Is this playlist for me?
If you enjoy any of the following, this playlist may be worth checking out:
- Striking melodic hooks with interesting rhyme schemes. There’s a swagger to these melodies that commands attention.
- Elaborate arrangements that go beyond what you hear in a typical pop song; the use of devices like modulation to create strong contrast between song sections.
- An opening up, usually in the chorus, that makes it feel as if the song is “expanding,” “coming toward you” or “taking over the room.”
- A steady, almost methodical rhythm; many of the songs unfold and move toward you with a relentless quality.
If I were going to listen to just one song, which should I pick?
If you want to try just one song to get a sense of whether the playlist is your sort of thing, try Down by ok jess. This song captures most, if not all, of the musical qualities described above. Once it gets going, it’s arranged in such a way that it almost seems to come out toward you in 3-D.
Another good one to try is exit girl by Ratbag. The song comes out at you in the chorus and there’s the sense that you’re either gonna back up to accommodate it or get trampled.
What genres are represented in this playlist?
Primarily pop, indie-pop and indie-rock, but also a little bit of R&B and soul.
Is there a listening prompt to help me hear this quality?
See if you can notice a moment in each song when it begins to expand toward you, almost threatening to displace you.
If I like this playlist, what other ones should I check out?
Try Mega, as this playlist captures the same sense of vastness that is approached in Audacious. In Mega, it’s like the songs are already fully expanded and towering over you.
You may also like Ascent, as it captures related dynamic movements (“unfolding” and “rising” in the case of Ascent) and does so through similar elements like use of contrast, carefully constructed melodies and more elaborate arrangements. The feeling quality in Ascent is more uplifting, and less unsettling, than Audacious .
Snap is similar to Audacious in that it features confident, expansive melodies and arrangements. It is faster-paced and less unsettling than Audacious, with a stronger electro-pop emphasis. With Snap it feels like you are opening up, rather than the song.
Numinous emphasizes the strong contrast, unorthodox arrangements and subtle feeling of something “coming toward you” of Audacious but takes it to another level. Songs branch out from pop into hip-hop, experimental pop, and elements of electronic music.
Last Updated on October 24, 2024
