Madison, Wisconsin-based nostalgia pop producer, Emily AF has been hard at work engineering her unique brand of emo with a twist under the name Rockstar & Elise to the delight of fans across the globe. Heavily inspired by music from the golden age of pop punk, her work reflects a level of angst, grit, and morbid optimism that hits deep and speaks straight to the scene kid in all of us. As she continues to evolve as an artist with every musical release, her newest single proves to continue this momentum as she gives us a taste of her ability to truly make a song her own with the debut of her take on the Taylor Swift sensational hit “Cruel Summer.” Showing great range with this rendition, she welcomes fans of all preferences to see just how far her talents can stretch.
As the piece begins, we are immediately thrown into the style of production so familiar with the Warped Tour generation as synth embellishments, a steady percussive determination, and instrumental fades define the direction of the music. The artist’s vocals appear soon after with a sense of confidence and composure to begin the narrative direction of the cover, giving fans a sense of familiarity and comfort with a touch of explorative nuance.
Reminiscent of the sense of familiar innovation defined by the classic “Pop Goes Punk” albums of the early 2000s, this reimagining easily demonstrates its musical merit and sheds light on the musical proclivities and sensibilities of the young artist behind the microphone. Staying true to their inspirations while still fortifying their own artistic path, the single proves to have a place in fans’ hearts.
Written by Nick Gumas
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