Early influences shape your own style, whatever art form or medium you work in. The important thing is to develop your own thing from your inspirations and build on that. That's exactly what Chloe Moriondo has done with her emotional and energetic indie rock sound, reinventing herself time and again across her four albums without ever betraying her own style. It's a mad balancing act. From the warm, melodic bedroom folk pop of her debut ‘Rabbit Hearted’ (2018) to the angry, rocking yet bittersweet introspection of ‘Blood Bunny’ (2021) to the banger-filled hyperpop grandeur of ‘Suckerpunch’ (2022), the Detroit-based artist has proven her exceptional talent on all levels – and has become one of the most sought-after acts of her generation. Inspired by Avril Lavigne and Simple Plan, Paramore and early 2000s emo pop, Moriondo’s songwriting is both instantly catchy and memorable. She could now sit back and enjoy her success, and try to reproduce it. But rather than playing it safe, she has ventured out of her comfort zone once again with this year's ‘Oyster’, creating futuristic alt-pop with physical beats and a rich synth underlay. The result is a danceable underwater dream that wallows in a deep atmosphere and seduces you with just a handful of sounds. It also works wonderfully live.