introvertbloom – virid
The verdict
“virid's 'bloom' is a gorgeous slice of electronic pop, turning daily mundanity into something that glimmers with warmth”
'bloom' opens with an enveloping warmth that immediately pulls you in, layered synths meeting percussive glitches that stutter and pulse beneath olivia cirisan's voice. it's the first single from virid's upcoming record, 'so many versions of the same place', and it sets the tone beautifully. the track sits in the space between fondness and anxiety, lyrically exploring what it feels like to be trapped in the shell of routine while reaching for the faces that make it bearable. i love it. the synth work is meticulous, and also kinda dreamy, and the track blooms in a jittery, percussive wonderland. a beauty.
virid are an ypsilanti, michigan duo built around vocalist and percussionist olivia cirisan and drummer and percussionist ancel fitzgerald neeley. they started writing together in 2022, pulling from jazz, experimental electronica, pop and alternative in ways that feel completely their own. their sound lands somewhere between precision and chaos, and 'bloom' captures that balance perfectly. with a full record on the way, this feels like a band finding exactly the voice they've been working toward. we're very keen to hear more.
thank u for making this virid 🌱
zero gravity – luna14
The verdict
“luna14's 'zero gravity' floats through shimmering synth-pop with a defiant heart, a stunning rejection of the soulless”
'zero gravity' opens with a wash of synths that feel weightless and lovely and deliberate all at once luna14 lean into that tension between lightness and intention throughout, building something that sparkles wonderfully. but in a patient way. i love the 90s-ish vocal delivery, which sits clear and unguarded, carrying the emotional weight while the arrangement shifts beneath it. there's a bit of a trip hop mazzy star vibe about this one; sitting in opposition algorithmic slop and assembly-line pop. you can hear that care in every choice. it's a defiant, beautiful single.
luna14 is a berlin-based collaboration between lunafacious and gasher, two artists whose creative lives extend well beyond music. lunafacious works across painting and nail art alongside her songwriting, while gasher focuses primarily on production and sound. that cross-disciplinary energy shows up here in how thoughtfully the track is constructed, nothing wasted, nothing there just because it's expected. berlin has a way of shaping artists who refuse easy categories, and luna14 fit right into that tradition. a collaboration worth following, it's great.
thank u for making this luna14 🌙