It was inevitable nostalgia cycles would eventually land on the recession pop of the late 2000s. Nowadays there are overt indie sleaze merchants like Feng and Fakemink running around, but you can hear strains of maximalist electropop in music by singers like RADA and Cece Natalie as well.
The sonic resurfacing has plenty to do with algorithmically manifested nostalgia (did your friends recently post their 2016 throwbacks too?), but I wouldn’t forget the “recession” part of it all: as living costs have surged, it’s easy to imagine the same confluence of economic pressure and cathartic hedonism steering artists towards sounds that are brighter, glossier, and just plain fun.
“2012 Neon” by Showjoe certainly checks all three of those boxes, encrusting a sped-up flip of “Levels” by Avicii in sour sugar. Cheat code samples frequently feel like bad homage, but Showjoe sticks the landing by keeping things simple and straightforward, sidestepping the emotional resonance of his source material to double down on the wicked rush of the synth riff.
I first got hip to Showjoe through his work with Molly Santana on “BRB” off last year’s Molly & Her Week of Wonders. On “2012 Neon” his breathless vocals recall Lil Uzi Vert at their most energetic, especially when he’s bragging about buying so many clothes he forgets to wear them, but the combination of ideas is surprisingly potent.
Based on the music video, it seems like Showjoe and producer yuni have a full length album in the works, which could be the perfect soundtrack for a nonstop night at the club or hitting a new PR on the treadmill. Check out the video for “2012 Neon” above.
The impact frames in this video are so good
YouTube
