Boniface - “Oh My God”

SXSW 2020 - OEB Score: 7; Popularity Index: 2

Pairs Well With…Future Islands, Death Cab For Cutie, Porches

Canadian synth pop artist Boniface accompanies his big, hooky sound with a ton of heart; it’d be easy to imagine these tracks as small, bedroom pop reflections in their infant form. Boniface is due to release his debut self-titled LP this Valentine’s Day, though much of the tracklist is collected singles since his dreamy, lush intro “I Will Not Return as a Tourist” from 2017. See the funky underbelly of twee-sweet “Oh My God” or the thick, new wave melodies of “Keeping Up” to sample the range of Boniface’s sound, grayly bright and sonically charming. It’s a mature and cohesive sound especially for a young artist and enough to keep an eye on Boniface catapulting up in 2020. (Kevin McStravick)