From London
Recommended if you enjoy All Saints, Frou Frou, Nelly Furtado
What’s next EP currently available; touring with After in May
When I first listened to Gianna’s track “Shadow of a Bird,” it immediately evoked memories of the scent of Impulse body spray. The song beautifully captures the refined boho-pop style reminiscent of early 2000s artists like Nelly Furtado, All Saints, and Corinne Bailey Rae. This style is characterized by its arpeggiated acoustic guitars, subtly trip-hop influenced rhythms, and a uniquely gentle vocal that elegantly weaves through the music.
At 23 years old, this artist from Camden draws significant inspiration for her debut EP “Behind the Wings” from a variety of sources. These include the cinematic flair of Everything But the Girl and the dance-oriented vibes of Madonna during her “Ray of Light” period. Additionally, Gianna’s music is deeply influenced by her childhood, during which she was immersed in Albanian television and folk music. During the lockdown, she began writing songs in Albanian to stave off boredom, using beats she found on YouTube. While her new music subtly incorporates elements of Balkan style, “Shadow of a Bird” was inspired by an incident in her parents’ homeland of Kosovo, where she mistook a hummingbird flying past her for a falling brick. Transforming that fleeting moment into a meditation on the distortion of reality, akin to the style of “Pure Shores,” showcases her clever artistic touch.
It might seem contradictory to describe music deeply embedded in early 2000s nostalgia as “fresh,” yet Gianna’s tracks radiate a brightness and vibrancy reminiscent of the skincare commercials from that era. She is not alone in her inspiration from this time period, with artists like Addison Rae and Erika de Casier also recently drawing from it. However, Gianna presents a strong case for a reevaluation of coffee-shop pop.
Highlight Tracks of the Week
Nia Archives – Danger
A playful chant-like acronym runs through this track by the UK junglist, weaving between an energetic chorus and verses that might remind one of the Sugababes’ second album — certainly high praise.
deBasement – Aftermarket Bass (ft Nikki Nair)
Alli Logout of Special Interest and DJ Margo XS deliver a track with distorted, intensive dancefloor bass and a commanding, cool vocal that insists on not stopping the dance beat.
Downtown Boys – No Me Jodas
The Rhode Island punk band makes a strong return with their first album since 2017, enhancing their raw energetic sound with dense, doom-laden atmospherics that suit them well.
Brennan Wedl and Waxahatchee – Six O’Clock News
Katie Crutchfield and Minnesota’s own Brennan Wedl, who finds a balance between Lucinda Williams and Sheryl Crow, beautifully cover Kathleen Edwards’ poignant 2002 song about doomed love.
Empress Of – Dream House
Lorely Rodriguez, under her stage name Empress Of, offers a tender R&B serenade about constructing a literal dream home, inspired by her family’s home that was lost in the Altadena fires.
Lee “Scratch” Perry and Mouse on Mars – Rockcurry
Despite many claims to the contrary, Lee “Scratch” Perry’s final recordings were with this German electronic duo, where he remains effortlessly cool amidst their quirky, playful electronic sounds.
Khun Narin Electric Phin Band – Poet Wong Pt 1 (เปิดวง ตอน 1)
This band from remote northern Thailand delivers a sound that is at once serene, intricate, psychedelic, and intense in this first glimpse of an album produced by Tommy Brenneck, known for his work with Amy Winehouse and Charles Bradley.
Laura Snapes
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Fatima Clarke is a seasoned health reporter who bridges medical science with human stories. She writes with compassion, precision, and a drive to inform.
