neontown Blur the Line Between Lust and Vulnerability on “Casual”

UK alt-pop duo neontown are stepping into a new chapter with the release of "Casual," a glossy yet emotionally charged single that serves as the first preview of their upcoming EP. Following the momentum of their second album, L.A. Fame, the Leeds-based duo continues to refine their blend of shimmering electro-pop, sharp songwriting, and relatable storytelling on a track that explores the complicated space between attraction and emotional attachment.

Built around sparkling synths, punchy percussion, and an instantly memorable hook, "Casual" captures the tension of two people attempting to keep a relationship uncomplicated while quietly becoming invested in something deeper. The song balances playful confidence with moments of vulnerability, allowing its central theme to unfold naturally rather than forcing easy answers.

Lines like "I wanna make out for hours / Why did you bring me flowers?" perfectly embody the emotional grey area at the heart of the track. As the recurring refrain "we said we gon' keep it casual" continues throughout the song, it gradually transforms from a statement of intent into something closer to self-reassurance.

Drawing inspiration from artists such as Lady Gaga, Charli XCX, and Years & Years, neontown delivers a polished pop record that feels contemporary without sacrificing personality. The production remains sleek and radio-ready, while layered vocals and subtle emotional tension prevent the song from feeling disposable.

As the first taste of what's to come from the duo's next project, "Casual" showcases a growing confidence in neontown's songwriting and artistic identity. It's a release that embraces modern pop's infectious energy while remaining grounded in the messy realities of human connection.

“Casual” plays with the tension between emotional vulnerability and emotional avoidance. At what point did you realize the song was becoming deeper than just a flirtation anthem? 

Well, to be fair, it started more as an emotional avoidance song and became a bit more flirtatious, haha! It’s one of those songs that started off completely different (in lyrics and vibes), and while we were working on it, we changed it completely and added a fun twist to it. Jac had the melody first, then when we started producing the track, we loved the synth melody, and we just based the whole song around it. And that’s when the lyrics changed to. We wanted to have something that most people can relate to, but keep it lighthearted.

A lot of pop music tries to sound emotionally messy, but “Casual” actually feels believable. How important was it for you to keep the songwriting conversational and human instead of overly polished?

What’s on our side is that we are very emotionally messy by nature lol, so the intent is always to keep it as simple and relatable as possible, and I guess that’s what makes our music authentic. Growing up, we both felt like we could relate more to songs that had lyrics more on the conversational side, and we wanted to have the same thing with Casual. There is a lot of music that we listened to when we were younger that still inspires us today, and I love that, as I think it gives our music a bit of nostalgic vibes.

There’s a strong early-2010s electro-pop influence in your sound, but the production still feels modern and personal. How do you balance nostalgia with creating something that feels current?

Our favorite music era is definitely the early 2010s pop and electro-pop. We’re talking pop giants like Katy Perry, Britney Spears, Kesha, Lady Gaga, but also artists like Owl City, The Veronicas, Years and Years, and then we love to keep up and see what new artists do. You have people like Charli XCX, who we love, and she tends to do this so nicely. She has got her signature sounds and style, but she always finds a way to make it sound modern and nostalgic at the same time. We try to do that with our songs too!

You started neontown during lockdown while building music together from your home studio. Looking back now, how much do you think that isolated period shaped the emotional identity of the project?

We don’t think we would’ve ever started neontown if it wasn’t for that, to be honest. We were so into everyday life things and distractions that we forgot how much music wasn’t just a hobby but our biggest passion and dream. It took a while to come up with a sound for neontown, mainly because we listen to different kinds of genres and we wanted to find a style that suited and represented both of us. 

“Casual” feels like the beginning of a new era for neontown rather than just another single. What does this upcoming EP represent creatively that your earlier music may not have yet?

You’re completely right! It is the beginning of a new era. We released a song back in October called Take Me Home that was kinda the first taste of what this new project would sound like.. but sometimes life gets in the way and things get delayed. Casual was the only other song we actually had ready, and we loved how fun it was. So we just didn't want to have a clear direction for the new EP, and we just recorded whatever we felt like writing. The EP defo has tracks more similar to Casual but also some darker and edgier tracks, and we can’t wait to slowly release them and share them with everyone!