thought we were cool is the first EP from Hollow Scene & Modern Horror, an eight-member collective of South African strangers that became friends through the comfort of collaboration. The three tracks encompass their individual careers spanning the Afro-house, Afro-soul, electronica, pop, indie pop and rock scenes—topped with a spoonful of synth and some dreamy vocals. It opens up with the playful “until we make it”, a track that ushers in all of the sounds and imagery associated with walking into an exclusive party or meeting an appealing new stranger. The feelings of longing start to grow in the intoxicatingly catchy title track—everything about a fickle fling is cool, until it isn’t anymore. By the time “wanted out” rolls around, a lover is fluctuating between overthinking and hardly thinking at all by “trying to keep it all at bay”. The trio of tracks neatly seesaw between carefree fun and the fear of getting too serious in a relationship too quickly, and a reminder of how that all feels. thought we were cool conveys the notion that modern relationships can be hollow but they really don’t have to be—a relatable pop journey with tantalising vocals that plant an intriguing seed.