# data[].attributes.body
The 1975’s Indie Rock/Synth pop “sparkling” instrumentation coupled with a combination of melancholic, ironic and romantic lyrics create an emotional experience. I particularly enjoy the production value drummer - George Daniel incorporates into their music, by creating a nostalgic sound. Paired with frontman Matty’s lyricism and stage presence, Adam’s incredible guitar playing and Ross’s variation on BAss tone, their songs can be both devastating, humorous and intimate. Healy’s passion and fearlessness for addressing political issues in both music and real life (e.g BLM movement, LGBT discrimination and climate change) is something I acknowledge and appreciate as a regular listener. I have had the privilege of seeing them performing live twice, and everything from the stage design, the additions of Polly Money (guitar/keys/vocals), John Waugh (Sax/vocals) and Jamie Squire (guitar/keys/vocals), to the audience engagement, made the environment feel intimate and alive.

# data[].attributes.body
In a 2013 interview, Matty Healy stated his connection to Michael Jackson, stating, “I get Bowie, I get Prince, I get Michael Jackson” (Smyth, 2013). This influence is evident in the band's music video "Love It If We Made It," which recreates the dance from Jackson's “The Way You Make Me Feel.” Analysing Jackson’s choreography highlights signature moves like the moonwalk and toe stand, similar to Healy’s performance style (Rhodes, 2011, pp. 14-15).

# data[].attributes.body
Kayleigh Amtutz, stage and drag persona "Chappell Roan," is an artist I discovered earlier this year and immediately became captivated by. Her music includes  synthpop elements, sometimes a funky bass guitar, and versatile vocals. Coupled with her dynamic stagecraft, I believe this makes her an engaging performer. Roan also possesses a skill called the vocal flip, a technique that is demonstrated by Dolores O'Riordan of The Cranberries in their song Dreams. I admire Chappell's engagement with her fans and social media, through posting themes for her concerts and just in general before her rise to fame. I appreciate how her drag persona embraces her queerness and advocates for herself and the LGBTQ+ community. Additionally, I am a fan of Dan Nigro, whose engineering choices blend nostalgic and catchy beats.

# data[].attributes.body
In a 2023 interview, George discussed how his 2016 album heavily utilised FM synthesis, inspired by Fleetwood Mac’s Tango in the Night, which employed LA synthesis, a technique combining subtractive synthesis with harmonically complex sampled waveforms. FM synthesis modulates a simple waveform, like a sine wave, to alter its timbre. This influence played a role in the 1975's transition to LA synthesis for a more organic sound (Musician, 2023; Roland, 2024; Turner, n.d.)

# data[].attributes.body
Lana has been described as “a very pivotal artist” (Fowlkes, 2023) by Chappell. Her song ‘Pink Pony Club,’ produced by Dan Nigro (ACE, 2024), showcases her influence through vocal layering similar to ‘Young and Beautiful.’ Nigro emphasises creating contrast in his productions, stating, “It's about starting in a really subtle place and then bringing it to a big place” (Rogerson, 2024). His experience with Lana likely shapes Chappell’s creative aspirations.

# data[].attributes.body
Chappell Roan cites Lady Gaga as an influence, stating, “Lady Gaga and Beyoncé really inspire me with their stage presence” (Zyzda, 2018). Her recent performance on The Tonight Show showcased costumes similar to Gaga's iconic 2010s style. Roan’s song ‘Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl’ opens with a spoken-word intro similar to ‘Born This Way’, influenced by “Lady Gaga and drag music” (Levine, 2024). Despite her Christian rock background, Gaga’s impact on Roan is clear.

# data[].attributes.body
Lorde is an artist Chappell ‘really loved’ (Fowlkes, 2023). Chappell's debut EP School Nights reflects Lorde’s Pure Heroine, particularly in its dark sound and lyricism. Pure Heroine addresses the challenges of adolescence and critiques mainstream media (Long, 2023). Roan described her EP as capturing “...the feeling of being young…a time that I felt like I was growing up, but I didn’t want to” (Zyzda, 2018). This shows Lorde’s influence on Chappell.

# data[].attributes.body
Matty has mentioned filmmaker John Hughes as an influence, stating, "Those movies discuss everything that I discuss: love, fear, sex, and a longing for something beyond" (NPR, 2013). Films like Sixteen Candles and Ferris Bueller's Day Off have influenced lyrics in songs such as “Heart Out.” The themes of teen angst and emotion in Hughes' films can be felt in the music, reflecting how his influence “bleeds into their music” (Smith, 2013).