Auckland-based pop-soul musician Geoff Ong has just released his brand-new track Fingerprints and self-shot video which accompanies it. The video is obviously filmed with a hand-held camera but manages to capture the vibrancy of Tokyo. It has a raw look about it, with karaoke style words emblazoned onto the images. This is always a smart plan, as it practically forces you to sing along to the track, thus it gets stuck in your head whether you like it or not. In this particular case, I liked it very much.
Fingerprints was recorded in Geoff's bedroom in Kingsland with production, mixing and mastering done by Phil Levine of Igloo Music Studios in Los Angeles (Grammy Award winners for their work on La La Land 2016).
This tune is contagious and has been previously described as getting better with every listen. It does just that, each listen to Fingerprints brought forward something new, a new depth of bass, a new beat. There is an electronica vibe running through the track, an upbeat song with serious contemplation in the lyrics “The track is about the feeling of displacement you get after something significant in your life ends – a relationship, a friendship, or a chapter of your life. There’s a lot of layers involved in that feeling, but it’s mostly about the idea that the fingerprints of the experience will always be present in your life.” This is a cool danceable track with a story that inspires reflection.
Geoff Ong appears to be a multi-talented creative, not only in music and recording but also photography, videography and graphic design. With three EP’s already under his belt, he shows no sign of slowing down. I look forward to hearing what he has up his sleeve in the future.
Review written by Corinne Rutherford
Geoff Ong wants to be a pop star for dorks. “I love all the sounds and melodies of pop music, but I never really felt like I was cool enough to relate to the people performing it,” he says. “I figure there must be other people out there who feel the same way – my music is for them.”
Geoff’s 2018 single, Fingerprints, a shimmering slice of soulful indie pop, was recorded in his bedroom in Kingsland, with production, mixing and mastering by Phil Levine of the illustrious Igloo Music Studios in Los Angeles, who won two Grammy Awards for their work on 2016’s box office hit, La La Land.
Fingerprints made an immediate impact, peaking at #3 on the Hot NZ Singles Chart and #25 on the overall Hot Singles Top 40 Chart. It was also featured on ZM, The Edge, The Edge TV, and Radio New Zealand.