Author: Marcus Adetola

Exploring new music. Explaining it shortly after. Keeping the classics close. Neon Music founder.

Boyce Avenue’s rendition of Oceans Away by ARIZONA doesn’t come across as a cover song; it’s a deeply personal and emotionally resonant experience that takes you on a captivating journey. With their gentle vocals and acoustic arrangements, the band breathes new life into this powerful anthem, infusing it with a level of intimacy and vulnerability that is truly captivating. Anyone who has experienced the challenges of long-distance relationships will find this track profoundly impactful. The lyrics, which speak to the ache of separation and the relentless longing to be reunited with a loved one, are relatable. Boyce Avenue’s interpretation manages…

Read More

Una Mia and Lekan have truly outdone themselves with the mesmerising Better Care (Remix). This track is an intimate experience that invites you into a world of sensual rhythms, evocative lyrics, and unabashed self-expression. Right from the opening notes, the lush soundscape envelops you in a warm embrace of guitar lines and a deliciously crisp beat. But it’s Una Mia’s vocals that are the true star of the show. Her delivery is impeccably smooth and whispery, almost like breath against your skin, as she vulnerably explores the complexities of intimacy and desire. Don’t let the retro R&B vibes fool you; there’s…

Read More

The Return of a Detroit Titan After a period of relative quiet following the release of his critically acclaimed “Detroit 2” in 2020, Big Sean is back on the music scene with a new single that’s setting the internet ablaze. Precision is not only a catchy track; it’s a statement. Coming off the heels of his “Anderson Estate Freestyle,” which itself garnered significant attention for its sharp bars over a J Dilla beat, Sean is back to remind us of his unparalleled skill in the rap game. Bulletproof Lyricism Big Sean has never sounded more dialled in than on his…

Read More

Angélica Garcia’s Color De Dolor is a sonic expedition that redefines the perception of pain and beauty. It’s a kaleidoscopic odyssey that deftly interweaves grief and wonder, rage and serenity, sorrow and elation into richly woven threads of life’s intricate hues. This lead single from Garcia’s forthcoming debut album, Gemelo, is a defiant refusal to compartmentalise emotions. Color De Dolor (which translates to “the colour of pain”) is a bold anthem that confronts grief head-on, acknowledging its nuanced complexities while simultaneously celebrating the beauty that can emerge from the depths of sorrow. Garcia’s vocals soar over a lush, textured soundscape that…

Read More

paper planes by shoolace featuring Mack Imagine is a laidback, mid-tempo lo-fi love song that gently folds together sweet melodies and a mellow beat into a surprisingly soothing package. It’s like reclining on the couch in a pixelated living room, gazing out the window at a candy-coloured dreamscape. The vocals start soft and tender, like an intimate confession whispered into your ear. The chorus maintains the relaxed vibe, cushioning you with warm harmonies that feel like an embrace, reassuring you to take a chance on love. It’s a comforting wave of sound that washes over you, urging you to sink…

Read More

A Soulful Journey Through Grief and Redemption Bertie Newman’s latest single, Razored Glass, is a poignant and deeply personal exploration of the grief and guilt that can follow the loss of a loved one to suicide. The indie-folk soundscape, delicately crafted, envelops you in a warm embrace of finger-picked acoustic guitar riffs that create a melancholic yet beautiful backdrop. As the song unfolds, intricate layers of instrumentation and Newman’s emotive vocals intertwine, creating a deeply immersive and cathartic experience. Bertie Newman’s songwriting is raw and honest, pulling no punches in its depiction of the feelings of inadequacy and self-blame that…

Read More

You know that heart-hollowing feeling when you sense love slipping through your fingers? THOMASINA captures it with an intimacy and rawness that feels like witnessing someone’s hidden heartbreak unfold on her new single, Please Don’t Go. It drenches you in the bittersweet desperation of clutching at the last tattered threads of a fading relationship. THOMASINA’s tender vocals envelop you like a comforting embrace, while the gentle guitar picking tugs at your heartstrings. However, an underlying dissonance, a delicate discord, hints at the hairline fractures running through this love. The lyrics read like an emotional tug-of-war, oscillating between pleas to stay…

Read More

Matt McKnzi’s latest single, Moon, isn’t your typical pop song. It’s a stripped-back, introspective journey that unfolds like a late-night conversation with yourself. From the first few lines, McKnzi’s introspective lyricism immediately hooks you with a raw candour that sets the tone for an emotionally nuanced journey. The stripped-back instrumentation gradually builds with the addition of groovy percussion and a bassline that grounds the track’s atmospheric dreaminess, complementing Matt McKnzi’s expressive vocals, which seamlessly transition from vulnerability to soaring confidence, adding to the song’s emotional depth. Lyrically, Moon eschews clichés in favour of poetic yet relatable narratives that encapsulate the bittersweet…

Read More

Fil is a poignant and soulful exploration of the intangible threads that bind us as human beings. This ethereal collaboration between Vraell and Jasmïn emanates a delicate authenticity, with Jasmïn’s vocals in French lending a haunting yet captivating quality. Fil is a love song that transcends the confines of romantic affection. It’s a poetic meditation on the universal yearning for presence and connection, a candid exploration of the existential ache within the human experience. Vraell’s intricate guitar work and hypnotic soundscapes create a sonic tapestry for this profound journey of self-discovery. The Nepal-shot music video by Sandro Gromen-Hayes adds a…

Read More

Emily Anderson’s 30th Birthday stands as a solemn yet soothing interlude, weaving introspection and narrative into its melodic fabric. This composition transcends the boundaries of a mere song, inviting listeners on a contemplative journey through the cadence of life’s ebbs and flows. On my 30th birthdayI’ll be writing you a songSomething simple but it’s sweet and I’ll get the chords all wrongOn my 30th birthdayYou will still be gone The gentle strums of an acoustic guitar, the soft caress of a piano, and the subtle embrace of strings intertwine like sunbeams filtering through a verdant canopy, painting a serene landscape…

Read More