Spencer Pope is an Atlanta-based multi-instrumentalist whose music draws upon the whimsy of a child’s drawing and the expertise of a sonic navigator. His abstract takes on contemporary music, all stemming from the influences Pope takes in from the world around him, lead to pop-tinted excursions into punk tempos and heavy rock textures. His latest release, the EP Dang, is a self-produced explosion of color and personality that begins to detail the masterful, nuanced fusion of Pope’s work.
“Can’t Touch a Mirage,” a highlight from Dang, only scratches the surface of the magic contained in Pope’s latest. The sugary yet raw, chugging pop-punk tune properly introduces the child-like wonder Pope approaches his music with. With a natural knack for experimentation and the prowess to hone it into tight, infectious melodies, “Can’t Touch a Mirage” playfully explores heartbreak while painting vivid images of letting go. This song feels like the moment the storm clears after a break-up, where the heaviness of loss dissipates, the colors around you regain their color, and the fact that it’s all over doesn’t seem like such a bad thing. Pope wraps this wondrous yet complex realization into an unforgettable anthem tinted with twinkling synths, pounding drums, and danceable melodies. “Can’t Touch a Mirage” is an anthem just waiting to be discovered, designed to stick to the sides of your brain for days until you’re sprinting to hear the rest of Pope’s Dang EP.
