The Music and Planet Project

Chris McConville’s “You on the Brain” is likely to be the next retro indie earworm you have on repeat. Produced in 3 different ways, the song uses retro synths, energetic guitars, and a highly catchy melody to develop an easily lovable sound. Sound like something you would get stuck in your head? Yes, You on the Brain very quickly becomes a song on the brain.

The original version of the song has a distinctly late-70s alt pop flavor to it. More synth-forward than the other renditions, the original really recalls bands like Simple Minds, Duran Duran, and Flock of Seagulls that threaded the needle between alt rock and disco pop. The key change halfway through the song evokes another precious songwriting tactic of the 70s and secures the song’s place in this genre not just in sound but also in structure. 

The Glowing Friend remix of You on the Brain (created in collaboration with Teardrop) brings the snap of the snare drum and the grit of the guitars further forward in the mix and tones down the synths a little bit. I found this to be a nice change, giving the song a touch more of a rock feel than the original version. This remix also treats the structure a little differently by really leaning into more dynamic contrast between the verses and choruses.

The final of the three versions, dubbed the Psychedelic Dance Grunge Remix, takes things in a whole new direction. “Psychedelic dance grunge” definitely feels like an accurate depiction here. The guitars are more heavily distorted (grunge), the drums are more processed and machine-like (dance), and the synths are more flowy (psychedelic). This version is really a complete deconstruction of the song, with more experimentation in the structure and no real sense of a distinct chorus. 

Overall, Chris McConville’s You on the Brain is a track I’m glad I discovered. It has the ability to appeal to a very broad audience by dabbling in a variety of genres through its three versions. Are you a sucker for late-70s synth pop? Dive into the original version of the song. More of an indie rock enthusiast? Grab the Glowing Friend remix. Into experimental stuff? Try the Psychedelic Dance Grunge Remix. Head over to Chris McConville’s Spotify, pick your version of choice, and check out the rest of his musically intriguing catalog while you’re at it.