Rocco Delivers a Saccharine Sweet Double Release With "Apples" and "Have Me Again (Demo)"
19-year-old Asian-American singer-songwriter Rocco plucks our heartstrings with the release of "Apples," a two-song single featuring the title track "Apples" and "Have Me Again (demo)." According to the artist, both tracks originated from acoustic ideas, quickly transforming into dynamic and expressive indie pop jams once touched by Rocco and producer Marcel Garcon.
The first single, "Apples," experiments with messy drums mixed with acoustic melodies to create an organic bedroom pop sound. It opens with a collage of twinkling percussion, summery guitar riffs, and whimsical synths. Rocco explains with his sweet vocals that he and his love interest are meant to be and that he can't believe he's found his dream person. In the romantic chorus, he sings, "So, just, just for tonight, let me be your guy / If you wanna try, I'll give you my all," promising to hold his lover's hands for hours and leave with a kiss.
The second single, "Have Me Again (demo)," sees Rocco examine the dark side of love, specifically the anguish that comes with the end of a relationship. Juxtaposing Rocco's existing catalog, the still warm but now sleepy guitar riffs and melancholic synth melodies anchor listeners into a world full of heartbreak. His once joyful vocals, now pleading, ask, "My darling, my love / Could I still call you that? / I wouldn't wanna call this crawling back / But if you'll have me / Oh, would you have me again?"
While in high school, Rocco found himself on Musical.ly, which would later become TikTok, where he started posting short-form Asian comedy content before sharing his music. The COVID-19 pandemic caught the tail end of his academic career and allowed Rocco to develop his musical identity and find a global community online. The LA-based emerging star has released several singles, including his 2022 breakthrough hit "spin you round," which has garnered over 12M to date. There is much more to come from Rocco, who captures the teenage adolescent experience through his melodic brand of bedroom pop.
Listen to "Apples" and "Have Me Again (demo)" below:
