost 8-minute runtime!
Drixale – No Second Chances | Lo-Fi
When Drixale describes this release as a “sentimental type beat,” he’s not kidding. Equal parts brooding and bittersweet, “No Second Chances” provides a warm palette of sounds perfect for zoning out to, punctuated by tasteful percussive glitches and quips from Starlight and Trixie.
AnNy Tr3e – Gonna Be My Day (Hasbro Tool) | Hardstyle
AnNy Tr3e continues to flex his hardstyle skills with this fresh take on “Gonna Be My Day!” His strengths in melody writing really show in both the soft piano backing up the verses and, of course, the lead in the drop, which holds a tone equally uplifting as Sunny’s words. If you’re looking for a solid burst of positive energy, this track is sure to satisfy and then some!
Midnight Wave – End Task | Dubstep
The second track from their ‘CTRL+V’ EP Midnight Wave breaks out a classic dubstep style melded with some synthwave-esque supporting instrumentation in a unique mix of sound signatures! ‘End Task’ does a great job at keeping things interesting with switch-ups in the drops while building a fairly cool atmosphere around it.
Horse Music Herald 