Written by Elijah P. In every scattered, programmed drum loop, bitpop-influenced keys, meddling string section, and vocal delivery, there’s an underlying sensitive theme at play in “To Love Everything Again” — the solo indietronica and chamber pop project of Janpol Estrella. The track exudes a tight embrace and a strong tug at the heartstrings. It’s quiet yet hauntingly melodic; there’s lingering depression yet a playful energy that hangs in balance with a grim foresight. “Jonah” is the debut single you shouldn’t miss. Singing about sensitive topics such as sudden urges of suicide and the like, Estrella carefully orchestrates an experimental thread of influences: electronica weaving through folk-inspired elements and such. While listeners groove to “Jonah,” it serves as an assuring sign of hope and a reminder of the reality we all must face eventually. The concept of “youth” remains central to the artist and its listeners, as experimentation and pushing the envelope exist on the fold, which is exactly what To Love Everything Ever Again is doing right. “Jonah” is a single that everyone should check out in the year 2024. Support the art & the artist:
Tag: Folk
TRACK REVIEW: Japanese Surplus – unceremoniously
Written by Elijah P. Soundcloud in 2023 is rich in material to the point that solo artists are still celebrated to this day, whether it would be a bedroom musician making random notes on a toy piano to the nearest black metal project found in your local barangay. And one of them that shares the local spotlight is up-and-coming singer-songwriter, Japanese Surplus. In their latest track titled “unceremoniously”, there’s a lingering feeling from the fuzzy reception of “lovespring” to the recurrence of themes in the latest track. The artist’s warm voice shines brighter than the lackadaisical guitar chords and beatbox, acting as a hybrid of Aly Cabral’s vocal runs and Jasmine Rodger’s (bôa) melody-making. Albeit the uncommon comparisons, there’s fair treatment of potential waiting to come out at any given time. And Japanese Surplus is one of the writers to watch out for today in the current province-wide crop of singer-songwriters. SUPPORT THE ART & THE ARTIST: