It’s been fascinating listening to the evolution of Maddie North’s project So Below, from the shadowy goth-pop tracks on her self-titled debut EP back in 2016 through to dizzying alt-dance sound on the second EP released just earlier this year. Now, the New Zealand artist pushes her sound further into the pop realm on ‘Drive’, with the aid of production from Big Taste (Dua Lipa, Shamir) and long-term collaborator Space Above (aka Aaron Short who you’ll recognise from The Naked & Famous). Of course, what’s always the propelling force behind So Below is North herself whose breathy, distinctive vocal is front and centre on ‘Drive’. At the beginning, this track sounds very much like her earlier work with its brooding vocals and minimalist beats, but there’s an undercurrent of synthesised dance ripples that give a clue as to where this song is travelling. Driving forward, the synths intensify, becoming more playful and less controlled, a personal favourite being that slingshot effect which unrelentingly swings around the rich layers of dance-worthy, downtempo electronica. Lucky for us, we’ll be hearing from So Below in the near future, with word being that Maddie is currently in the studio working on her first full-length album, due for release in early next year. - Hannah Thacker