Pop music has certainly had its fair share of genre-crossing revivals in recent years. Tracking what will take off next has evaded even those most familiar with the historical trends of the genre, and the fairly recent introductions of social media and streaming have only sped up the process of fads and trendsetting within mainstream pop culture, causing unpredictability in what some could assume is basic science.
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And so, when artists can’t appropriately configure what sound to chase in hopes of reaching mainstream success, the need for etching out your niche becomes mandatory. Standard one-genre fare falls by the wayside with audiences craving something more self-aware and progressive, something that does the homework and heavy-lifting for the listeners. With Dynamyte’s latest single “I Don’t Like You,” a new voice is here to show just how much time and effort she’s put into perfecting her unique and new blend of lighthearted pop and retro, funky R&B throwbacks while paving the way for future voices yet to come.
“I Don’t Like You” might feel like an aggressive title for a pop song, but Dynamyte makes sure to kiss her fist before she begins to throw punches; above all else, this song aimed at a toxic former partner, but it’s still entirely a pop song you’ll more than likely find yourself singing in the shower. The depth is present within the verses, and the levity is the central focus of the chorus. Dynamyte gives pop music a run for its money, arriving on the scene with only a few songs to her name and yet an already impeccable knack for knowing what a hit song is composed of. That may or may not be tied to the fact that her childhood was spent opening for the likes of Ariana Grande (among others) as a piece of a young pop duo, Michael & Marisa, with her brother; it’s no wonder Dynamyte feels like she has years of experience and confidence ready to explode from each song she releases.
Starting the song off with a bass that practically oozes out of the speakers makes all the more sense when Dynamyte’s voice enters and the contrast between the deep, silky bassline and her pitch-perfect vocal delivery and performance becomes that much more pronounced. The comparisons between Dynamyte’s vocals and those of other neo-soul artists are immediately apparent, but the sound is still one that most will find impossible to entirely pin down. Listeners will enjoy the mix of eras and influences jam-packed into a single track and will surely salivate at the chance of receiving an entire album of similar material.
For now, though, it’s never too early to start declaring our songs of the summer with this as a major contender as a standout submission; it’ll make great airplay to direct at all of those former quarantine flings, and will almost certainly be one of the most played songs on quite a few end-of-year wrap-ups.
Jodi Marxbury