Welcome to “Cut Through the Noise,” an entertainment column from the St. Louis Park Echo covering new music releases. Every week, a different Echo staffer takes on the role of writer, reviewing recent single releases from a variety of artists.
Madison Beer – “Bittersweet” ★★★☆☆
I had never listened to any Madison Beer songs before “Bittersweet,” but I was pleasantly surprised by how euphonious and sweet it was. Madison Beer is an American singer-songwriter who also maintains a major career in modeling and acting. Her new song, “Bittersweet,” which is of the synth-pop genre, explores the emotional gray area that is felt by many after a complicated breakup. Beer captures the “bittersweet” feeling of being upset and angry after a breakup while also feeling relieved that it’s over. I really enjoyed this song. Beer’s vocals were dreamy and soft, which gave the lyrics a smooth and glossy finish, and they seemed to glide effortlessly along the course of the song. The backing music was catchy and upbeat, which created a striking contrast with the melancholic nature of the lyrics. However, it was not very climactic or exciting, and didn’t include any instruments beyond the synth category, which made the song slightly boring to listen to. I think this song is semi-singable and melodic, but Beer’s vocals didn’t stand out as especially powerful, and her lyrics were somewhat bland. I would recommend this song to those who enjoy a smooth and simple pop song without much musical or lyrical depth.
Del Water Gap – “How To Live” ★★★★★
Del Water Gap is very popular in the alternative and indie communities, and he has several popular songs, including “Ode to a Conversation Stuck in Your Throat” and “All We Ever Do Is Talk.” He tends to write songs that portray many complex and painful feelings. His latest single, which included three songs, served as a precursor to his upcoming album, “Chasing the Chimera,” which will premiere Nov. 9. “How To Live” embodies the struggle with adulthood and feeling lost and regretful towards one’s past. He also touches on the paradoxical relationship of feeling young and naive while also feeling too old to keep making the same mistakes. This song was slightly more somber and slow compared to some of Del Water Gap’s earlier discography. I liked the vulnerability and anguish he expressed towards some sensitive emotions, such as anxiety and guilt, and it felt substantially deeper compared to many of his other tracks. The music itself was extremely pleasant and mirrored the quirky and upbeat tracks that Del Water Gap is loved for. All in all, this song was a very enjoyable encapsulation of humanity and how it’s everyone’s first time living, and we’re all just figuring it out as we go along.
Maisie Peters – “Audrey Hepburn” ★★★★☆
“Audrey Hepburn” is a very tender, heartfelt song from English indie-pop musician Maisie Peters. It was released along with another single, “You You You,” to signal the start of an upcoming album, although the release date has not yet been announced. You may know Maisie Peters from her appearance opening for Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour” back in August 2024. Maisie Peters has not released any new music in over two years, and many fans are positive that the new album will bring a new and exciting era for Peters and her music career. I think there was beautiful production and lyricism in both songs, but especially in “Audrey Hepburn.” Maisie Peters seems to be shifting from poppy, mainstream tracks to an acoustic and folksy genre. The song has a very soothing and serene energy and contains a soft guitar backing along with lovely, gentle vocals. The song encapsulated the tranquility and peace that come with a stable relationship, and how she finally feels a sense of belonging now that she is in love. I think that the folk genre suits Peters extremely well, and the song felt extremely nostalgic and sentimental, even though I haven’t listened to many of her songs before this one. It takes a very talented songwriter to achieve that effect, and I was really impressed with this smaller artist for her ability to tug at the heartstrings of people who aren’t even die-hard fans. While this song is extremely sweet and earnest, it didn’t really stand out to me from the thousands of other acoustic love songs that sound very similar.
