Single Review: Dirty Company

Hyperpop is a revolutionary genre, and with his latest single Dirty Company, Boy Virgo and collaborator Thayerperiod prove they understand its every element. Equally satirising, paying tribute to and experimenting with the vast array of conventions in popular music, Dirty Company is a bubbling, bright ode to gay desire, exploding with exciting electronic sounds. 

Citing greats such as Charli XCX and Slayyyter as influences, Boy Virgo sing-speaks snappy, simple melodies throughout the track, with a delivery also reminiscent of Gothy Kendoll and Dorian Electra. These vocals are steady and fast-paced, and could possibly benefit from further experimental filtering. However, their simplicity leaves room to emphasise Dirty Company‘s absolutely fizzing instrumental production.

Aesthetically, the cover art powerfully bends gender expectations, showcasing the masculine body within a  feminised pink world. This distinctively queer visual combines the digital aesthetics of its genre with the song’s open expression of gay desire. With a title like this, it’s unsurprising that the lyrics of Dirty Company are downright filthy. But they are exactly what the song calls for. The song is a refreshing, undiluted expression of gay sexual liberation. It is more honest than much of the music on the market right now, yet still approachable in its matter-of-fact declarations. Moreover, it retains enough self-awareness to stay humorous and serious all at once.

Aotearoa’s music scene is brimming with talent right now, but Boy Virgo stands out. Dirty Company is an accomplishment in the zaniness of hyperpop, securing Boy Virgo’s identity as a proud gay man, unafraid to create something truly unique.