New Music Review #4: ‘Halloween’ by POOKIE

Not since ‘Supa Dupa Fly’ by Missy Elliot has there been a more immediate, more vigorous, more impressive introduction by an up-and-coming force in rap.

A clear statement of intention – you hear this song and you know exactly who POOKIE is.

She knows exactly who she is too.

The beat is exuberant and rhythmic, and grabs you instantly. And then POOKIE’s voice kicks in, and stamps her authority all over it.

Her “psychedelic, funkadelic flow” is contagious. Her rhymes are intricate and powerful and hilarious.

Killer lines like “I’m fresher than a fuckin’ embryo” and “Go get you a translator, I don’t speak trash” are legitimately laugh-out-loud funny.

The song doesn’t rely on a catchy hook – the rhymes are too good to be overshadowed by a chorus.

It’s fresh, it’s energetic, it’s potent. It’s P-O-O-K-I-E.

And a few others:

‘One Hit Wonder’ by Isabella Manfredi: The second solo single by the electric lead singer of The Preatures, this song sees her head in a much poppier direction. A deceptively upbeat and undeniably catchy tale of heartbreak and moving on.

‘Lotus' by Anabl: A gentle, cascading waterfall in song form, a charming piece of folk-pop. Arrestingly pretty.

'Okay' by iiiConic: If you like Juice WRLD or The Kid LAROI, but wish they rapped with a touch more urgency, this is for you. It’s emotional and vulnerable, but his voice packs a blazingly defiant punch.