Like all genres, pop can be boiled down to its bare essence. And whilst its nature and form change over the years due to the ephemeral ebbs and flows of fad and fashion, it always conforms to a few essential elements – hook, groove, lyrical catch, and danceability. Other factors may come and go as the winds of change and the current zeitgeist dictate, but those are the root of all pop-ness.
“Drop,” the new one from MJoy ticks all those boxes and makes for the most groovesome contemporary pop sound, uncluttered by any superfluous additions. Some might argue that this conforms to more alt-pop principles, but I would say that alt-pop is just pop ahead of the curve or working parallel to the pack, so pop it is. Okay, indie-pop!
“Drop” is all about groove, and as the dancefloor beats become the driving force and the vocals become the center of attention, it only requires a few strange and satisfying sonics to be sandwiched between to make the song whole.
In doing so, the song embraces space: space to make the music breathe, space to let the light in, space that frames each of the musical elements, and space that keeps the song deft and sprightly.
In all its forms, pop music has a habit of trying to be too clever, gimmicky, and try-hard. “Drop” reminds us that when you strip away all those unnecessary tones and textures, what is left is what pop music has always been about. And they are all found here working in harmony and having the time of their life. And so will you.
