Let's just admit music has been a dull state for a while.
Elizabeth Nicole Abrams, formally known as LIZ Y2K, has been making
ripples waves in the music industry since being under another stage name 'Betty Trouble', and writing songs with the likes of Zedd and Charli XCX in the early 2010's. After a few sporadic releases, she has particularly gained buzz with her SOPHIE-produced, eurodance (Aqua x Vengaboys) single "
When I Rule the World".
The release of WIRTW garnered a
polarizing response from the niche audience who even knows about it (re: Youtube,
ONTD). With new music coming this Friday (+ hopefully a debut album soon!), let's take a crash course on how eclectic Liz's discography is and how she's been the underrated carefree pop gem we have always needed.
PART I: Debut - XTC & Singles
The ultimate millennium r&b inspired anthem called 'Horoscope' (2013). #letsjustgettoWORK#VelvetRopeTwentiethAnniversaryIn early 2013, LIZ released her debut single (as LIZ) 'XTC' which is a shimmery trap song, sampling "Human" by The Human League. Following this bubblegum r&b sound was '
Hush', the Craig David-tinged '
U Over Them', Horoscope, and her Spice Girls cover of '
2 Become 1'.
PART II: Mixtape 1 - Just Like YouAs we are moving currently in a 90's revival in fashion and music, LIZ can be accredited to being a pioneer to the upcoming 2000's/Y2K revival. "
Just Like You" (2014), a possible lyrical reference to TLC's 'Fanmail', was a bold mission to bring 90's piano house, UK garage, and Miami bass into a future pop setting.
In the dreamy and sultry 'Say U Would', Liz's Janet influence shows up again in a 'Someone to Call My Lover'-inspired instrumental.
'Do I Like U', a song about #abstinence, Liz had a co-writing session with former boybander JC Chasez on this track - a match made in heaven for a project like this, no?
So So Def throwback 'Stop Me Cold' was released as a promotional single with 'All Them Boys' but we never got any true single treatment for it. #JusticeForStopMeCold
'Turn Around', a jersey club dance BOP, closes the mixtape.PART III: Mixtape 2 - Cross Your HeartSince Just Like You, Liz has been continuously recording and finding gigs in between, yet she still did not find the break a pop act aims to achieve. In 2016 she released '
Cross Your Heart Mixtape', which is more of a sampler of the material she has been recording. On this project she really amped up with what she was already doing sonically and collaborated with Nicola Formichetti (Lady Gaga, Brooke Candy) for an editorial that experimented with her look.
Liz gives a Ashanti/Mariah rap+pop collab moment with Vic Mensa. Dat organ sample 🔥
Following 'When I Rule the World', High School Luv is a SOPHIE produced song about longing for that #teenagedream.
For ya thirsty hoes I got #HolyWater. This is going to be a certifiedT gay staple.
We can see she's already an evolving artist visuals and in genre. Her new double singles "Queen of Me" and "Could U Love Me" is going to be released this Friday, and I hope this is the true start where people can finally embrace her into the pop landscape.
Tell me, is Liz going to be Carly Rae Jepsen'd? Tinashe'd? Rita Ora'd? Willa Ford'd? Natalia Kill'd?Sources: 1234567891011121314