Gianna's Nostalgic Sound Captures the Essence of 00s Boho-Pop
Gianna, a 23-year-old musician from Camden, London, is making waves with her debut EP Behind the Wings, which masterfully revives the polished boho-pop sound of the early 2000s. Her music, characterized by arpeggiated acoustic guitars and vaguely trip-hop beats, evokes memories of artists like Nelly Furtado, All Saints, and Corinne Bailey Rae. With a gently distinctive voice that swoops through these arrangements, Gianna creates a sound that is both nostalgic and refreshingly contemporary.
Influences and Inspirations Behind the Music
Gianna's musical influences are diverse, ranging from the cinematic sweep of Everything But the Girl to the rave-adjacent energy of Madonna's Ray of Light era. However, her unique sound is deeply rooted in her Albanian heritage. Growing up steeped in Albanian television and folk songs, she began writing songs in Albanian over beats found on YouTube during the lockdown period. This cultural background subtly infuses her music, adding a distinctive Balkan aesthetic to her tracks.
One standout song, Shadow of a Bird, was inspired by a personal experience in Kosovo, where she mistook a hummingbird for a falling brick. This moment of reality distortion is transformed into a meditation reminiscent of All Saints' Pure Shores, showcasing Gianna's ability to turn fleeting experiences into compelling musical narratives.
The Resurgence of Coffee-Shop Pop
While Gianna is not the only artist revisiting the Y2K era—figures like Addison Rae and Erika de Casier have also drawn inspiration from this period—her work presents a convincing argument for the reassessment of coffee-shop pop. Her songs are described as bright and effervescent, much like the face-wash ads of the early 2000s, yet they feel fresh due to their deep roots in nostalgia and personal history.
Gianna's EP is out now, and she is set to tour with After in May, bringing her unique blend of influences to live audiences. Her music not only pays homage to a beloved era but also introduces new elements that make it relevant for today's listeners.
This Week's Best New Tracks
In addition to Gianna's release, several other artists have dropped noteworthy tracks this week:
- Nia Archives – Danger: This UK junglist's return features a playground chant acronym and blends a rushing chorus with verses reminiscent of second-album Sugababes.
- deBasement – Aftermarket Bass (ft Nikki Nair): A fuzzed-out dancefloor track with commanding icy vocals that demand total submission.
- Downtown Boys – No Me Jodas: The Rhode Island punks expand their sound with enveloping clouds of doom on their first album since 2017.
- Brennan Wedl and Waxahatchee – Six O'Clock News: A beautiful essay on outlaw love, splitting the difference between Lucinda Williams and Sheryl Crow.
- Empress Of – Dream House: Lorely Rodriguez offers a sweet, shuffling R&B track as a literal offering to her family after their home burned down.
- Lee 'Scratch' Perry and Mouse on Mars – Rockcurry: Perry's true final sessions feature cool vocals amid synth-winking, caper-worthy music.
- Khun Narin Electric Phin Band – Poet Wong Pt 1: This Thai marching band delivers a track that is serene, intricate, psychedelic, and pulverizing.
These selections highlight the diversity and innovation in today's music scene, with Gianna standing out as a key voice in the revival of early 2000s aesthetics.
