Tove Lo goes crazy as she can’t stop dancing half-naked in her latest music video for “Bikini Porn”. Of course, it looks funny, awkward, and you’ll simply love her sassy charisma. Even, Billie Eilish’s brother, Finneas, who produced this track, makes a cameo as an UBER driver. The  VHS-quality clip was shot in Victorville and Hesperia, two small towns in the California desert. I’m still not sure if this surprising tune forms part of a new album or an EP. All I know is that she has created something memorable and catchy once again. I hope you like it as much as I do.

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“Shadow Knife” is one of the best new songs of BY AN ION. In order to support this single, they’ve shared with us a fantastic remix EP. Sincerely, I love how this track gets a total reimagining treatment from Man Without Country, The New Division, and Ghostfeeder. Of course, these producers didn’t dismiss the vocals so that you can take an emotional journey expressed by the lyrics.

I suppose “Shadow Knife” is about that special person you can rely on to overcome fears and apathy. Perhaps, it refers to your soulmate or even to yourself. All the above could be just an illusion in a platonic sense too. Interestingly, the tune is open to diverging interpretations. On the other hand, glorious synths and vintage-esque drums retain the essence of the original version, offering cinematic vibes. Without further ado, stream in full via Spotify right here.

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Since the release of their first studio album in 2018 aptly titled Parcels to match their band name, these guys have surged in popularity. Having formed in 2014 whilst still at high school, Parcels originate from the quiet suburban town of Byron Bay. Today, the band is now based in Berlin, Germany.

The band consists of five members: Louise Swain and Patrick Hetherington both on keyboard, Noah Hill on bass, Anatole Serret on Drums and Jules Crommelin on guitar. Having made the transition to Europe, the band has spent the past five years playing across European countries.

One of their biggest achievements came in 2017 when this five-piece band collaborated with Daft Punk for their hit single ‘Overnight.’ Later that year in June, they performed at England’s huge Glastonbury Festival. Their first television appearance came in September of that same year when they were invited to perform on the American late-night talk show ‘Conan’ hosted by Conan O’Brien. Since then, the band has even participated in television interviews in France.

The band’s musical style is best described using a fresh blend from the past with their songs easily mixing in the vibe of the 70s. Notable bands that draw a comparison include Fleetwood Mac, Steely Dan, and The Beach Boys.

The genre for their music has been categorised as a mix between electro-pop and disco soul. The band cites playing a series of different genres of music before writing their own songs as a reason for such a unique sound. Currently, the band is signed to the French record label Kitsune.

As part of their warm-up tour, and return to Australia, Parcels played to a sell-out Sydney crowd of in the Metro theatre, just by Town Hall on George Street. Following their final rendition, the crowd ecstatically cheered for an encore which the band doesn’t usually play to which the band politely obliged and sung a riveting a-Capella. Songs from their concert include many of the well-known hits from their debut album such as Comedown, Lightenup, Withorwithout, Tape, Tieduprightnow, Bemyself and of course, Overnight.

Perhaps the best feature of their songs is the way the music blends together magically. Parcels know when to ramp the audience up and when to soothe them with a slower tune. On stage, their musical performance is brilliant with high energy dancing. The band has always emphasized fashion maintaining a smart classic look with tucked-in shirts and long flowing hair. To supplement the fandom of enthusiasts, Parcels have developed a Parcels Pop Up Shop in which t-shirts and other memorabilia items may be purchased.

Whilst touring Australia, Parcels will also participate in the 2019/2020 Falls Music and Arts Festival in Byron Bay. Many of the band members enjoy playing golf and have taken this opportunity to travel to the outer shire regions to the town of Mullumbimby.

It is likely that Parcels will continue to collaborate with other artists just like that have done in the past. The best indication of this is in their credit song with the Germany rapper Dean Dawson.

Throughout each of their concerts, Parcels has been supporting local musicians. Their Metro Theatre pre-concert performance featured the Aussie band Gauci which fuse together similar elemental styles whilst maintaining very hip and new age.

According to chill out radio station, most music fans have likely never seen Daft Punk live before. Parcels are as close as you can get. The atmosphere they create is electric. For an Aussie band, they have maintained their roots and continue to listen to many of the classic tunes that have inspired them to this day.

I can’t believe years pass by quickly. Here’s my list of the best Electro-Pop tracks of the decade. If you listen carefully to each of these songs, you can realize the evolution of sound. For instance, Pop music was influenced by Benny Benassi’s signature Electro rhythm in the early 2010s. We also witnessed a trend where underground European DJs got attention from the American mainstream audience. Later, indie artists got their turn into the spotlight thanks to social media and music blogs. Perhaps, in the 2020s, artificial intelligence (AI) will transform the way we perceive the music industry these days. Only time will tell if this technological advance will come true.

2010 ★ Robyn – Dancing On My Own

Sweden is a country with so many great singers. I think Robyn earned worldwide recognition with this Electro-Pop ballad which revolves around a gal who dances alone in a club while watching her ex-boyfriend with a new girlfriend. Hell yeah, I love drama!

2011 ★ Britney Spears – Hold It Against Me

Nobody could forget this hit entitled, “Hold It Against Me” by Britney Spears. After a series of scandals, the American Popstar bet for modern and refreshing melodies. The song itself feels poppy but it also features a touch of Dubstep, which was synonymous with innovation at that time. In my opinion, the album ‘Femme Fatale’ is her best work to date.

2012 ★ Madonna – Girl Gone Wild

Madonna is never out of fashion and all her singles are timeless. From my view, this is one of the sexiest tunes she has ever made.  It’s not surprising “Girl Gone Wild” became her 42nd number-one dance hit on the Billboard chart. Believe it or not, the whole track was inspired by the androgynous Ukranian group Kazaky, who made a cameo in the black-and-white clip.

2013 ★ Empire Of The Sun – Alive

This list would not be complete without Empire Of The Sun. The most popular Australian duo of the 2010s is admired by millions of fans across the planet. I remember this track was featured in a video game, TV series, and movies. Immediately, “Alive” became a platinum-certified single in 2013. The chorus is so damn catchy!

2014 ★ Kiesza – Giant In My Heart

Canadians should feel proud of Kiesza. House music meets Electro-Pop, that’s the first thing that comes to my mind when I hear “Giant In My Heart”. Best of all, the powerful vocals are eargasmic and I have to admit I have played this track thousands of times on repeat.

2015 ★ Grimes – REALiTi

Weird, original, and authentic, that’s how we can describe Grimes’ Electro-Pop melodies. “REALiTi” was actually an old demo which eventually became one of her best songs in 2015. Despite its original recording quality, this hypnotic song was praised by her fans in Asia, MTV, plus the blogosphere. It is worth mentioning it feels like the perfect radio-friendly track to sing in the car.

2016 ★ Niki & The Dove – So Much It Hurts

This Swedish duo deserves way more attention. “So Much It Hurts” is an incredible Electro-Pop ballad accompanied by an 80s style music video that’s impossible not to love. Likewise, the emotionally charged nature of this masterpiece makes you want to sing it out loud no matter what.

2017 ★ The Weeknd ft. Daft Punk – I Feel It Coming

In the middle of the 2010s, artists were more interested in analog synths and retro vibes. So, The Weeknd and Daft Punk joined forces to create “I Feel It Coming”. Here you have a wonderful anthem that reminds us of the King Of Pop, Michael Jackson. On a side note, lyrics according to the singer, lyrics were written in one hour.

2018 ★ NINA – Sleepwalking

The German singer based in London has a bright future ahead due to the futuristic vibes of her songs. With “Sleepwalking”, she takes Synthwave to the next level by infusing emotions and Pop sensibilities. She knows how to reinvent the golden age of 80s music and I love it!

2019 ★ Toro y Moi – Ordinary Pleasure

Chaz Bear aka Toro y Moi criticizes consumerism and the Throw-away society on this fun tune called “Ordinary Pleasure”. The American artist offers chilled vibes in combination with upbeat Disco beats. Definitely, he knows how to get you grooving in mere seconds, leaving listeners craving for more.

A quiet piano melody, resonant vocals, and synth atmospherics are the main ingredients of “Christmas In The Machine” by Steven Jones & Logan Sky. Certainly, this is a different kind of Xmas song as it is not festive nor upbeat as we are used to hearing in December. However, I like artists like them who think out of the box and dares to take a dark direction for the holiday season.

First and foremost, listeners can feel a bit melancholy or nostalgic once they pay attention to the lyrics. Personally, all of this makes me think of a dystopian future where there are no dreams and Santa is a matter of the past. In terms of sound, if this reminds you of legendary New Romantic bands, then you have a good ear for music. Indeed, Logan was the keyboardist in Visage, while Steven’s great singing voice often sounds like Depeche Mode’s Dave Gahan. Make sure to watch the visuals below and get your own conclusions.

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