KC Star is a new artist on the scene and is surely a pop star in the making, as his new EP, BOYS SUCK! shows. It’s an amazing pop record that also takes from a few other genres, making for a fantastic overall sound. If you like your pop a little different from the norm, you should check this out!
By Jane Howkins
LISTEN (INTRO) is, as you might have guessed, an intro song. It starts out with a choir of voices, before some epic guitars arrive, with KC’s vocals exuding emotion when they appear. For an intro, it sounds really impressive, almost like a full song of its own!
HOW MANY TIMES? is the first song proper, being a youthful pop song with a very upbeat sound. The drums have a really cool sound, raising the energy and tension across the entire tune. KC’s vocals are really smooth – he’s also joined by Ellie H on this track, with their dual vocals mixing well together. They perform across different verses, whilst also singing together on the chorus – the bridge sees both artists rapping against each other in a wonderful way. It’s a great introduction to KC’s sound.
YOUR SONG takes things in more of an 80s direction, especially in terms of the bubbling synths that open the track up. It starts off quietly, before the chorus explodes in an anthemic way – just try and listen to this without wanting to sing along to the lyrics. The dynamic changes between verse and chorus make it all sound very impressive, showing how great KC’s songwriting is. The guitars appear on the second verse, building up to the chorus with a palm-muted riff.
INTENTIONS brings the 80s vibes back, introducing some cool synths into the mix, matching the drum beat perfectly. The rhythm is what makes this song sound oh so catchy, with lots of different background effects and instrumentation being added over time. The music builds up towards the chorus, before it breaks down again, seeing KC going for the unexpected with his eccentric style.
ARCADE is a perfectly apt title, considering that the track uses traditional video game sounds – differing motifs break off over each other, meaning you’ll need to listen to this several times over to fully appreciate everything. KC brings the rapping back at times, making for a nice distinction between his soulful singing. It’s such a unique sounding song – the way KC has made the synths sound like something straight out of a video game should be applauded.
CHANGE YOUR MIND is the final song on the EP – it also features a collaboration with Austen the Poet. Interestingly, the synths still have a semi-video game sound, but the focus is more on mainstream pop music here. The lyrics are particularly melancholy sounding, particularly when KC reaches the high notes on the chorus. It’s a great song to end this fantastic EP on.
KC Star’s name is certainly very apt, as he’s sure to be a star one day! His eccentric brand of pop music is quirky enough to differentiate his music from the norm – if you like pop music and want to try something a little different, BOYS SUCK! is for you.
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