Let’s get one factor straight: the indie synth pop mainstay that’s Jenn Vix is barely new to the moden EDM aesthetic. Almost virtuosic on the synths and bass and a submit punk-style lyricist, Vix has been producing goth-edged music since 1995 and is well-recognized for her work within the bigger music scene. Having labored with among the best-known indie stars and producers of the 80s, together with members of The Treatment, The Psychedelic Furs and Adam and the Ants, her debut self-titled solo album in 1995 obtained discover from Rolling Stone and has submit punk and submit rock cachet for miles. Shes been releasing ever since, racking up much more accolades while staying true to her synthy type.
The tandem tips to good submit punk, if Pleasure Division, Nick Cave and Tom Waits are something to go by, is haunting vocals and stark, hanging lyrics. Exterior of that, the style is as various as its typically accomplice, synth wave. Jenn Vix has a superb maintain on each of those submit punk requirements, together with her early work conjuring Sioxsie Sioux-meets-New Order. Her music has modified with the instances and grow to be much more synthy by way of her three full-lenghth albums, three EPs and coundless singles and collabs, touchdown someplace between synthwave, indie pop and EDM.
Vix’s newest single, “Mr. Unusual” combines all these kinds and provides a lure beat, making it her first apparent bridge between indie pop and EDM, classic and fashionable. The stark vocals, nevertheless, present she’s nonetheless not pulling any lyrical punches. Whereas the hip hop-inspired lure beat sparkles round darkwave-style synths, Vix’s vocals are daring as brass : it’s a couple of relationship with a intercourse doll. In case anybody was going to misread, the video makes it crystal clear (NSFW).
Whereas the outward level of the music and video are clear, “Mr. Unusual” additionally speaks to some bigger points in society and sexuality which might be a bit extra open to interpretation. Just like the flim Lars and the Actual Woman, there’s an aura of disconnection and the potential for lonliness to push an harmless curiosity into one thing extra actual. Blowup dolls or not, with a lot of our lives being lived on-line these days and the added compelled separation of the pandemic, the necessity for connection can take a flip into the realm of fetish or obsession.
These different, non-human types of connection can be instruments for individuals who are working by way of trauma, and there’s a touch of that in “Mr. Unusual,” in addition to a feminist vibe, a’la girls taking conrtol of their sexuality and the empowerment behind there. For a monitor that’s so lyrically stark and apparent, there’s nonetheless quite a bit to consider. Which may be Vix’s most necessary present: there are lots of proficient musicians on the market, however a message that will get folks pondering, particularly in instances like these, is what makes artist likes Vix stand out.
It will likely be fascinating to see if Vix continues to push into EDM extra together with her subsequent releases. Her most up-to-date tracks earlier than have kind of toggled forwards and backwards between synthwave rock and lure/breakbeat. She’s definiely price a search for the EDM fan who enjoys indie electro and syntwave, and it doesn’t matter what course she heads in subsequent, followers can relaxation assured she’s not stopping any time quickly and no matter she comes up with might be fascinating, intense and a bit “unusual.”
“Mr. Unusual” is out now and might be streamed or bought right here.
