Youngblood

Youngblood is the outlet through which Vancouver musician Alexis Young espouses her views on "what the '60s thought the future would sound like." She concocts a dreamy blend of electro pop melody and Cocteau Twins-esque beauty that glistens and shimmers through a series of raw synthetic impulses. Inspired by French electronic group Air, Young positions herself somewhere between the storied grooves of the past and the heady artificiality of the present. In the midst of these sounds, she discovers an honest and fervent pop philosophy, one that inspired the lithe rhythmic movements on her recently released debut EP, "Feel Alright."

With EP standout "Alone With You," Young surrounds herself with lush, ecstatic arrangements and works her way through these gossamer rhythms with a casual ease. Her voice is equal parts comforting and disquieting, a cascade of melodies and luxurious texture that immediately captures your attention. Bouncing on a bed of dense synth pop noise, she deftly maneuvers around her influences to create a wholly unique and mesmerizing sound. She balances between the laid-back electronics of Air and a rumbling emotional release common to artists like M83 and Lana Del Rey. "Alone With You" is a portrait of an artist reveling in the joyous noise of her own imagination. - Nootga

Youngblood is the musical outlet for Vancouver artist Alexis Young. The fact that she is also a successful graphic designer makes it even more impressive that one individual can exude this much creativity; however, when Alexis and the rest of her band released Youngblood’s debut single, “Feel Alright”, at the start of the year, it was obvious from the passion within that her musical persona is no chore. This is what Alexis enjoys, and she’s damn good at it. It has now been six months since the release of “Feel Alright”, and we finally have Youngblood’s debut EP that shares its name. The Feel Alright EP is a collection of five vivacious pop songs, each packed with a fierce energy that collectively make this release feel larger than it is. From the commanding chorus of opener “Broken English”, to the cycling, synth-powered “Easy Nothing”, and even the darker undertones of “Alone With You”, each track is charged with a blistering vocal take from Young, who leads aptly with her confident bravado. It is hard not to become enraptured when listening to this release, and it's one you know would absolutely kill in any setting live. - Hilly Dilly

Surrounded by old friends and Vancouver music veterans, her backing band is an all-star cast with Louis Wu (Fake Shark) on guitar, Bruce Ledingham (Gay Nineties) on keys and Malcolm Holt (Gay Nineties) on drums. “Since I pretty much write the entirety of the songs either alone or with a partner (Parker Bossley of Gay Nineties co-wrote first single “Feel Alright), I’ll bring the songs to the band and we’ll work them out and arrange them for a live setting.” The result is undeniably fresh and cohesive, Youngblood is your dream girl and the girl next door all at once, ready to take you away on a lavender cloud to a mysterious land of neon, blonde and glitter. - BeatRoute