Daniel Morgan Ball and Kris Platt, both former members of Irish alternative rock band More Than Conquerors, make wistful left-field pop under the name Blue Americans. Ball and Platt played brash yet hook-filled alternative rock as part of the Belfast-based quartet More Than Conquerors between 2009 and 2015. After the group broke up, the two musicians dialed down the guitars and began writing more introspective lyrics. Naming themselves Blue Americans after a cigarette brand, the duo started releasing smoothly produced, emotionally direct pop songs on their own Oil Tape label in 2017. Following singles such as "Ceremonies" and 2018's "Apparition," Blue Americans released their debut EP, Sum Yen, on LAB Records in 2019. This was followed by another EP, Holy Goo, which was released in several installments shortly afterwards. ~ Paul Simpson