New Portals debut refined synthpop number, “Cage"

Sonically, the duo's instrumentation on "Cage" is standard synth-pop, but it comes with a subtle twist of vocal augmentations and whacky lyricisms that bring elements of Tom Misch and Gotye to the fore. Despite the comparisons and the genre's overcrowded space, New Portals still manage to create something bespoke.

The lyrics on "Cage" (“don’t tell me how to feel”) are enunciated with particular rage - the plosives almost spat out. This disturbing dichotomy between the vocals and song's melody is explained in more depth by bandmember Mike Aicken:

"We had been talking about human trafficking, prompted by a local news story about it happening in Belfast. We had also just bought a pet Guinea pig.

"Suddenly, while writing one day, we realised the parallel between the issues surrounding both. Taking a living creature away from its parents, against its will. The feeling of resentment that must develop, but also the dependence on someone else for all of your needs and the feeling of being expendable.

"It's a messy set of mixed feelings that led us to the lines 'I'm not yours to keep', 'you owe me, but you own me', and 'don't tell me how to feel'. So it's not a love song and it's not an angsty Taylor Swift / Katy Perry theme - it's something different hopefully!”

Stream "Cage" below as Song Of The Day and catch the duo at Moira Callling Festival on 10 September

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