How many artists out there have the ability to take beloved songs and morph them into something entirely fresh and equally lovable? Not many come to mind — except now the booyah! kids. Their newest EP, Cover Girl, takes these familiar tracks and dips them into their own distinct sonic world. It’s a charming form of expression to experience, hearing how artists can take an existing piece of music and turn it into something completely their own.
New York City trio the booyah! kids are carving out their own space in the ever-expanding world of indie-pop with a sound that’s both personal and full of play. Made up of high school friends Emma Lee, Julian Kaufman and Aidan Ludlam, the band pairs honest storytelling with an instinct for making every song feel familiar yet with hints of the unexpected. After their interpolation of Nelly’s “Ride Wit Me” went viral, a swarming wave of new listeners came to the band, and now they expand on that musical direction with their latest EP. The project combines covers and interpretations that highlight the group’s love of pop music while showcasing the personality at the heart of their sound.
“rwm”
The EP opens with “rwm,” their popular reimagining of Nelly’s 2001 hit “ Ride Wit Me” that gives the song a new, soft emotion. It feels more like an indie love song, with the original swag and edge of the original melted into something that feels sweeter. Twinkling synth, heightened falsettos, echoey vocal filters and delicate backing vocals all work together to create this new atmosphere. The bones of the original feel recognizable, but the booyah! kids have pulled it somewhere gentler and more intimate.
“dreams”
The band’s take on Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” keeps the whimsy and emotion of the original intact while morphing it into their own indie-pop expression. The classic drum beat drives the song’s 70s energy, while harmonies wade behind Lee’s voice, creating an airy backdrop. Little vocal adlibs make the version distinct and the textured backing vocals near the end give the song a dynamic flair. There’s an especially lovely balance here: the organic foundation from the original still lingers, but it’s draped in a spacey ethereal atmosphere.
“the way i feel inside”
With “the way i feel inside,” the booyah! kids transform the yearning, vocal-only song by The Zombies into a boppy bedroom pop track that feels free and loose — and they somehow make this musical transformation feel completely natural and not out of place. An upbeat drum pad beat gives the song its momentum, while harmonies feel like a carefree breath of fresh air. It’s a fun-filled reinterpretation that doesn’t lose the tenderness of the original.
“passionfruit”
Now, I’m just going to say: I fully prefer this version of “Passionfruit” over Drake’s original. It feels intentional, yet still keeps their special layer of playfulness. All the production details mixed with the easy flow of the vocals create both an active soundscape and listening experience. There’s a lightheartedness to it that makes your lip quirk, which soon enough grows into a full smile by the end. It’s impossible not to at least sway your shoulder while listening. Whisper-soft runs at the end of the chorus, texture synths and bubbly electronic elements give the track a buoyant quality that make it especially infectious.
“earthstar”
The original version of “Earthstar,” by Hannah Cohen, already suited the band’s style, but they still somehow put their own standout spin on it. One of my favorite details is the synth effect that sounds like waves gently crashing on the shore, pairing perfectly with the lyrics: “I, I see it now, clear as day / Riding out on our own waves, waves, waves.” It’s a subtle, sparse production choice, but it demonstrates exactly what makes Cover Girl work: even when a song already feels like it belongs in their world, they find another way to put their mark on it.
“what’s a girl to do”
“What’s a girl to do” is built around an interpolation of the 1960s Italian ballad “Se Telefonando,” performed by Italian singer Mina. The vocal arrangement conveys that tender swing of the classic Italian melody, but gives the song a modern form of dreaminess with its pop-synth soundscape and a new lyrical story: “What’s a girl to do / She’s always too much / Too loud / Too something.” The song reflects on the constant constraints and expectations that are put onto growing young women, and, in fact, women of any age. There’s always something “wrong” to be pointed out. The song takes this hard-to-swallow universal experience and makes it a little more digestible and even comforting.
“would you care”
The final song of the EP, “would you care,” reaches back to a 2009 deep cut by The Matrix performed by Katy Perry, which happens to not be on any streaming platform. The booyah! kids breathe new life into the track with guitar layers, drum machines and a warm single synth as their voices blend together to give the song a memorable melodic core.
With the booyah! kids, there’s a self-assurance in their art that embeds itself into each cover, thus creating an EP that ends up feeling like a collection of original songs. From early 2000s hip-hop to Italian melodies, Cover Girl is a true example of where musical creativity and imagination can lead to — and the booyah! kids take us there with artistic ease.
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