Drawing us in with a psychedelic synth and textured drums, Todd & Karen open Juicy Gossip From The Mothership with dimensionality and vivid prose as we are taken on a vibrant and playful trip.
We appreciate the collective timbres of the duos vocal designs, which remind us of iconic power pop anthems from the sixties. The lyricism from Juicy Gossip From The Mothership feels relatable, yet charming. We connect with the depth and wisdom that is shared by the Norwegian-Irish pop duo from their lived experience, which is in turn translated into art.
Also known as Øyvind Berge from Norway and Ina Verdi-Ruckstuhl from Ireland, Todd & Karen create a cohesive tapestry of sound with a vibrancy and escapist yet thought-provoking nature at a time when we need it the most.
The creators cite The Beatles, The Kinks, The Byrds, Beach Boys, Oasis, The Divine Comedy, ELO, Simon & Garfunkel, and Monty Python as key inspirations, although there is no doubt that Todd & Karen are manifesting a universe of their own.
We learn that the duo met at work, both working as schoolteachers at a school in Kongsberg, Norway, and got to know each other through the social committee.
The anecdote surrounding the creation of their name through the off the cuff remark of a colleague is fascinating, and we are told that after a period of creating and performing birthday jingles for their peers, they realized that they had a lot of common references when it came to humour, but above all, they clicked when it came to the same kind of music.
For Juicy Gossip From The Mothership, we are informed that the pair have collaborated with “a real hotshot in the musical business [who has] worked with Beyonce, Toni Braxton, Billy Joel and The Script.” We can certainly feel this come through with the mix and the overall instrumental mastery exhibited by Todd & Karen.
We have added Juicy Gossip From The Mothership to our New Music Spotlight playlist, as well as our brand new TRIPPY and TIMELESS playlists, whilst we continue to stream Todd & Karen‘s wider discography including Cosmo Crowd.