Back in mid-August, Chloe Moriondo revealed plans for a new LP called SUCKERPUNCH which, based on the sugar-rush anthem of a lead single, signaled a significant shift in sound for the young songwriter. Promising a “slap in the fucking face” in the press release that arrived with “Fruity,” the rest of SUCKERPUNCH follows suit as it sees Moriondo evolving from the realms of bedroom-pop and pop-punk she’d mastered on releases like Blood Bunny to full-blown over-caffeinated pop music.
Which makes it less of a surprise to learn about the palette of influences she drew from on the new record, which range from contemporary boundary-pushing names like Rico Nasty, 100 gecs, SOPHIE, and Charli XCX to the ’00s-era pop figures those artists show an unironic attachment to, such as Britney Spears and Cobra Starship’s infamous collaborative single with Leighton Meester.
With SUCKERPUNCH finally out today, you can listen along to the playlist Moriondo put together for us below to unpack some of those influences and see if you can identify how they worked their way into the new record. You can also stream that record here.
Britney Spears, “Piece of Me”
I don’t know if it’s obvious, but Britney needed to be infused into this album. Especially this Britney. “Piece of Me” is one of her best in my opinion, and I feel like she was a big influence especially on the popstar world of SUCKERPUNCH.
100 gecs feat. Charli XCX, Rico Nasty, Kero Kero Bonito, “ringtone (Remix)”
The rise of hyperpop was a huge influence on this album as well, and this song/album/group of artists were all a huge part of that in many ways. This, I think, is one of the greatest collabs ever.
Cobra Starship feat. Leighton Meester, “Good Girls Go Bad”
Ohhh, a classic. You can’t tell me this song is one of the most absurdly sleazy yet incredibly catchy pop songs known to man, and of course this meant I had to reference it for this album.
Ashnikko feat. Hatsune Miku, “Daisy 2.0”
I mean, are you kidding me? I hope it bleeds through that Ash was a huge influence on this album, but this song in particular is incredibly iconic and had to be put on the playlist.
Rico Nasty, “IPHONE”
I was listening to this song a lot when it came out, and when I was first making songs off of SUCKERPUNCH before I even realized I was making an album. I love Rico Nasty and everything she does for her songs and visuals.
food house, Gupi, & Fraxiom, “clown nose”
food house is an immeasurably talented force that I was blessed to be introduced to musically while I was making SUCKERPUNCH. This song is indescribably hard. I had a writing session with them but was too anxious to write anything in front of someone so cool.
Charli XCX, “Vroom Vroom”
Another classic that can’t not be referenced. I needed to make some hot girl summer anthems on my album, and who else to look up to besides Charli?
underscores, “Second hand embarrassment”
underscores is another artist I was newly introduced to while making this album, and I am so lucky to have been. Her production is incredible and really refreshing to hear—I referenced this song a lot for darker feelings/energies I wanted to convey in the album, and I’ll likely continue to reference her music for future projects.
LIZ, “When I Rule the World”
This song is something iconic and I knew I needed to reference it for SUCKERPUNCH as soon as I heard its audibly pink and sparkly wonder. I wanted to take its energy, add some chrome, and write something with it. I weirdly think it somehow manifested most in verse two of “Hell Hounds.”
SOPHIE, “Immaterial”
Rest in peace to SOPHIE’s beautiful and talented soul. This song is so new yet timeless-feeling. It feels like every time it plays, everyone knows and loves it, which I think is a beautiful and really inspiring thing.
