VASSIŁINA releases new album ‘Femmeland’

Hailing from Greece and now splitting her time between London and Athens, VASSIŁINA is a visionary artist who’s been making an impact in the experimental pop music world, stitching together pop aesthetics with dark electronic influences to create a sound unlike anything else. Her highly original musical output has been built on her ability to blend diverse influences into a cohesive sonic fabric full of twists and turns.

Known for her live performances of dramatic polyphonic vocals and strong industrial beats, VASSIŁINA has established herself as a leading figure in the Athens music scene. Collaborating with artists such as Die Arkitekt, Bonebrokk, and TOTALWERK, she continues to redefine the avant-pop and dark pop spheres.

Her debut full-length record, Fragments, released in May 2021, showcased her ability to craft immersive sonic landscapes that struck a chord with audiences around the world. Now, with her highly anticipated sophomore album, Femmeland, VASSIŁINA embarks on a new chapter of self-exploration and reflection, once again released via the Inner Ear Records imprint.

Femmeland is a collection of 13 dark electronic pop tracks that serve as a reflection of VASSIŁINA’s journey of self-healing and self-discovery. Drawing inspiration from Greek legend Circe, the album revolves around themes of acceptance, transformation and the power of embracing one’s true self with each track playing out like a chapter in a dark fairy tale.

Starting the album with the warbling textures, crunchy percussive shots and breathy vocalisations of “R U Ready,” VASSIŁINA’s vocals enter as the arrangement swells with pounding drums and a kaleidoscopic array of synth tones and vocal samples. At once atmospheric and intense, the track serves up an enthralling listening experience that slips you into the mind-bending journey the album presents.

Following the brief interlude,”I Think I’m Dying Here,” lead single “Crooked” continues VASSIŁINA’s foray to the unexplored fringes of avant-garde electronic pop music with the rattle of industrial drums, buzzing synth timbres and rhythmic vocals that bend from hushed spoken-word style delivery to soaring melodic stretches. It’s the perfect showcase of VASSIŁINA’s knack for crafting enveloping soundscapes that deftly balance memorable vocal hooks with an experimental approach of pure originality all wrapped up in exquisite sound design.

Other highlights on the record “Thunder” where VASSIŁINA links with TOTALWERK on a thrilling ride through an alternative pop landscape driven by pounding beats and adorned with a shifting arrangement of spacey synths. Injecting his own vocal flair, TOTALWERK adds his vocals in the finale, resulting in a subtly soulful and thoroughly engaging sound. “Cold September” offers a dreamy moment of downtempo ambience with the artist’s elegant reverb-drenched vocals stretching out above graceful piano tones before the song gradually rises to an emphatic sound of pattering percussion and cinematic arrangement.

The album’s second single “2 Kisses” casts a moody scene of haunting textures and jarring samples before the thump of the beat ushers in VASSIŁINA’s brooding vocals. The collision of snapping drums, fierce instrumentation and dark vocal style creates a truly gripping sound that’s at once energising and eerie.

Closing the album with “Cheers,” silky vocal layers overlap to form an enchanting a cappella piece that gently floats through a hazy sonic atmosphere where blissful melodies contrast with theatrical leads. It’s a superb finale to an astonishing new album that delivers an immersive musical adventure of groundbreaking composition and incredible production. From start to finish, VASSIŁINA serves up a compelling display of her extraordinary creative vision, brought to life on an album that’s both pioneering and enjoyable from start to finish.

Listen to Femmeland below