Baaj & Baaj delivers a genre-bending experience on EP, "Echoes in the Mind"
Baaj & Baaj is the rare kind of artist who can stand firmly in the past while pulling the future closer with every note. With Echoes in the Mind, French singer and songwriter Jean-Philippe delivers a four-track EP that feels like both a love letter to the synth-heavy anthems of the ’80s and a bold, modern statement too. It’s indie pop with an undercurrent of melancholia, a lush and cinematic listen that thrives on atmosphere without losing its sharp sense of melody.
Born into a jazz family, Baaj & Baaj approaches music like a craftsman and an alchemist, blending sounds that shouldn’t work together and making them sing. His influences are clear, channeling the shadowy grandeur of Depeche Mode, the open-hearted urgency and lyrical delivery of U2, the theatrical shimmer of Bowie. However, what makes this record really resonate is how personal it feels. The production is both sleek and human, full of intricate harmonies, layered synths, and pulsing rhythms that carry the listener through a swirl of emotion.
What stands out most is his voice. Jean-Philippe sings with a kind of emotive fire that recalls the greatest vocalists of the new wave era, yet it never slips into recycling the style. Instead, his tone feels timeless and vulnerable, but commanding, often hovering on the edge of an emotional breaking point. It’s this quality that anchors the EP, ensuring that no matter how dense the soundscapes become, the human element shines through. The vocals sit at the front of the mix, but the instrumentation is never treated as background. The drums snap with precision, basslines throb with danceable energy, and the synths envelop the songs like neon fog. It doesn’t get to the point where it’s overbearing though he’s found that even sound that incorporates a little bit of it all!
The record’s charm lies in that balance where it’s both catchy and cerebral, dancefloor-ready yet introspective. The lyrics dig into longing, memory, and the dissonance between nostalgia and hope, themes that pair perfectly with the expansive sonic palette. There’s a melancholy undercurrent running through the entire work, but it’s the kind of melancholy you can move to. For us at least, it’s music for both the headphones and the strobe-lit club.
With Echoes in the Mind, Baaj & Baaj makes a clear case for himself as one of the most intriguing voices in modern indie synthpop. He isn’t simply reviving the past, he’s reimagining it. He weaves together strands of personal experience and forward-looking production. The result is a record that lingers and actually challenges you to make the connections.
Of course, we urge everyone out there to give this one a spin as soon as you can. Go ahead and click those links below to listen in, follow along, and of course to stay tuned for more.
Listen to “Echoes in the Mind”
Like what you read? Follow our social media and playlist for the latest in independent music:
