Ikevald – Lick The Sun (2025)
A fourth-generation musician, Estonian artist Ikevald has music following through his veins, burning in his chest, and flowing through his creative brain to our eager ears – eyes as well, if you happen to see him perform. An award-winning artist with various collaborations, releases, and international features, Spain-based Ikevald is no newbie in the music industry; however, even if he were a newbie, he’d be the shiny minnow who darts across the pool and demands your attention.
Inspired by the likes of Robbie Williams, Ikevald is brash, bold, original and entirely his own person. Showcasing his multi-faceted persona, 2023 singles moved from alternative pop sounds to heavier rock, and something that bordered on metal. Skip ahead a couple of years, and we’re introduced to Ikevald with his 2025 singles ‘Bloodredsky’ and ‘Lick The Sun’ (the one we’re about to review).
Following ‘Bloodredsky’, ‘Lick The Sun’ is a pivotal point in Ikevald’s musical journey. Can I label it? Not really, as it’s an intricate fusion of alternative rock, indie-pop, and a bit of rap-rock inserted with avant-garde sentiments.
Recorded and produced at DWB Studios with Pete Barringer, ‘Lick The Sun’ is not a rollercoaster ride of music; rather, it presents as separate blocks placed together like Lego, creating a harmonic, kaleidoscopic sonic picture. The alternative rock pieces burn bright with glowing red, while a blue pop block cuts in, giving ‘Lick The Sun’ a poppier tone without relinquishing the heaviness of rock. Slip in a small yellow block for the rap-rock vocal execution – amidst the rich flow of Ikevald’s singing – and you have quite the Lego set.
One aspect I find interesting is how there is structure in the tune with maturity and sophistication, yet a naïve innocence and rapscallion-like rebelliousness twinkles in ‘Lick The Sun’. Ikevald explains:
“Sometimes you don’t need a plan, you need a pulse and the courage to follow it… It’s pop, it’s soul, it’s reggaeton – but more than that, it’s about diving into a new world”
Find out more about Ikevald on his Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
Listen to more indie-pop music on The Other Side Reviews Indie Pop playlist:
