Full Review

Petty Party, Ghosts & Zombies Review

Petty Party is the name of a pop-rhythmic duet comprised of singer/songwriter Bruna Victoria and songwriter/producer/engineer Michael Leto. Named about the personal and emotionally charged nature of their musical ideas, the two merge their musical backgrounds and life experiences to create a fresh sound in the pop genre. Both are products of the California music scene, and both share the desire to extend beyond the mainstream with surprising chord progressions, driving swung drums and unusual vocal samples. Their freshman EP Suicide Note found the duet drawing inspiration from their struggles with depression, suicide, toxic relationships, and self-worth. The EP is dark and telling and speaks to Gen Z directly. Their single “Back To Me” followed and was accompanied by a video with fellow students at Point Loma Nazarene University. The video captured a very emotional rendition of the song and eventually took third place out of 1500+ submissions in a nation collegiate music video competition. Petty Party released “Cotton Candy Sky,” in the spring of 2019. The song alludes to lyrical anecdotes of their first album and is filled with biblical references and allusions to suicidal tendencies, which juxtapose the upbeat music. Their sophomore EP, Shut Me Down, was-full of allegorical references, unexpected instrumentation, and coming-of-age angst. Petty Party is now releasing their EP titled, Ghosts & Zombies. The eight tracks combine pop sensibilities with dance and electronica to support the thoughtful lyrics.

Positives: Interesting production, orchestrations, melodies, and lyrics make Ghosts & Zombies a listen full of surprises.

Bottom Line: Ghosts & Zombies builds a series of songs strongly influenced and based in the contemporary pop style and sounds. The ebb and flow of each tune builds around Victoria’s robust singing. Her timbre is pleasing as each selection encapsulates her voice with various feels, effects and vocal harmonies. Leto’s production skills are always balanced as he pushes for a unique sound to fill the sonic stage. “Shut Me Down” is an energetic opener that starts with the chorus and then proceeds to take us on a pop song adventure of the turmoil of a romance. The orchestration and sounds are always building and bringing something new. Victoria’s singing is playful and conveys the emotion with style. The title track, “Ghosts & Zombies,” is a song about the aftermath of a relationship that doesn’t seem to be over. The subtle dance floor influences expand the pop style as the songs segues between the various sections. The instrument sounds and drumbeats and patterns are full, balanced and flow organically. The vocal counterpoint and harmonies are interesting. The song has a natural arc to the song form, Petty Party is on to something here and the pop genre is that much better because of it. That’s the short of it!