‘Oh No’ by Matt Harper Conjured Consoling Catharsis Through Synth Pop Tenderness
If any electro pop track had the anthropomorphic ability to reach out from the airwaves and stroke your hair, it would be Matt Harper’s latest single, Oh No. His approach to 80s-steeped synth pop follows an unfamiliar path, wandering over the universal fragments of suffering that pierce the conscience of anyone still brave enough to care. Rather than glossing over modern ennui, Oh No cradles it, offering a strange validation that allows you to imagine the words of Manic Street Preachers funnelled into a composition by The Human League. It’s a paradox, really, how the synthesis of synths can feel more humane than the picture of humanity we’re painting in 2025. Harper’s soft, euphonic vocals don’t attempt to dominate the mix; they permeate it with tender indie pop soul, turning this track into something far rarer than disposable feel-good pop. The Birmingham-based artist has been sculpting his sound since his 2021 debut single, experimenting across synth pop, indie rock, and new wave to build a reputation for cinematic textures and melodies that linger. After producing his own debut album, New Sounds, and reworking his catalogue with Geomagnetic and Ryan Davies for the Collective Custard Dream Remixes, Harper continued to expand […] The post ‘Oh No’ by Matt Harper Conjured Consoling Catharsis Through Synth Pop Tenderness appeared first on A&R Factory.

If any electro pop track had the anthropomorphic ability to reach out from the airwaves and stroke your hair, it would be Matt Harper’s latest single, Oh No. His approach to 80s-steeped synth pop follows an unfamiliar path, wandering over the universal fragments of suffering that pierce the conscience of anyone still brave enough to care. Rather than glossing over modern ennui, Oh No cradles it, offering a strange validation that allows you to imagine the words of Manic Street Preachers funnelled into a composition by The Human League. It’s a paradox, really, how the synthesis of synths can feel more humane than the picture of humanity we’re painting in 2025. Harper’s soft, euphonic vocals don’t attempt to dominate the mix; they permeate it with tender indie pop soul, turning this track into something far rarer than disposable feel-good pop. The Birmingham-based artist has been sculpting his sound since his 2021 debut single, experimenting across synth pop, indie rock, and new wave to build a reputation for cinematic textures and melodies that linger. After producing his own debut album, New Sounds, and reworking his catalogue with Geomagnetic and Ryan Davies for the Collective Custard Dream Remixes, Harper continued to expand […]
The post ‘Oh No’ by Matt Harper Conjured Consoling Catharsis Through Synth Pop Tenderness appeared first on A&R Factory.