Written by Elijah P.

Pop duo Darren Cashwell has a colorful history, from creating remixes on the fly with top EDM DJs before the pandemic to transitioning into gentler, chorus-driven guitar pop, and finally crafting cool-guy pop music with “NUMBER ONE.” Ironically, much of that “color” in their music now feels somewhat dated, given the oversaturation of pop from the 2016-2019 era. For a track that aims to capture the feeling of love and being “wanted,” it ends up sounding one-dimensional and lacking the charisma needed to make a strong impact.

The guitars and drums are standard pop-rock fare, and the rap-influenced style of the duo follows a familiar blueprint. This may be the effect of a major studio standard: evident in songwriting style and a lot of imagery that’s tailor made to look safe and barely reaching any newer ground. Their background of being music producers in the past still seeps through, coming full circle all the while being not sticking.

This formula makes “NUMBER ONE” feel somewhat predictable, especially considering the duo’s seemingly contrasting styles. Neither member stands out distinctly, and their chemistry seems to be missing. The chorus, unfortunately, doesn’t quite stick with the listener. Star Music Philippines appears to have a tendency to feature artists who, like their roster, can come across as somewhat generic.

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