Oscar Vega is a rising singer/songwriter from Virginia whose music sits somewhere between accessible dark pop and trip-hop. Influences like Tame Impala and Pink Floyd contribute to a sound that’s more dripping in atmosphere than typical top-40, while additional influence from alternative hip-hop lends to an approach not distant from the Drake-like valuing of atmosphere while not abandoning hooks entirely. On new track “Back”, Vega works around halted percussion, nocturnal keys, and pitch-fluctuated vocal backings to craft a simple yet memorable effort that showcases his pop pedigree and intentions well, helped by the guiding production hand of Mantra. Vega seems very capable of capturing his intended niche, and with “Back” and the recently released “Lucy” he’s certainly on his way.
