Pop music has long had a bad name in the eyes of many, a lowest familiar denominator genre where guest rappers and dance routines are rolled out to hide the vacuousness of what it has become, which is why we need more people like Sienna Wileman in the world.
“Scenario,” her sixth single to date, is unashamedly pop, but not the sort of pop I have described above. While it ticks boxes for all the established pop necessities such as infectiousness and groove, addictiveness, and energy, it is also a song formed in the cross breeze of indie cool and folk delicacy.
And the result is rather great. Its sweet pop sonics keep it effortlessly accessible, especially once the chorus kicks in (you’ll be joining in before you realize it), but the indie-folk vibes elevate it up from such a realm into more rarefied and subtle territory. Quite cleverly, it runs through several sonic seasons – from the understated opening to full-on pop grooves to big choruses to staccato sonic chops and finally it cocoons itself in additional tones and textures to play itself out.
Pop doesn’t have to accept its lot. With songs such as “Scenario” reminding us what pop used to be and what it can be again, the future looks brighter than you might think! And the same goes for Sienna Wileman.
