Adai Song’s new album The Bloom Project unfolds as a striking fusion of cinematic pop and electronic ingenuity, balancing intricate production with a distinctly global flair. Based between Beijing and New York City, Song channels her classical background and admiration for 1920s Shanghai “shidaiqu” into something sleekly modern, feminist, and rhythmically adventurous. The result is a radiant, cross-cultural work that feels at once nostalgic and futuristic — vividly realized from the atmospheric pulse of “A Lost Singer” to the kaleidoscopic bursts of “Night Shanghai” and the reimagined elegance of “Carmen 2025.”
“A Lost Singer” commences the album in riveting form, playing as a showcase of expansive production textures with dynamic, exotic flair. A melodic vocal entrancement takes hold amidst gentle stabs of synths/keys, rousing thereafter with buzzing electronic charm. The mid-point proves especially invigorating with its cinematic string infusions, definitively declaring a point of replay-inducing infectiousness as the track swells from its minimalist beginnings into a layered pop precision. “Night Shanghai” comes next and delights as well, also achieving an eclectic tonal range from initially subdued vocal-fronted introspection into bursts of colorful electronics and playful rhythms.
Another delightful track, “Carmen 2025” blends modern pop savvy with an evident appreciation for classical composer Georges Bizet. His unmistakable melody is infused within, while the track title itself references his final work, Carmen. Album finale “River Run” also excels, taking off especially as the vocals attain a spirited “set you free” ethos as club-ready rhythms and blaring synth energy intertwine. The Bloom Project is a catchy, dazzling pop success of an album from Adai Song.
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“River Run” and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Emerging Singles’ Spotify playlist.
