Some shimmering alt-pop this week, perfect for the ‘almost but not quite summer’ vibes. Basically my fave genre at my fave time of year. So let’s dive right in. Enjoy!
Cas du Pree – Prism
Cas du Pree’s “Prism” is a brilliant alt-pop single: danceable, sharp, and built around a metaphor that builds into an incredible chorus.
“Prism” is the most upbeat and danceable thing Cas du Pree has released, which makes sense given that its central idea is about opening up rather than closing down. The title is cool: the idea being that light through a prism refracts into something warm and colourful when conditions are right, and darkens when they are not. Lyrics co-written by Cas and Hugh Webber carry that logic through to the refrain, “Let me take control,” which lands beautifully. It’s all very bright, buzzy and incredibly infectious.
Cas du Pree is based in Brummen in the Netherlands and has been building a catalogue in collaboration with Webber and Storey since a debut single in 2020. That Dutch-British creative axis gives the project a particular character: directness on the lyrical side, a melodic instinct on the production side, the two pulling against each other in ways that keep the songs interesting. It’s a fantastic single and we’re definitely keeping an eye on him this year.
Tori Lord – Conman
Tori Lord’s “Conman” is a stunning alt-pop debut: polished, lyrically precise, and one of the sharpest character studies we’ve heard in the genre this year
“Conman” is produced by Marty Martino of Down With Webster, and the production carries his fingerprints: wonderfully crisp pop architecture with a darker undercurrent that stops it from sitting too comfortably. The track is written with Theo Tams, Canadian Idol winner and experienced co-writer, and the collaboration shows in the lyrical specificity. Tori’s delivery is the real standout here, understated and plaintive in the verses, before things explode into the chorus. Conceptually, it’s about what happens when someone performs a version of themselves that isn’t real, doing it purely to protect their access to status and proximity.
Lord grew up moving through Canada’s top choirs and musical theatre before joining Celine Dion’s Let’s Talk About Love tour. Now based in New York, she has developed her pop direction under the mentorship of Rob Wells, the co-writer behind Justin Bieber’s “Baby,” working alongside Martino and Tams to build a sound rooted in layered vocals and piano-driven production. “Conman” is her debut single, and it arrives with a lot of excitement. We can’t wait for whatever’s next.