horsegiirL – V.I.P. (Very Important Pony)
While many of the songs on V.I.P. are well produced, the EP sometimes lacks sonic originality, but it certainly points to an exciting future for the pony producer
Berlin-based equine DJ, producer, and singer horsegiirL delivers a diverse range of styles in her short six-track EP V.I.P. (Very Important Pony). After releasing My Barn My Rules with German producer MCR-T in 2022, horsegiirL has garnered significant attention in a very short amount of time partially thanks to the mysterious workings of the TikTok algorithm. However, horsegiirL’s mane appeal is her unconventional aesthetic. The artist’s true identity is obscured by her trademark horse mask and prosthetics, selling herself as a half-human half-horse hybrid.
Although horsegiirL is predominantly a hardcore/hardstyle artist, V.I.P. prances from one genre to another, horsing around with a wide range of sounds from Europe’s EDM scene. Right out of the gate, material hor$e plays with elements of hyperpop with sped up vocals and airy production in service to an aesthetic of opulence and luxury. V.I.P. is full to the brim with horse euphemisms with eat, sleep, slay, [repeat emoji] expressing a love for 'hay' on top of bouncy hardstyle production. Other tracks like giirL math incorporate house keys, tight loops, and catchy hooks, adding to the artist’s aura of fem extravagance.
Although many of the songs are well produced, the EP sometimes lacks sonic originality, falling into genre cliches and tropes. bby luv x3, for example, comes across as a generic euro-hardstyle track, the likes of which we have heard a million times before. In spite of V.I.P.'s shortcomings, it's always a good sign to see an artist experimenting with different genres and influences even if they occasionally try to beat a dead horse. Some songs still shine through as particularly catchy and novel, pointing to an exciting future for the pony producer.
Listen to: giirL math, material hor$e, eat, sleep, slay, [repeat emoji]