Banoffee - “Contagious”

SXSW 2020 - OEB Score: 8; Popularity Index: 3

Pairs Well With…Charli XCX, Tove Lo, Marina & the Diamonds

Pop artist Banoffee builds her music around hooky, danceable electronic pop, but loads her songs with creative sounds and delivers them in a cooly unique way, twisting expectations without losing an accessible, sweet sound. After a couple of EPs a few years back, Banoffee is set to release her debut full-length Look At Us Now, Dad at the end of the week, already previewed by a trio of exciting, infectious singles. The first was “Tennis Fan”, an island-vibed pop bubbler featuring Empress Of, a fun and slightly washed out track of warm synth grooves. “Count on You” is a subtly epic banger of R&B melodies and alt-rock hooks, a weird fusion that works with thick bounce. The trio of highlights is completed with “Contagious”, the most sultry and mysterious of the three and one showing a patiently different side of the Australian artist. To keep Banoffee’s charming pop sounded grounded in interesting production and melodic deviations is impressive and hearing all three of these tracks hit so effectively makes Look At Us Now, Dad an anticipated release for this burgeoning star. (Kevin McStravick)