In a perfect blend of catchy harmonies, groovy rhythms and floating chords, Elko brewed a wonderful late-summer banger with their newest single, “Pretty Little Lies”.

Reminiscent of artists like Lil Peep, the song opens up with a guitar loop, but the energy is quickly set moments after the first notes are plucked. Elko’s melancholic voice perfectly sets the mood for what’s to come – a low, somber melody. The energy rises even further with the chorus, who’s cadence will surely be stuck in your head for days. The chorus possesses what could arguably be Elko’s greatest strength: their vocal layers. The harmonies don’t follow the melody perfectly, which adds all the more emotion and impact to its purpose. There’s a sense of push and pull coming from the harmony, especially when the multiple layers come into an ethereal release, notedly on the word “yeah”. Elko’s voice in this upper register feels so raw and gutted, despite the stylish autotune and vocal processing. The song’s structure, sticking to a standard verse-chorus style, coupled with its short runtime, makes this song all the more addicting. There’s a constant sense of evolution through each repetition with the small flourishes sprinkled through as the song progresses. By the end, the energy quickly brought down following a buildup of ad libs and ends the same way it began – with the song’s foundational guitar loop.

Elko has consistently proved that they can push their sound all the while staying free of labels or bounds. While influences can surely be heard, Elko does a beautiful job of establishing themselves as a unique artist, especially with “Pretty Little Lies”. It’s a song that will quickly make the listener visit Elko’s catalog, if they’re unfamiliar with the artist to begin with. It’s a right step in their career, and makes the future all the more promising for the young talent.

Author: Nicholas Gaudet

Music producer and writer from Dieppe, Canada.