Liza Dries’ music exists in a world where the lines between reality and imagination blur, crafting soundscapes that evoke softness and ethereal beauty. Her newest single, “Nightcore,” continues her exploration of these boundaries, weaving hyper-pop elements with introspective reflections. A Berlin-based, Dutch-born audiovisual artist, Dries has long been known for her ability to connect the immediacy of pop and electronic music with the surreal. Her work offers a glimpse into a universe much softer than our own, often alienated by glitchy sounds and distorted vocals that create a dreamlike atmosphere.
“Nightcore” is a track that taps into the millennial experience, its hyper-pop energy drenched in reverb-laden vocals, nostalgic Y2K synth melodies, and cheeky jungle-esque drum breaks. Dries’ inspiration came from Owl City’s “Fireflies,” a song that conjures a similar feeling of innocent wonder. With its fragmented storytelling and quirky observations, “Nightcore” becomes an anthem for those questioning the sincerity of love and happiness. The song also embraces the feeling of late-summer romance, where love becomes both a cure and a source of emotional intensity. Dries describes this period of creativity as one of “happy dumbness,” where she delved into the idea of love as a remedy for discomfort and insecurity. For her, love—or even the idea of it—represents the greatest high, pushing both happiness and sadness to their extremes.
The title “Nightcore” is a playful nod to the hyper-euphoric, fast-paced remixes of songs that were once popular on YouTube, often accompanied by anime visuals. With its jumpy synths and the epic build, the song hints at the ecstasy-filled aesthetic of that era. Dries uses this style to comment on the fleeting yet exhilarating nature of love, mirroring how relationships can heighten emotions and create moments of intense connection. But with that rush also comes a sense of instability. She explains how, when a romantic connection abruptly ends, it leaves her grappling with her identity, forcing her to question, “Who am I really?”
The accompanying music video, directed by Luna Grüsgen, perfectly complements the track’s themes. It blends early 2000s aesthetics with Dries’ recurring exploration of reality’s fluidity, further emphasizing the way she bends and warps the viewer’s perception. The visuals not only enhance the nostalgic feel of “Nightcore” but also highlight Dries’ ability to marry sound and image, a defining characteristic of her work. Her interest in performance art and interactive experiences, such as her recent collaboration on “Haptics,” is evident here, as she continues to explore how sensory experiences and emotions can shape our reality.
With her debut album Year of Romance set to release in 2025, Liza Dries is poised to further explore the nuances of love, identity, and reality. “Nightcore” gives us a glimpse into this evolving sonic journey, where hyperpop, shoegaze, breakbeat, and ambient music coalesce to create something unique. Dries’ ability to reflect on the human experience through digital, distorted soundscapes makes her work feel both personal and otherworldly. As she moves between solo projects, collaborations, and live performances, Liza Dries remains a compelling artist who continues to push the boundaries of music, art, and emotion.
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