Tara Formosa spawned the heartbreak horror genre in her dark synth pop hit, Monster –

Tara Formosa framed heartbreak as an emotive horror genre in Monster;  dark synth pop single that drags you straight into a retro-futurist fever dream. The Malta-based Aussie singer-songwriter channelled the theatrical presence of Lady Gaga in an isolation-soaked production that thrums with transhumanist, feverish rushes. Built through the lens of Y2K synth pop, hazy dream pop textures and the reverberating glow of retro analogue synths, the track forms an atmosphere that feels part haunted club, part neon-lit confessional.

The chorus gives you an anthemic rise that amplifies the aching volition running through the single. Then she tears it all back in the verses, letting vulnerability speak in soft harmonies before the next surge of emotional voltage hits. Monster becomes an intensely affecting vignette: a reimagining of the time-old heartbreak trope where someone takes liberties under the guise of affection, reshaped into something Mary Shelley-esque, carrying the essence of retro-futurist cinema rather than a standard pop lament.

After releasing her debut EP confessional in 2025, Formosa shifted direction for 2026, deciding to release five singles across the year, each tied to a moment of raw heartbreak that shaped her writing. Monster marks the opening chapter of that run.

Monster sets the tone for what looks like a bold year ahead, giving pop fans a track built for dancing through the emotional wreckage rather than sitting in it.

Monster is now available on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify. 

Review by Amelia Vandergast