poptropicaslutz! Celebrate the World's Most Celebrated Taboo in "Sierra Echo X-Ray"


Photo: Max Durante

New York hyperpop-punk duo poptropicaslutz! is kicking off 2023 with a bang with their brand-new single "Sierra Echo X-Ray." The single, which, when spelled out with the military phonetic alphabet, spells "S-E-X," thematically focuses on intimacy and romance while whimsical soundscapes and pounding synths hook the listener in for its short yet intoxicating run.

"Sierra Echo X-Ray" showcases the duo's ability to create intricate soundscapes atop foundations of pulsing synths and glitchy transitions juxtaposed by dynamic drum patterns. With auto-tuned vocals and playful pop melodies, Christian Cicilia and Nick Crawford tell a witty coming-of-age story while trading sincere lines about the naiveties of navigating intimate relationships for the first time.

Crawford and Cicilia recount inviting dates over to their houses with promises of board games. However, their date nights eventually become more emotionally complex than once thought when sex is brought into the equation. "We made 'Sierra Echo X-Ray' last summer and ended up writing about society's most celebrated taboo," the duo explained. "It touches on the 'half-baked' attempts at intimacy you experience growing up."

The rising Gen Z artists draw inspiration from multiple corners of the genre world. The single has the wittiness of Hellogoodbye, the edge of Juice WRLD, and the high-octane energy of Fall Out Boy. poptropicaslutz! finished the year on a high with more than 1.2 million monthly streams and signing with punk and alternative label Epitaph Records. They're also actively working on the much-anticipated follow-up to their 2022 just in case the world ends deluxe EP.

Listen to "Sierra Echo X-Ray" below:

Related Articles

The Warning Fend Off Detractors in Spanish on “Ego”

The Warning Fend Off Detractors in Spanish on “Ego”

May 28, 2026 "Ego,” sung entirely in their native tongue, is lyrically fierce and steadfast in their refusal to allow outside forces from restraining them.
Author: Noah Wade
Ego
Kenny Mason Turns Trash to Treasure With BULLDAWG

Kenny Mason Turns Trash to Treasure With BULLDAWG

May 26, 2026 At the center of the album, Kenny frames the world we live in as a “junkyard” — a place where artists, people and ideas are constantly challenged, judged, dismissed or repurposed. But the BULLDAWG isn’t interested in being defeated.
Author: Kiani Shabazz
rap
Indie-Pop Artist Kevian Kraemer Makes Heartbreak Sound Good On EP ‘only if it matters’

Indie-Pop Artist Kevian Kraemer Makes Heartbreak Sound Good On EP ‘only if it matters’

May 22, 2026 Kevian Kraemer explores the ins and outs of a love that just won’t let him go on new EP, 'only if it matters.'
Author: India McCarty