At this specific moment in time, Anthony Aparo is likely best known as the frontman for local synthpop enthusiasts Culture Culture, a fact which may not yet mean much in the world at large, but around here is something akin to next band up. Without any demonstrable history at his back, it’s tough to ascertain where to place Aparo in Atlanta’s clogged artery singer-songwriter veins, but listening to his latest single, “I’ve Got Plenty,” it’s clear that he’s a voice to be reckoned with.

I feel like “quirky” is an adjective that gets tossed out whenever an artist makes the decision to work outside the contours of convention and displays even an inkling of experimental tendencies without stepping directly into the territory of the abstract and avant-garde. Aparo certainly fits into that niche, toying around with familiar pop trappings while simultaneously seeking out means to circumvent them. “I’ve Got Plenty” has hooks aplenty, but they’re wrapped around melodies and rhythms that playfully embrace tropes in order to deconstruct them. “No need for sympathy / I’ve got plenty / In a few short years I’ll forget being lonely with you / Only if you want me to,” Aparo sings, his warm, comforting vocals betraying an air of bitter discontent.

The accompanying video, skillfully directed by David Nobles, plays into that duality, focusing its attention on a couple that at times seem caught in the throes of love and at others are stuck going through the motions of a monotonous existence. The idea being, of course, that no feeling is permanent and life, even one filled with love and companionship, is constantly in flux, oftentimes to our own detriment.

The inconsistency and volatility of love and relationships is well-trodden ground, but Aparo manages to approach it with an air of amusement that is neither silly nor sardonic. Maturity is another word that gets thrown out far too often, but here it seems to fit, at least in the sense that he understands conventions for what they are — guidelines to be obeyed or ignored, depending on the need and the circumstance. “I’ve Got Plenty” may sound pleasant and familiar; fortunately for us, however, its appeal is deeper and more complex.

More info
Bandcamp: anthonyaparo.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @anthonythomasaparo
Instagram: @anthonyaparo
SoundCloud: @anthonyaparo