Sweat it all on the floor

Nieri’s five-song dance pop EP Starshine is obviously influenced by the ’90s house and dance scene, while incorporating a modern pop taste. Nieri’s first EP is one that focuses on nothing but dance, from its low daft punk-esque reverbs and bass to the neon sounding synths, Starshine drips in dance influence. The whole project and production is a Euro dance party that doesn’t stand out for its lyricism, but for its enjoyability. While tracks like “Body 2 Body” hint at societal pressures of body image, other songs don’t dive as deep into social problems. Starshine is a small glimpse into the energetic Euro dance party that drags you back onto the dance floor right before you’re about to leave.

The opening tracks “Body 2 Body” and “Face” are the only songs that bear some sort of social meaning and awareness. “Face” is likely to pull anyone on off their seats and into the dance floor, as its electronic keys and spacey bass is a Janelle Monáe love letter. The repetitive chorus doesn’t annoy, instead, it pounds itself into a fluent motion that incites joy. The vocal variety between the two tracks and album is minimal, yet “Body 2 Body” and “Face” share a similarity in Nieri’s more boy band tone than on other songs.

“Starshine” is where Nieri shifts more into an electronic dance magnet that gravitates towards a Euro influence. The addition of Italian lyrics in “Starshine” helps break up the previous vocal tones and makes the track feel more underground club than any of the other songs.

“In Our Eyes” is easily the lightest track on the EP, with its light drums and keyboards it blends a 1975 sound with Owl City, to form a buoyant beat. The autotune on “In Our Eyes” isn’t dominant in any way either, balancing the electronic with the simplistic, and ultimately benefiting Nieri’s voice.

“Beautiful Music” sports the best electronic mixing, production and ’80s influence out of the entire EP. With its beautiful synths that feel like a striped Justice album, “Beautiful Music” is a call back in the best way imaginable. Fighting the urge to break out into a spasm of dance moves is the frontmost effect of “Beautiful Music.” While previous tracks on Sunshine lay the groundwork for an infectious dance EP, “Beautiful Music” sends it all the way and injects dance fire into the project, giving its all before it faints.

Starshine is simplistic fun, sweet as candy and as colorful as a handful of glitter. It doesn’t seem to be trying to do too much other than make you dance, but does it really need to be anything other than that? Nieri showcases a potential to move a generation’s feet, elaborating on the backdrop of all dance, the beat, is where Nieri can improve. Mixing and meticulously picking out the inspirations behind the Euro dance sound is what is needed to elevate the sound, finding just that right balance of new with old could prove Nieri’s seriousness within the dance genre.