Up and Comers Music

Imagine taking vintage funky pop music that makes you want to get up and dance and combining it with the story of a hopelessly sad relationship. Don’t think too hard because Marina Lang’s already got this vision laid out seamlessly in her infectious pop tune “Rose Garden”. The track opens with an irresistibly funky bassline, picky guitars and various synths creating the ultimate dancefloor vibe, but when the lyrics come in, the party atmosphere takes a turn as she reflects on the lack of feeling from her emotionally distant partner. We’re still dancing, but rather than celebrate with abandon, we’re shaking the sad feelings out.

The low-lying tension between melancholy lyrics and danceable music is the defining characteristic of the song and while it certainly has been done before, Lang is carving out her own niche in this particular corner of the pop world. Of note, her distinctive alto vocals are rich and silken but not overdone, as we sometimes see in modern pop. The layered backdrop of funky textures feels balanced and serves as just the right musical packaging for Lang’s voice. The thick, walking bass lines, which conjured Daft Punk for us, are a nice feature, adding interest without overtaking the mix. And finally, the easy-to-grasp lyrics feel like just the right level of clever for the overall genre of the music. 

Whether or not Dua Lipa-esque dance pop is already your go-to genre, Marina Lang’s “Rose Garden” is likely to please your ears regardless of musical predisposition. She has managed to develop a pop sound that balances pensive storytelling, dance pop energy, and funk perfection all in one. It remains to be seen where this musical project is headed next, but for now, listeners can sit back (or dance along) and relish the velvety musical soundscape that Lang has so deftly developed for us. 

Stream Rose Garden here and follow Marina Lang on Instagram to stay up to date on her latest. 

Check out and download our Up and Comers playlist to discover more emerging artists.