"We are not here to be understood. We are here to be felt."
Others defend them. The Needle Drop’s Anthony Fantano placed Lumina in his "Honorable Mentions" for 2024, saying: "It’s not for everyone, but for a very specific audience—one that craves digital decay as a romantic gesture—this is essential." emma rose and apollo new
Apollo New’s production style is instantly recognizable: heavy use of reverse reverb, bit-crushed percussion, and what he calls "ghost frequencies" (sub-bass tones that vibrate just below conscious perception). Critics have compared his work to a more organic version of Oneohtrix Point Never, but New cites his primary influence as "the sound of a hard drive failing during a thunderstorm." "We are not here to be understood
Whether that feeling is longing, unease, or a strange, shimmering hope, listeners and viewers can’t seem to look away. Emma Rose and Apollo New have built a cathedral out of broken electronics and whispered confessions. And the doors, for now, are open. Stay tuned for updates on the upcoming Null album and tour dates. Follow verified channels only—many impersonators exist. Critics have compared his work to a more
Their live show—which has sold out venues like The Chapel (SF) and Le Poisson Rouge (NYC)—is a full sensory immersion. Rose performs on a rotating platform while New operates a live video synth that projects distorted versions of her image onto scrims of cheesecloth. Audience members report feeling "disoriented in the best way."
"Velvet Rust" opens with Rose’s unaccompanied harp, soon subverted by New’s granular synthesis—the harp strings begin to sound like they are unraveling into digital particles. Lyrically, the song describes two mirrors facing each other: infinite reflection, but also infinite distance.
Her breakout single, "Cobalt Hour," amassed over 2 million streams on Spotify—not through viral marketing, but via slow, organic discovery. Listeners described her voice as "a lullaby sung in an empty train station." Rose’s primary instruments are the harp and a heavily processed Fender Jazzmaster guitar, giving her sound a textural quality that defies easy categorization.