Tangerine Cassette releases new single “TICKING”

Coming out of Tulsa with a momentum that hasn’t really let up, Tangerine Cassette have quickly found their own space in pop by refusing to treat it like something predictable. Formed by Josh Roach and Natalie Cleveland, the duo operate with an infectious energy, building a sound they describe as brat pop, where bright synths, heavy beats and sharp-edged lyricism collide into something that feels anarchic and exciting; it’s pop music, but pushed just far enough to feel like it’s breaking its own rules.

In 2024, they made their entrance with “Down,” a collaboration with Willyecho that introduced their knack for hook-driven songwriting and crisp, impactful production. Almost overnight, their music began appearing across a wide range of platforms, from MTV and Hulu to campaigns with Coke and McDonald’s, alongside placements with FOX and even NASA. For a duo rising from Oklahoma’s indie scene, it was a rapid shift, but one that felt aligned with the way they build their music, adventurous, accessible and unlike anything else.

Over the last year, tracks like “EXclusive Club,” and “I AM EVERYTHING,” have seen them continue go from strength to strength and win over countless listeners around the world. “STICKY SWEET” also took their sound further into glossy territory while holding onto the edge that defines their work. It balanced warmth and wit without losing the tension that gives their music its shape, showing a duo capable of developing without stepping away from the sound fans have come to love.

Now, with the release of “TICKING,” Tangerine Cassette take a darker turn with a track that centres on a familiar type of frustration, the point where someone continues to say all the right things but never follows through. Instead of building toward confrontation, the song captures the moment of disengagement, where patience runs out and the situation is left to unravel on its own. “TICKING” mirrors that tension, with rapid, percussive vocal delivery driving the track forward, creating a sense of energy that feels almost mechanical.

Set up by the ticking sound of clicks, the patter of percussive shots ushers in Natalie’s theatrical vocal performance. A studio experiment with a delay effect transformed the phrase “tick tock” into “tickity tockity,” sparking the central idea that the rest of the song would build around. Rolling into a steady groove, the track jumps through slick switch ups to craft a gripping alternative pop jam packed full of moody attitude, intoxicating aesthetic and instantly memorable writing.

The hook plays with the idea of time slipping, speeding up in a way that reflects the emotional shift at the heart of the song. It’s controlled but unhinged, holding onto the duo’s pop instincts while leaning into something more pressurised. With “TICKING” marking their twentieth single in just twenty-six months, the pace alone tells part of the story. There’s a consistency to their output that’s allowed them to twist their sound in real time, each release adding another facet to an incredible catalogue that continues to impress a growing audience.

Commenting on the single, Natalie Cleveland shares, “TICKING is what it feels like when you physically can’t hear another excuse. It’s that point where nothing they’re saying is new, and you’re not even trying to respond anymore. You just let it play out because you already know how it ends.”

Listen to TICKING below

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