Hope D - “Senseless”

SXSW 2023 - OEB Score: 7; Popularity Index: 6

Pairs Well With…Cheekface, Alex the Astronaut, Paramore

Hope D’s music is a little insane, but it’s also a lot catchy, a blend of punk-pop, hip hop, funk, and indie rock making up her sophomore full-length Clash of the Substance. Released earlier in February, it’s an explosion of creativity while still rooted in songwriting that is equally clever and personable. Her vocal style is ever-changing as well, tight choruses tied to speak-sing verses at times. The genre melding and hopping is really committed on Clash of the Substance and she rarely sounds lost. This chameleon-like quality makes those catchy, sing-a-long moments stand out even more and makes her latest record, while stuffed with songs and ideas, one to listen to front to back to get a full sense of Hope D’s impressive rock songcraft. (Kevin McStravick)