With “Boyfriend la la la,” Swordes delivers a feverish, genre-blurring composition that solidifies her reputation as one of Brooklyn’s most exciting underground talents. Known for her intense, computer-free live sets driven by hardware synths and drum machines, the Honolulu-born, NYC-based producer channels that raw energy into this latest release.
The rhythmic foundation of “Boyfriend la la la” is relentless and immediate—cartoonish 808s bounce with manic energy, invoking both the playful absurdity of hyperpop and the hypnotic propulsion of glitchy club music. The percussion is simultaneously tight and chaotic, oscillating between syncopated claps and booming kicks that suggest a dancefloor on the verge of unraveling.
At the core of the track lies Swordes’ emotive vocal performance—operatic and fearless, she layers obsessive mantras with a surrealist edge. The chorus is deliberately childish, a twisted sing-song that transforms into something unsettling, almost like a haunted nursery rhyme. It’s a bold hook that lingers long after the track ends.
Synth work throughout the song is vibrant and textured. There are moments of late ‘90s dance nostalgia—particularly at the 50-second mark—where bright pads and filtered loops momentarily break the tension, only to be swallowed again by distorted basslines and feverish vocal loops. The overall atmosphere is fever-dreamlike: surreal, seductive, and slightly menacing.
“Boyfriend la la la” is not just a track—it’s a full-bodied performance piece that walks the line between club anthem and avant-garde sonic art. Swordes continues to expand her artistic universe, drawing from pop fantasy, performance art, and underground electronica to create something truly her own. It’s a high-quality release that we’re proud to host on our webzine.