“Last Chance” by Casper Caan

SEPTEMBER 7, 2021 - Mia Weisfeld

Casper Caan’s self-produced single “Last Chance” is anything but your run-of-the-mill track. “Last Chance” is flowered with both clean guitar and techy beats. His harmonious but slightly gritty voice is magnificent. Casper’s style is the epitome of indie-pop: the perfect fusion of acoustic and electronic beats. Caan likes to keep it simple—even his social media is straight to the point. His posts consist of visuals using primary colors, geometric shapes, and pictures of studio equipment. This NYC-based artist does not overdo it with the typical Instagram flexes. Caan’s approach to music and media is very organic.

Caan’s lyrics speak about the trials and tribulations of living in New York, whether it be struggling to make it or suffering from one’s own demons. He often emphasizes the feeling of needing to escape such a place, hence his lyric, “Last chance we make it out there/ Last chance we get out there.”

If indie-pop isn't your genre, then the Hot Chip remix of Last Chance will get any EDM lover’s feet movin’. With an absolutely hypnotizing techno bassline, the Hot Chip remix would get even your grandparents shuffling and fist-pumping. Extremely catchy and incredibly well-produced, this remix definitely adds another dimension to Caan’s lyrics. It is almost contradictory how a song about the harm of New York City’s distractions and vices can be made into such a great party anthem. 

Copyright (C) 2021 Levicaan Music.

Caan’s music video for “Last Chance” follows his theme of simplicity in his earlier mentioned posts. The video revolves around the main character walking through a world of people enthralled in media and technology, which is reflective of the society we live in today. The character is the only one unaffected by this mind control and he breaks the spell through his music. The cartoon is creative and engaging, perfectly encapsulating the idea behind his song. 

Riding the upbeat wave of his new sound always uplifts my mood, and is an auditory escape like no other. “Last Chance” is a great breakout song for Caan and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for his next release.

Originally

“Dover Beach” BY Baby Queen

MAY 19, 2021 - Mia Weisfeld

IN HER 2020 POP HIT “INTERNET RELIGION,” BABY QUEEN DECLARED  “WE CAN'T FACETUNE PERSONALITY”. KEEPING HER “INTERNET RELIGION” REALNESS, THE 23-YEAR-OLD LONDON-BASED ARTIST RELEASED HER POP SINGLE “DOVER BEACH” ON APRIL 14TH. 

Almost out of a fairy tale, the song opens with a dainty tune, then drops into a bright and catchy beat. Baby Queen’s flawless vocals bring a breath of life into the song. She sings, “What's the point in looking at the view/ 'Cause every time I do, I just see you.” She wrote this while visiting the White Cliffs of Dover in England, and as beautiful as the setting was, all she could think about was the person she was infatuated with.

Baby Queen said in an interview with DIY Magazine, “I was kind of pissed that I went to look at the beach, all I could think about was this person, hence the lyric ‘you stole the view of Dover Beach.’ It's another internal struggle with my own insecurities and a sort of acceptance of the fact that I can't escape my daydreams of this person, even if I go to a different place.”

Her relatability about the ebbs and flows of falling in love make this song relatable for many people. The song is quite reminiscent of Taylor Swift, who is one of her biggest inspirations. Baby Queen claims in her Spotify bio that one of the reasons you should befriend her is because she “knows a lot of facts about Taylor Swift and is willing to share them with you.” Baby Queen also shared in her Spotify bio that she “broke into somebody’s house by smashing a red hammer through their bathroom window, which was quite awkward and not at all awesome.”

Personally, that last fact won me over. Her bubbly, honest personality translates beautifully into her tracks. “Dover Beach” is especially raw. Though the lyrics seem that she is helplessly and tortuously in love, her up-tempo rhythm keeps the song feeling light and catchy. 

Music video by Baby Queen performing Dover Beach. © 2021 Universal Music Operations Limited

Her music video for “Dover Beach” is absolutely captivating. She runs along the beach with her lover, walks along the shore in a stunning navy Gucci jumpsuit, lays in a bed covered with pink and white flowers, and even features an ode to the 1962 film Lolita, where she lies in the manor garden, swinging her feet while reading a book.

“Dover Beach” is the perfect summer song. If you’re from California, like me, you should be ready to add this to your summer playlist and blast it down the PCH. If there is any artist that should be on your watch list, it’s Baby Queen.