Navigating the tension between authenticity and perception, “don’t wannabe a wannabe” marks Jersey City artist Ævina’s self-produced shift into dance-electronic music. Blending lush, escapist tones with buzzy bass and rhythmic propulsions, this bedroom-recorded anthem transforms impostor syndrome into a soaring, hyperpop-tinged meditation on youth.
A vibrant, tropical entrancement unveils right away, with marimba-like tones and panting percussion complementing an alluring “don’t wannabe a wannabe” refrain. Fuzzy bass ruminations enter seamlessly thereafter amidst snippets of infectious vocal samples. That hooky repetition traverses into a “when the night is young” lyrical scene-setting, the vocal work there stirring in its more flourishing, escalating melodic charm, tonally reminiscent of underscores in its mixture of serenely absorbing intrigue and hooky vigor.
The vocals excel especially around the track’s midpoint, assuming a more elongated quality that expands into a re-injection of the grimy bass and synth tones. The final minute then fully absorbs, incorporating shimmering synths and wordless vocal effects for a wholly contagious, replay-inducing flair. “don’t wannabe a wannabe” envelops in its blend of breezy pop colorfulness and more bustling swells, inducing repeat listens in its combination of thematic, youthful catharsis and artful pop savvy, crafted by an artist who has self-described as “an alien in human drag.”
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This and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Emerging Singles’ Spotify playlist.
We discovered this release via MusoSoup.
