Who said straightforward beats can’t be addictive in 2020? Clearly someone who didn’t see Qvntro coming with their new single and music video “Hold On,” a composition defined by its furious rhythm but otherwise simplistic structure of beats that allude to influences from both contemporary house and vintage EDM. Qvntro aren’t reinventing the way we listen to a melody or absorb a groove in “Hold On;” they’re simply injecting the last few moments 2020 has to share with a bit of vitality courtesy of an electrifying tempo, lush and colorful harmonies and a danceable energy just about anyone will want to get into.

Official Website: https://qvntro.com/

The rhythm here is so unapologetically catchy that it allows for the oversized percussive elements to fill the space of conventional lyrics. The limited vocal presence at the forefront of the mix is definitely something that contributes to the construction of the mood, but make no mistakes about it – “Hold On” is a song that sources its emotionality from the physicality of its presence and not from the jaded poeticisms some would rely on almost exclusively. This is passionate content, and you don’t need a doctorate in English to accept, understand and appreciate this fact.

“Hold On” features a music video that feels more like a clip reel taken from Tik-Tok and Snapchat, yet its sophisticated synchronization of frames and full-bodied beats is easily enough to keep me on the edge of my seat for the duration of its running time. There’s something really exciting about a song that uses such implied intensity to tell us a story, and while Qvntro don’t seem the type to gloat or get lost in arrogance, they definitely deserve to be very proud of what this track stands for. It’s a smart look, and in a year like this one, we needed something compelling to cap things off.

If you’re into modern house hybrids that push the envelope as far as possible without tripping over the edge, “Hold On” from the one and only Qvntro is something that I feel you need to hear a lot sooner than later. “Hold On” is an awesome listen for a few different reasons, but chief among them is its contagious mood. There’s no staying seated in a performance like this one, and whether you’re big into the club beat or not, it’s got the kind of moves to turn any space in front of you into an instant dancefloor.

John McCall