Released today (14th October), VOGUES’ second single, ‘Tony & Moses’ possess a soulful, laser-focused example of modern alternative pop, which chronicles the idea of losing someone. Written from the perspective of the one left behind, it succinctly captures the emotions of the character reckoning with loss.
Challenging the listener with unusual melody lines, yet delivering his lines with undeniable passion and sincerity, Londoner Vogues’ unique voice weaves elegantly around soothing strings, electronic drums and moving piano motifs.
Musically inspired by the likes of Julia Holter, Brian Eno, Group Listening and Penguin Cafe Orchestra – the name ‘Tony & Moses’ originally came from a video of Tony Allan teaching Moses Boyd how to drum afrobeat – which is where the drum machine pattern comes from – a very slowed-down afrobeat pattern tentatively played by Moses under Tony’s fixed stare.
‘Tony & Moses’ was originally written by Ted Mair, who along with Vogues make up part of The Golden Dregs’s live band.
Vogues says: “Ted sent me ‘Tony & Moses’ over lockdown and I instantly thought ‘I have to do a version of this’” explains Vogues. “The beauty of the song just really struck me. I asked him if he would allow me and if he wanted to collaborate on it. He had kinda distanced himself from it and thought it was going to lay dormant forever. However once I had a go at singing he was inspired to rearrange the instrumental, recording new material on double bass, clarinet, piano and bass guitar.”
Vogues counts artists including Dev Hynes and Solange as key sources of inspiration – and those influences can be heard within the soulful, diverse tracks he has released to date. Sounding in places like his voice has been lifted from a bygone era, Vogues, along with collaborators Benjamin Woods (AKA The Golden Dregs who produced Vogues’s debut single YH4M) and Ted Mair, neatly incorporate elements of soul, electronic and alternative pop to create something truly encapsulating.
‘Tony & Moses’ is out now via Nothing Fancy. Check out the lyric video for single below…
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