Musical Sensuality: Innovation and Uncharted Paths
Sensuality in pop music is a category that somewhat eludes traditional musical analysis. It is commonly believed that sensuality is manifested at the intersection of genre blending, audience feedback, and the experience of unconscious synesthesia. However, sensuality can also be considered a method, a desired set of personal expressive tools enhanced by performative self-sexualization or self-eroticism by the musician. Nevertheless, in pop music, it is extremely rare for sensuality to become more than just an auxiliary tool for content creators and instead become a centripetal category penetrating the structure of the song and its poetic foundation. I want to introduce you to three unique musicians who actively articulate, use, and reinvent the concept of sensuality in their art and who are currently revolutionising pop music.
The song "Roma Roma" deeply resonates with the listener’s soul. The delicate lyricism, resembling the fluttering of butterfly wings, fills the space with emotions and feelings. At the same time, the percussions, evoking the sound of raindrops hitting the ground, create an atmosphere of tenderness and relaxation.
The main characteristic of this song is its ability to transcend masculinity and express the vulnerability of its lyrical protagonist. Within the harmonies, seemingly unconventional and integral to the musical composition, lies the essence of sensuality. They embody a transformative journey, an honest and confessional expression of fears and pain.
"Roma Roma" becomes a kind of magical healing for the listener, transforming them into tourists in their own city and providing an opportunity to understand oneself and the surrounding world like never before. In the music, the most complex human experiences find their reflection, laying them bare so candidly that the listener cannot remain indifferent. In "Roma Roma," sensuality becomes a means of self-transformation and achieving harmony with the world. This song is a wonderful example of transforming pop and R& B into boundary-pushing music, giving its foundation a shimmering and elusive sensuality.
This song, unlike the previous one, presents us with a completely different way of inventing our own musical sensuality. Ivan Ocean’s sensuality is bitter, intentionally blurred, and dense, carefully referencing dark folk or country music and co while remaining within the realm of popular music. The detached vocals teeter on the edge of neutrality, thereby focusing our attention on the interplay between the lyrics and the timbre, creating a staggering effect reminiscent of another dimension.
The vocals, deliberately detached and evocative, capture our attention, drawing us deeper into the mesmerising world Ivan Ocean has created. The lyrics and timbre entwine harmoniously, creating an immersive experience that transports us to an alternate dimension.
"Expected Unexpected Sex" is a fascinating exploration of sounds that resemble bell chimes, inverted melodies, techno beats, and a fusion of rhythm and silence. The underground nature of the track seamlessly merges with elements of contemporary pop music, creating a unique balance between avant-garde and techno-pop.
The rhythmic elements in "Expected Unexpected Sex" further enhance the unconventional nature of the track. The techno-infused beats drive the momentum forward, creating a pulsating energy that is infectious.
The musician manifests a special kind of sensuality through this track, which can be described as the sensuality of a subject incapable of feeling—a subject that has burned out. This sensuality is subject to a certain pulsation that can be found in the urban environment, in one’s own body under high pressure, and during mind-scrolling through traumatising news.
***
Sensuality is a paradoxical concept that finds incredible breakthroughs through the prism of modern musical explorations. The musicians described above are undoubtedly worthy of your attention, so please follow their careers and increase their digital metrics on streaming platforms. Sensuality!
Author: Jenya Stashkov, art critic
Sheffield, UK
