Everybody's Talking: Neon Sky

No, this is not a post about a ripoff Nina Sky-wannabe band. That would be sad.

Picture a more respectable version (musically) of Fergie (aesthetically) coupled with a voice that's a mashup of Pixie Lott, Lily Allen, old school Nelly Furtado, Duffy, Amy Winehouse and someone else I can't identify, complete with mid-tempo, laid back tunes that sound throwback without trying too hard mixing with new school R&Pop. You would get something sort of like Neon Hitch.

If you find the millions of carbon-copied Lady Gaga's that seem to be coming out of the woodwork at a frightening pace exhausting, Neon will be a refreshing sound for you. The singer was an inspired MySpace indie until this past June when she signed with EMI. Clearly, her brand of relaxed but inspired folk combined with handclaps and not-so-in-your-face backbeats made an impression.

You can peruse four different tracks on her MySpace. The supposed single, "Black and Blues", is very good indeed, but "Black Sunshine" really grabbed my attention as well -- both would be a welcomed entry into the pop radio airwaves. And if you're so inclined, you can find a download to her brilliant song "My Book" (as well as a electro-fied remix of "Black and Blues" that makes her sound very Pixie "Mama Do" indeed...at least to me) through the fantastically useful HypeM.
Just saying.

If mid-tempo indie pop isn't your thing, don't worry. EMI certainly is stepping up their game, as another one of their latest signees, Sky Ferreira, is also kicking up some dust in terms of buzz. I first learned her name a few months back when she was profiled by a British blog that was also featuring one of the groups I was working with back at my internship. I never had the chance to look more into her, and now, given the comparison's to Lady Gaga, my interest became peaked again to hear just what she brings to the pop table.

16-year-old Sky's husky voice is very reminiscent to me of one of my favorite imports from Canada (eh?), Skye Sweetnam. However, while Skye is more punk-pop gone electro, Sky Ferreira is pure pop through and through gone electro hipster. While her voice leaves much to be desired in terms of sangability, she does the melodic electro pop thing well. "Stand Back" is a funky little head-bopper, but it's her contribution to The Virgin's "Teen Lovers" that interests me most.

Personally, I'm not seeing the Lady Gaga comparison (unless there is material that suggests this that isn't on the 'nets just yet), but she could be one to watch in the next few months.