I already knew Veronica Fusaro’s music, but the first time I saw her live was last January. She played a showcase at ESNS and to me, it was one of the highlights of the festival. After the show, I bought her Sunkissed-EP and got a chance to talk to her. She told me she was working on new material with producer Paul O’Duffy and was surprised I knew who he is.

(In the ‘80s and ‘90s of the last century, Paul Staveley O’Duffy produced many of my favourite sophisticated pop artists. Best-known for his work with Swing Out Sister, he also put his stamp on music by the likes of Hipsway, Curiosity Killed The Cat, Was (Not Was), Danny Wilson and Lisa Stansfield. More recently, he worked with Amy Winehouse, Låpsley and Ella Eyre).

I promised Veronica to keep the information to myself, but now the first fruit of their collaboration is out. Beach is the Swiss singer’s new single. Decorated with handclaps and a beautiful string arrangement, it sounds as sunny and fresh as the title promises. Pop doesn’t get any more sophisticated in 2020.

Asked about the creative process to and behind the song, Veronica tells online magazine God Is In The TV: “The song is about (…) that feeling you have when you want something but you can’t have it. But instead of facing the problem of why you can’t have that thing in the first place you distract yourself with other fun things and cool stuff (or people). Only problem is that all of these fun things have an ‘expiration date’ so you never end up getting what you actually want.”

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Werner Schlosser

Music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Has been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, he developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart.