Blog Review: “Antipop Star” by X-RL7 ft. AL1CE – A Cyberpunk Anthem of Defiance
- GRAHAM
- Apr 10
- 2 min read
From the neon-soaked heart of the X-RL7 universe comes “Antipop Star,” a ferocious collaboration between series creator Mike Evans and LA alt-rock collective AL1CE. This is an all-out audio assault wrapped in the grime and glamour of a pixel-art cyberpunk world. Blending glitchy industrial synths, distorted guitar riffs, and defiant vocals from AL1CE’s Natasha Cox, “Antipop Star” plants its flag at the crossroads of rebellion and spectacle. It’s the perfect anthem for anyone who’s ever felt out of sync with the spotlight, offering both catharsis and chaos in equal measure.
Musically, the track hits hard from the jump. Gritty, pulsating electronics pulse beneath thick layers of crunchy guitar, pulling from the sonic DNA of bands like IAMX, Stabbing Westward, and Nine Inch Nails. But there’s also an unmistakable theatricality, an almost glam-punk swagger that elevates the song beyond its gritty roots. Natasha Cox’s vocals are a force of nature, switching between haunting melodies and snarling defiance with seamless precision. Her performance complements the track and defines it, embodying the unapologetic spirit of the “Antipop Star” herself.
Lyrically, the song is a manifesto against the manufactured gloss of pop stardom. It mocks the hollow allure of fame while championing authenticity in a world obsessed with filters and followers. “I’m not your icon, I’m your glitch,” Cox snarls in one of the track’s standout lines, delivering a middle finger to the mainstream wrapped in digital distortion. The lyrics are sharp, clever, and in tune with the cyberpunk themes of the X-RL7 web series, which follows a fictional band navigating the dystopian music industry in a tech-drenched future.
What makes “Antipop Star” even more impressive is its functions as a standalone banger and a narrative piece within the larger X-RL7 story. Fans of the web series will recognize the character layers within the track, especially knowing that Cox voices the titular character, while new listeners can still dive in and get swept up by the energy. It’s a rare example of transmedia storytelling that works, with music and animation feeding off each other to build something bigger than either could achieve alone.
Ultimately, “Antipop Star” is a blistering, high-voltage entry in the X-RL7 saga that refuses to play by the rules. With its cyberpunk attitude, electronic rock aggression, and theatrical flair, the track proves that X-RL7 is more than a novelty project. It’s a movement. And with collaborators like AL1CE in the mix, that movement is only gaining momentum. Whether you’re here for the music, the story, or the aesthetic, this release proves being an outsider has never sounded so powerful.
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