Album Review: HyperKunt by Hybrid Rose
Words by James Russell (she/her)
Wellington's own Hybrid Rose is back and this time the bush is blooming. Emerging from the synth-pop bubble that brought her success with the futuristic “Video Games” comes brand new album HyperKunt: a Kim Petras-esque buffet of early 2000s glitzy, glamorous sugar-pop, with a healthy dose of Rose’s familiar techno notes to awaken the inner IT-girl in you.
Dripping with sass and a hip-thumping bassline, album opener “Dial Tone” instantly conveys a thematic ‘confident but oh-so-bored-of-you’ attitude in the form of a two minute fuck-off voicemail. Tracks like the addictive “I Want It All” deliver delicious odes to Paris Hilton, with lyrics like “sipping on martinis… looking hot, loves it” conjuring up a pop dreamworld of Lamborghinis, Juicy tracksuits, and partying with Lindsay Lohan. The album features various collaborations, with the likes of San Francisco-born Hazel Rose serving a glitchy rap verse on the dizzying “Vanilla Beam”, as well as fellow Kiwi Jason Parker on “Gorgeous”, whose whiny lip is rivalled only by Hybrid Rose herself. The entirety of HyperKunt manages to capture the infectious fun and vibrancy of all her pop-star influences, ranging from Lady Gaga to Marina, and the lyrics are a campy, flirtatious spin on her personal life. The combination of sugary art-pop, classic LGBTQ+ culture references (“Paris burning in this bitch”) and shimmery electronic synths perfectly accentuate the singer/producer’s expanse of abilities.
Tucked in the centre of the record is the transgender pop-star’s latest solo single “Fantasy”, a sexy phone call-inspired track that sets you up with an electronic chatbot. Over glittery tones and a trademark bubblegum pop beat, the lyrics of “Fantasy” explore the concept of morphing yourself into somebody else’s greatest desires… “I can transform into whoever you want me to be… you will never get to meet me”. It’s sensual, it’s sweet, it’s a certified pop bop that you’ll be singing forever.
“Stars in the Sea” rounds out the album at a lengthy five minutes long. This soft tune is less over-the-top than the rest, and the lyrics are a gentle self-reassurance—“an angel without a halo, but like Luna, I still glow.” But never fear, “Stars” still provides a satisfying breathlessness in its anticipatory pulsing as the song slowly rises in tempo. It culminates in a repetitive mantra—“I could be your dream, enticing to see, star of the sea”—that feels like floating as the sound fades away.
Hybrid Rose’s latest album is beautifully coated in a bold, self-assured charm, and oozing with all the sweet sex appeal of the early aughts. Full of club-worthy party tunes and charismatic, campy lyrics, it’s a shiny hyperpop dream. Want a taste? Straighten your hair, whip out that old pink lipgloss, and open up your Spotify, because the brand new HyperKunt is streaming now.