SINGLE REVIEW: NEONshe – Dopamine

Meet Jazmine Fayewood: singer, activist, and camper van extraordinaire. You may know her as NEONshe, the bubblegum J-pop princess, but that isn’t going to be the case for much longer. Following an unfortunate twist in circumstances, Fayewood was forced to move back home from Japan, but, never one to shy away from an opportunity for growth, she is using this as one last chance to step out as NEONshe. ‘Dopamine’ is a look into the final NEONshe record Fayewood is currently working on.

A bittersweet exploration of mental illness and ADHD, this is a gorgeously put together and slightly off-kilter pop number. Sparkling synth beats and bubbling bass lines are woven between passages of luscious piano and shimmering ambience, giving the whole track a wonderful sense of ebb and flow. The manner in which Fayewood builds towards the climax of the track, with vocal glitches and almost spoken-word delivery, is brilliantly executed.

It all feels like a party that has gone on for way too long, with Fayewood’s dopamine receptors continually chasing that next high against her will. There are some particularly gorgeous vocal harmonies in the pre-choruses, whilst Fayewood keeps her lead vocals surprisingly subdued; despite the glitter, there’s a lot of bitterness at the heart of the track, and that is translated perfectly.

Even if this is the end of Fayewood’s NEONshe era, she’s going far from quietly. ‘Dopamine’ is the sound of an artist that is more confident than ever before, understanding her own craft and knowing how to perfectly juxtapose it. The final NEONshe record may well only be the start of Fayewood’s journey.

For Fans Of: Carly Rae Jepsen, Anamanaguchi, Becks, Topiary Creatures, La Roux

Follow the artist on social media below:

Instagram // Spotify