Thursday 5/28: Theia—"Celebrity"
Today, we share our thoughts on “Celebrity" by the New Zealand pop artist Theia.
Welcome to Endless Scroll, the brainchild of Eli Enis (he/him) and Eric Bennett (they/them). Since Feb. 2019, we’ve been a weekly podcast about music, the internet, and where those two things intersect. Now we’re, also a M-F newsletter about songs. Our format is simple: a link to a song and a short take from each of us about what we think of it. Each day of the week has a corresponding genre: Monday is indie, Tuesday is punk, Wednesday is hip-hop, Thursday is pop, and Friday is misc.
Today, we share our thoughts on “Celebrity" by the New Zealand pop artist Theia.
Theia—”Celebrity”
Eric Bennett:
New Zealand’s Theia makes the kind of pop music that feels destined to bubble under the surface, there for those who dig enough to find it. Her latest EP 99% Angel is a small sampling of attractive, airy songs that fans of Kim Petras or Allie X will immediately latch on to. There are moments during “Celebrity” where her voice sounds undeniably like New Zealand’s most famous pop export, Lorde. Don’t believe me? Check it out for yourself. “Celebrity” has a delightfully infectious chorus with pulsing bass that makes it destined for the dance floor - as soon as we’re allowed on those again.
Eli Enis:
Last month, I saw Theia play a Zoom gig and instantly win over 100 ecstatic gen-z’rs—and at least one cusper (myself)—in real-time. The first track that sold me was the deliriously catchy, albeit lyrically nonsensical, “Kitty Kat”, which crosses 2014-era pop-rap bounce with modern Charli XCX vocals. To me, 99% Angel plays out like Theia gleefully thrifting styles from bigger stars: “Frat Boyz” is like Brooke Candy swagger crossed with Billie Eilish whispers, and the title track oddly calls back to Fergie’s The Dutchess. “Celebrity” is indeed super Lorde during the verses, but the streaky effect on the hook’s “la-la-la-la’s” is a bit more left-field. Normally, I’d be turned off by an artist who’s trying to shape their identity in the mold of their peers, but Theia sounds like she’s having so much fun rifling through outfits that I can’t help but smile. When she finally does hit the checkout counter, I’ll be ready and waiting.