poptropicaslutz! & aldrch Share New Single “wow!” From Upcoming EP ‘Gossip Team’ Out May 19
Today, alt-pop wunderkinds poptropicaslutz! and aldrch share “wow!”, the second single in a series of joint releases leading up to their split EP, Gossip Team, out May 19. The bouncy new track gives us a clear glimpse into the heart of the project, putting a fresh, current spin on the Y2K bops we all reminisce about without falling into imitation.
A vibrant fusion of characteristically charming hooks, earnest-yet-amusing lyrics, forward-facing distortion, and an incredibly danceable beat, “wow!” conjures the feeling of having “a connection with somebody so strong that it makes you think it’s all you’re ever going to need,” says Christian Cicilia (poptropicaslutz!).
“wow!”
Like the upcoming EP, “wow!” is an undeniable nod to the style that pts! fans know and love while drawing from the bank of experiences and maturity that the artists have added to significantly within the last year. “I consider Nick [Crawford] and CC [Christian Cicilia] family at this point,” says Sam Richman (aldrch). “There’s nothing holding us back in the studio to be completely honest with each other.”
Gossip Team has been a long time in the making for the friends and labelmates. “Ever since we met [3 years ago] there was a discussion about an EP,” recalls Cicilia. With a dynamic in which all parties bring equal value to the table, the New York duo and artist-producer are both similar and unique in their creative approaches. “pts! are big writers...super methodical about lyrics, their meanings, and the stories they tell,” Richman explains. “I come from a producer background, so I treat lyric writing more from [that] perspective, focused heavily on phrasing and trying to encapsulate specific emotions” with a maximalist—yet intentional—approach to sound.
Even so, it was their devoted fanbases and participatory internet culture that willed Gossip Team into existence with nothing but sheer excitement for the collaborations to come. “[We’d] been working super closely for the past couple years, stacking up new demos and going on IG Live and showing them to pts! fans,” Richman recalls. “I think it started with people putting ‘aldrch pts EP’ in the chat on those lives that sparked the idea.”