The next time you encounter Shaun Hettinger, tell him thanks for Memoryy, his stellar electro-pop project. His retro-contempo, first full-length album, Skeletons — which Vehlinggo is premiering in full today — is loaded with synth hooks, pretty guitars, and killer songwriting. You can also buy it Friday, April 14, via the usual channels.
Skeletons is two years in the making, during which time Hettinger scored the theme song for Chelsea Handler’s Netflix show and made popular official remixes for the likes of Body Language, Bridgit Mendler, and Paperwhite.
He also left Brooklyn for New Mexico at some point in there, but not before collaborating with some of that borough’s notable residents — The Golden Pony, Brothertiger, Brain Tan, Frances Cone, and Yeasayer producer Abe Seiferth.
Vehlinggo regulars will recognize “Out of the Dark,” the Brothertiger collab with a vibe straight out of New Order’s Ibiza phase. You know why I love this song? It’s got a lot of Technique. Memoryy stays in the late 1980s with “Turn It Up,” although this time setting his sites on your favorite shopping mall. Future Islands meets Debbie Gibson — a little.
The uplifting “I Thought You Needed My Love (Featuring Odd Year)” and the dynamic “Turning the Page” proved popular on Hype Machine. “Running” has a taste of Hell’s Kitchen with its freestyle vibe.
“Not Over You,” which is new to this album, is a gorgeous synth-pop cut that does a great job of portraying Hettinger’s preternatural ability to find hooks anywhere and everywhere.
Those are some highlights. I’d recommend you check out the entire album. It’s a blast. Memoryy is a project that achieves a fine harmony between synthy nostalgia and contemporary pop bliss. It’s a damn fine mix.
