Wolverhampton artist Cariss Auburn delivers a collection of four high gloss, ethereal pop songs in shades of electro and alt R&B with her new EP ‘Refraction’. Brimming with the complex, layered vocal arrangements of Y2K-era Brandy and the electric New Wave energy of indie pop, Cariss Auburn showcases her well curated gallery of inspirations under a lacquer of sleek production that creates her unique sound. 

Cariss draws inspiration from visual art and fashion, and showcased her own clothing designs in the cover art for the project: sculptural, futuristic pieces in saturated colours made by the artist herself. Opening track ‘Float’ reflects these visual aesthetics by moving rapidly through unexpected melodic changes, each projecting a different technicolour scene – “crystalline lucid dreams” – making for a more cinematic experience than the traditional pop song structure. Cariss explains that the moving, immersive installation ‘Contact’ by Japanese art collective Mé was one source for ‘Float.’

Inspired by the artist’s recent trip to Japan, standout single “Daydream” is a brief escape from the weight of traumatic experiences and “every day bad news” (the line “I’ve only got one heart to break” hits hard after the events of the last 16 months). Starting out stripped down and minimal, the track gets dressed up in High 80s style à la Anita Baker. Washed out synths, funky rhythm guitar, and gated drums to set the stage for a sun-soaked daydream that’s instantly infectious. 

Cariss has been compared to the reigning queen of alt-pop FKA Twigs, but where Twigs uses dark tones and grit, Cariss is warm and polished. The artist has incredible vocal control and tone, and the range to handle athletic melodies with the sweetness of pop superstars Ariana Grande and Chloe x Halle on ‘Oblivion’ and ‘Call Me Up’. The production on ‘Refraction’ is multi-layered and sophisticated – in both her music and her fashion, Cariss shows love for playing with texture and detail. From her beginnings with her first girl band formed at age 8, through her studies at Newhampton Arts Center, Cariss Auburn has finely crafted an original and captivating pop sound that makes ‘Refraction’ shine.