By Sula Maynard

dream phone, comprised of the Oxford duo Hannah Watts and Jenny Bell, release their new glitch-pop single ‘fogo’. The title ‘fogo’ is an acronym for fear of going out, amusingly opposing the popular phrase ‘fomo’ (fear of missing out), driving a self-aware perspective of craving for solitude. 

The song starts off vibrantly with a cheerful synth riff that instantly clings to your memory, setting the tone of the youthfulness that dream phone delivers. Closely followed by punchy drums, you almost feel transported into a nostalgic video game, head bopping through this fun and characterful atmosphere. To listeners unfamiliar with their material, you get caught off guard with unusual pitch-shifted, auto-tuned vocals- which is the staple sound of the band. 

In addition to the joyful layered synth melodies and harmonised, digitalised vocals, the duo discuss their social limits and honesty of wanting to stay home alone instead of going out with friends; a topic that has become extremely relatable in recent years since the Pandemic. dream phone say: “ ‘fogo’ is basically about us not getting as much joy from going out as we used to! What can we say, we’re older and a pandemic  changes you."