Nelson-born Sylvee, who hails from the same hometown as BROODS, makes her presence known with the release of “Retrograde World,” featuring Lucid Heist, on September 24. The song was funded by NZ on Air, and it is a powerful pop statement that comments on the upside-down nature of our society. It’s contemporary pop masterclass in every sense of the phrase, utilising electronic sounds, a hip-hop section, and lyrics that are introspective and timely. That broad based appeal is a uniquely difficult sweet spot for any artist to slot themselves into. It’s chaotic at times and cathartic at others, combining a hypnotic and entrancing production style with moments that make you feel flabbergasted and enchanted at once.
In many ways, we are living in a retrograde world. There’s still a multitude of issues across the globe that people take to the streets to protest against day in and day out, but to seemingly no avail. That chaos and the seemingly unbreakable barriers to progress can be exhausting and infuriating. Sylvee’s taken that feeling and injected it into a tune that’s bound to have you experiencing some form of catharsis as an outlet to the discord and pandemonium.