Tré Nixon – Playground
Prince is routinely mentioned as one of the greatest modern songwriters, producers, and musicians in pop music history. The accolades are warranted. Simply put, the man could do just about everything and, as the innumerable recordings he has left behind show, he did.
Many artists reference Prince. More still claim they and consider what the Minneapolis giant might have done in a similar scenario. He was a musician’s musician, after all. With that being said, it is odd that in the mainstream, at least, there are now so few modern artists that sound like Prince. Heck, there’s a version of just about every 1970s and 1980s music working its way onto your Spotify recommended list.
Tré Nixon, a rock veteran that has turned his attention towards funk and modern pop might just be that artist. Playground echoes not only Prince’s style of funk-pop. It also harkens back to the themes of rebellion against an uncaring society. The song also embraces an experimental production style of which the Purple One may well have approved. Modern pop-funk could yet become a reality.
Tuvaband – Irreversible
David Bowie, a man who was known to occasionally be able to predict the future, once foretold of music streaming. It only made sense to him. After all, modern music was a utility, just like hot water. You couldn’t simply take it away once people had gotten used to it, and replace it with a cold splash each morning.
What the chameleonic pop star predicted has come to be. It’s now even clearer why this is. Nothing else, besides food, perhaps, is as desired by so many people, in so many varieties. Silly pop songs always make the charts because people demand that they exist. Similarly, clever, thoughtful pop music exists because a large audience usually made up of people that have experienced having their hearts shattered on a few occasions, new these sorts of sounds.
Tuvaband’s Irreversible is one of the songs that look to play the role of companion through our harsh existence. The songwriting details highly impactful decisions that one wishes could be changed. The dramatic vocals and production give the impression of someone holding in a sob. The guitars punctuate the tune like cars zooming by the listener. It’s pop music for the small hours.
