single review ~ 'somebody' ~ vokxen

Name: VOKXEN
Genre: Electro-Pop
For Fans Of: HAIM, Blondie, Paloma Faith 
Location: Belfast
Facebook//Twitter 

VOKXEN are a band doing things right. Clearly not ones for fanfare, this electronic-pop supergroup managed to avoid the trap doors of social media too early on in their careers. Instead, they chose to hit the ground running with a catchy single, radio play and the recording of their debut EP all but over straight away. It's some feat for any band, but particularly one like VOKXEN, who join the likes of LORIS, Shadow Police and  Pleasure Beach on the crest of a synth wave.

'Somebody' fits the chilled, Californian aesthetic of the band  perfectly. With crisp production and hooks galore, Cool FM's Stuart Robinson played the track immediately after Years & Years mammoth hit 'King' and far from sounding out of place, the track seemed to shimmer all the more on commercial airwaves. For all VOKXEN's mainstream potential, that doesn't mean this is a band lacking indie credibility; tight, creative harmonies and a Kate Bush-like falsetto permeates through the end of this track. Always a good sign.

If the aim of 'Somebody' was to break into Belfast's tightly knit pop scene on the first attempt, it's mission accomplished.

Taylor Johnson