Tik Tok

Mystic Waxx feat. Erica Gens

Single Review

Social Media. The ultimate gift and yet at the same time, some might argue, the ultimate curse. From sharing pictures of glorious sunsets to spamming your feed with as many memes as possible social media has a funny way of promoting individuality while highlighting similarity. For me its something that came along after my teenage years but for my children and many others it is something that seems to be defining a generation.

By taking a step back and truly looking at the effects both positive and negative of social media on younger people, London based duo Mystic Waxx have crafted a song that both matches the anxiety and euphoria felt by those seeking fame on the internet, but they have also captured, for me anyway, the hypnotic hold scrolling through 30 second videos can have on you..

When I first came across Mystic Waxx back in 2020 they were a duo that carried an electronic hint but leant more towards the minimalist soundscape and vocal lead songs. However on Tik Tok the pair have embraced the contemporary electro edge that had always lurked under the surface and dove head first into catchy melody lines and driving synths. All these elements combine to create the hypnotic track that does carry a tick tock quality. For me this sort of speaks to the theme of how social media absorbs so much of our day to day time.

Add to this a vocal line that packs a punch and is rich with a grime/r’n’b edge and the song takes a strangle hold of your inner ear and almost glares you down with its intentions. ‘Do you see the pressure these kids are under, do you?’ This question can be felt through each note, beat, and synth swell. The song even uses emphasising effects, whether their a alteration in the itch of the synth or having the song drop into a minimalist beat and fade for a few seconds, each of these moments keep your attention and emphasises the message born out in the lyrics.

Overall Tik Tok is a track that not only gives an honest critique of the effect social media has on young minds but is also infectious enough to be a song sampled on videos across these sites. In some ways by creating a song fit for ‘Tik Tok’ Mystic Waxx have created a poignant and honest voice to try and reach those using these platforms. I very much look forward to the next direction this duo takes their music in.

Listen                                                                                                Follow Mystic Waxx: Instagram // Facebook // Spotify