Watermelon Boy has a feel-good artist name, but the music feels even better. The Australian producer pushes the boundaries of electronic and pop music genres with his latest record “The Wow Signal.” Rock the Pigeon is excited to review this incredible electronic album! Let’s dive in!
We dive into the sound of Watermelon Boy with “Outside,” a unique track in collaboration with Magajie featuring a smooth saxophone solo resting on top an out-of-the-box dance beat. Lyrically, this track showcases pride in being Australian. This is a great introduction to what will unfold on the rest of the record. “Outside” flows well into “Memories.” This song blends genres such as tropical house, classic rave and Amapiano (a South African music genre stemming from the Zulu word for “pianos”). This one is sure to be a club favorite for the smooth vocals and catchy beat.
“It felt good to make a dedicated club track like this. Something clicked when I was slicing together vocal samples and came up with that main melody line. Being able to bring a percussive breakdown and buildup to a track that is so open and sparse was a treat.” – Watermelon Boy
Bigwilz (the soulful vocals) and Christonite Boginikua (production), two Fijian artists, join Watermelon Boy for another collaborative track “Cagi Mudre Vou.” This sound comes from a Fijian background, marking the first time this style of music has found a home on our blog. Some of the lyrics are in Fijian and the song even features a traditional instrument from the region called the lali. There are also elements of Future Bass throughout the song that are seamlessly blended in!
“The lyrics speak of a fresh sea breeze reminding one of an old love and I really think we captured that same contrast, of newness and nostalgia in the production.” – Watermelon Boy
We travel from Fiji to Lagos, Nigeria for the next song, “Gbona.” I am a sucker for African Heat music and this song is packing quite the heat! Danceable, fun rhythms and catchy vocal styling make this song one of the most stand out on the record. Nigerian vocalist Green Baker met Watermelon Boy in Ghana in 2019, and they collaborated in 2020 on “Kibaye.” Making this the pair’s second collaboration. This song has a dark yet sexy feel to it, making it a hit among afrobeats songs. This song comes with a colorful music video:
“Glistening Sand” follows effortlessly. This song has very little vocals but contains synth melodies that serve as the song’s hooks. Watermelon Boy let us know that this track was inspired by boats sailing in during golden hour, saying: “This one is just a cruise. It’s like taking a boat from port to port and experiencing an unspecific bliss that you can sometimes get between destinations. There’s plenty of movement and energy in this tune, but I still find it relaxing.” We find it quite relaxing too. The song builds around the 3 minute mark, adding another dimension of sound to the recording.
“Mereba” is another fun track, coming with a music video as well! Bogo Blay, an artist from Accra, Ghana, shines on this song. He delivers a quick and rhythmic rap flow throughout the verses of the track. While the verses stay busy, the catchy chorus section leans towards a more simple side, giving this song a diverse sound. The beat is super playful and fun throughout. Watermelon Boy says, “I tracked down Bogo after hearing his music, I knew we had to work together. When I showed him this beat, he reacted with the same energy that he put into the vocal. The guy’s a genius and you can hear it in his complex, clever and precise delivery.”
Green Baker makes another appearance on the record for “Spirit of The Lagoon,” another fun song with an involved bass and a four on the floor kick drum. This song also features heavy synths and techno drum sounds. The vocal is soulful and smooth, adding another layer of texture to the record. Green Baker and Watermelon Boy are quite the duo!
A distorted electric guitar riff kicks off “Damn Son.” This is a sound that we haven’t heard yet on this record. The guitar fades and the electronic beat comes in. 2FISTD, an Indian vocalist, brings the heat on this song. He delivers an impeccable rap section, that feels inspired by alt-rock vocal styles, on top of a beat that could serve as a soundtrack at a popular club or hopping party. This song stands out genre-wise and is a great song for the midway-through point of the record.
In contrast, from the rockin’ vocals we just heard on “Damn Son,” the record shifts to an R&B vocal flavor for “No Problems.” This is the catchiest vocal hook we hear yet. BRYAN THE MENSAH has a soulful and smooth vocal tone and brings an impressive vocal performance to the track, creating one of the strongest hooks on the record. This song is quite the earworm! This is a great sound for summer, it feels like relaxing by the beach under a cute striped umbrella, with a couple of cold cocktails, surrounded by good friends. Relaxing!
The good vibes continue on the instrumentation and style of “Hall of Fame.” Jones 2.0 and BRYAN THE MENSAH deliver more excellent vocal melodies on this track. This is another earworm that will surely be stuck in your head. This song is all about gratitude, celebrating the moment of now and all the good that has come. They have waited for this moment all their lives, now it is finally here, and they are basking in it! We love to hear the joy and gratitude pouring out of the speakers. This is another hot sound for summer.
Jalmar, a Chilean artist, joins Watermelon Boy for the next track. Jalmar brings clever rhymes and rhythms to this upbeat dance track. Instrumentally, this song leans experimental, with a unique synth line and a flute part. This song has a hyped up energy to it, making is a great sound for summer, or a great song to burn calories to at the gym.
Two standout Jamaican artists join Watermelon Boy for “Break That Board.” Richie Loop and Mark Dwyer both bring epic flavors to this vibrant dancehall track. Catchy drum grooves and melodies bring another element of allure to this recording. This is another hype song, maybe perfect for a Karate match? This song features 90s styled samples from a popular fighting video game – think Tekken or Mortal Combat. Watermelon Boy steps into the ring with his friends Richie Loop and Mark Dwyer, and they win with this song!
“Du Papa” is a heavy dance song with lots of unique flavors, including samples of tropical bird sounds. The beat is all hype on this song! It’s impossible to not want to dance. It’s time to turn this track up and show off your latest moves. This is another great song for summer.
“Outdoor Shower” follows perfectly. It’s another song for summer, featuring both laid back elements like the synths, and upbeat moments like the futuristic beat that keeps the listeners’ attention throughout the song. Watermelon Boy says that this is one of his favorite songs to play live, and we can hear why!
The record closes with “Cheap Drinks & Bad Decisions.” This song contains several builds and quirky vocal bits. While the song sounds darker in vibe than the rest of the album, it’s a good closing place of the album because of its depth. Watermelon Boy says, “Almost a proof of concept; I wanted to cross my tropical influences like amapiano and threestep with some of the darkest Melbourne Techno. The result is a track that makes sense in a dirty basement club at 5am or at peak time in at a full moon party.”
Listen to this record on Spotify now and be sure to save your favorite tracks for your beach and summer playlists!
Written by Ryan Cassata
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