Barely in his 20s, Melbourne artist IV Dante wasn’t even a twinkle in his parents’ eyes when the music of the ‘80s filled the airwaves. However, the lush synth sounds and overdriven guitars that dominate his new EP Purple take me right back to my childhood. Ask a younger listener and they’d likely hear something different though. They’d hear the influences of modern indie-pop darlings like The 1975 and LANY.
Perhaps all those influences are in there, combining to create music that feels nostalgic, yet fresh and exciting all at the same time. All I know is that I was hooked from the first strains of “Napping in Night Clubs.” Like the best indie-pop music, the EP’s four tracks are sweet, but never saccharine. They go down easily, but there’s an edge about them that makes them relatable. They also absolutely make me want to dance. And being cooped up in iso, that’s exactly what I need.
Fire Purple up on your streaming service, but make sure you hit repeat. If you’re anything like me, you’ll want to listen more than once.
Images used with permission from Firestarter Music