Culture
27 Oct 21

PREMIERE: Art-pop artists Jack Rua & Kit Major explore dark subject matter on 'Vacuum'

Produced by UK based artist Possessive and written by Jack Rua and Kit Major, 'Vacuum' is an alluring throwback to late 2000s dance-pop.

Irish alternative pop artist Jack Rua and US electro-pop artist Kit Major have unleashed a brand new banger, titled 'Vacuum'.

The high-tempo new offering is full of playful drums, piano and guitar lines enveloped in dark swirling basses. A theatrical and hooky lead vocal and strong lyrical narrative feature heavily on the track.

“Stay away from me,” the pair warn on 'Vacuum', which explores that empty feeling and inability to connect with new romantic connections as a result of past traumas.

“I sort of envisioned myself as this cold, unfeeling creature while trying to form relationships,” Jack Rua explains, who wrote the bulk of the lyrics. “If I ever felt I was connecting with someone, this defence mechanism within me would pop the feeling like a dart to a balloon.”

Despite the dark theme, Kit Major contributed to the more hopeful ending. “Jack and I have a shared love for wrapping open wounds in glimmer and pop”, she remarks. “We all heal from heartbreak differently, and this song is an anthem to breaking down the barriers of love”.

'Vacuum' marks the first collaboration between Rua and Major, who met online in 2019. The duo worked over Zoom during the Covid pandemic to create the tune. Maximalism is key to both artists' creative output, curating explosive yet emotional music that's never devoid of fun.

Dublin-based alt-pop artist Jack Rua is a classically trained vocalist and musician who blends well crafted pop music with electronic-dance and glam-rock influences. Over the past number of years, Jack has established himself as an artist who strives to differ from the norm and do things his own way.

Much like the artists he lists as his most prominent influences (David Bowie, Lady Gaga, Madonna & Prince) Jack has proven to be a sonic shapeshifter. Rua experimented with glam-rock and dance on 2020 mini album Narcissus, contemporary electro-pop on 'Isolation' and experimental hyper-pop on 2021's 'I Don't Party Enough Anymore'.

With her sultry songbird tone and dark synth, Kit Major is an art-pop singer-songwriter from Chicago. Influenced by pop culture and style, Major's songs are expressive and playful with lyrics that romanticise the mundane. The artist has often used her platform to promote a message of love and acceptance to those on the edge of society.

Revisit Jack Rua's incredible September 2021 Button Factory performance here. Check out more photos from Jack Rua's gig here.

Listen to 'Vacuum' below: