Single Review: Moon City

Vikae melds pulsating commercial pop with the climatic reach of drum and bass on latest release Moon City. Produced by Will Henderson and written during the March 2020 nationwide lockdown, the song is an emotionally charged ode to the end of a relationship, mourning physical separation and filtering through feelings needing to be “put to rest”. 

Opening with eerie, slow piano, Moon City begins seemingly as a ballad, but quickly pivots to an upbeat dance number, trembling with movement and excitement. Vikae’s early imagery of “incandescent blue” and a “golden night in June” creates a late-night atmosphere, offering vulnerable lyrics throughout the song which carry an emotional weight, but stay light enough to never become overwhelming. Her melodies are simple and easy to follow, and the vocals are cleanly produced thanks to additional production help from Vikae’s long-term mentor Abigail Knudson.

Featuring skittering drums and 808s in its eclectic build-ups, Moon City’s chorus drop is a satisfying electronic burst, with pounding instrumentation that balances well with Vikae’s refrain of “I’m still wanting you”. The famous “millennial whoop” melody drives these catchy choruses.

Whilst Vikae never reinvents the wheel, she uses its techniques to her advantage, crafting a booming drum and bass anthem that radio stations should be racing to pick up.

As the fourth single from her upcoming debut album Inferno, Moon City positions Vikae as a strong voice in Aotearoa’s pop industry, with a powerfully produced sound for the dancefloor and relatably honest lyrics which prove Vikae’s staying power.