Ever since finding out about Karmin almost three years ago, I have devoutly followed them and their music. I fell in love with their first EP, “Hello,” and all of the songs they had covered before that. Once I had found out they were releasing their first full-length album, I was ecstatic. And, after listening to it, I was not disappointed.

The duo is comprised of vocalist/guitarist Amy Heidemann and vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Nick Noonan (who are also a couple). About a week ago, they released their debut album “Pulses.” Upon first listen, I heard the blend of pop and hip hop that has become Karmin’s signature sound. Along with a superstar production team, the duo created amazing instrumentation which borrows from pop, dubstep, hip hop, EDM (electronic dance music), reggae and rock. Perhaps one of the best parts of the album, though, is Noonan’s vocals. He sings alongside Heidemann on many of the album’s tracks, and his vocals are a refreshing addition to the album.

“Pulses” contains a good mix of songs. There are upbeat party anthems, emotional ballads, empowering raps and radio hits. The album also contains many standout tracks. Its title track, “Pulses,” features Noonan singing and Heidemann rapping about the success they plan on achieving, while being backed by a pop beat with electronic flare. “Neon Love” is a slower track, in which Heidemann sings about the troubles of stardom and gives one of her best vocal performances to date. The best track off the album is “Puppet,” where Heidemann delivers anthemic vocals accompanied by a very heavily produced and layered beat.

After having listened to this album for the first time, I felt like a proud father. Karmin clearly progressed from when they first began uploading covers to their YouTube channel, and “Pulses” more than exceeded my expectations. It’s amazing to see how much the duo has changed from the beginning of their music careers, and I am excited to see where their music will take them in the future.