Where the hell did the year go? I swear September lasted a grand total of five days, if that. My apologies for the extremely belated wrap-up...let's all pretend this isn't over a month late. I've been super busy travelling through East Asia to visit friends and family, go to concerts and festivals, eat nice food and experience all of the fun things I never get to do whenever I'm here for my work trips. I've just spent the last few weeks travelling through South Korea, China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. I think I might've discovered a new passion for hiking as well.
Anyway, September was a huge month music wise, which was excellent for me since I had plenty of time to listen to a lot of new music on scenic train rides across the Chinese countryside, so buckle in for a long one!
In this issue: Chat Pile, Carly Rae Jepsen, Rebecca Black, Green Lung, beabadoobee, Blondshell, Tinashe, Orville Peck and more!
Who Loves The Sun - Chat Pile
Oh, you can always trust Chat Pile to deliver on a noisy sludgefest! What I love the most about this album is how it manages to capture a lot of the mundane horrors of living in desolate, suburban landscapes rife with socioeconomic issues. I wonder if I resonate so heavily with Chat Pile's subject matter partially due to living through similar experiences in one of the most isolated cities in the world which has been suffering from a vicious cycle of post-mining boom collapses. There's something about the piercing vocals and wailing instruments here that depict so much of what I see in my daily life which makes makes you begin to wonder where dystopia ends and reality begins.
I forget who put me onto Chat Pile but I'm pretty sure it was my old tumblr friend JADE, former music journalist for PASTE magazine. I wanted to give a shout out to her as there are so many artists I would have never discovered without her vast knowledge (Static Dress, for one) and I really recommend you read her writing and give her a follow!
Happier Now - Movements
Movements aren't exactly my first choice of emo band and not one I've kept up with since their debut EP but their name was memorable enough to remain on my radar, and I'm really glad it did because Happier Now is a great example of a modern alternative emo record. The production is incredibly sleek, the songwriting feels earnest and the guitar and vocal melodies are beautiful! I wouldn't go as far to call this a conceptual record but I always appreciate it when there's a clear intention behind the track sequencing and each song really flows into the next, both sonically and thematically. I really enjoyed my time with this one and can see myself giving it a spin alongside Basement's WIRED and Citizen's Halycon Blues, which are two of the best alternative emo albums to release this year. Definitely give these guys a spin on bandcamp if you enjoyed those albums as this might be something you'd enjoy!
Age Of Exhibitionism - Rebecca Black
I've really enjoyed Rebecca Black's musical reinvention ever since her viral hit Friday. I truly cannot imagine what it would feel like to become a viral sensation and the subject of widespread online ridicule at such a young age when you're starting your music career, and her resilience and desire to prove that she has what it takes is absolutely inspiring to me. Since then she has dabbled in hyper-pop and electro-pop, and she has now truly settled into a 'sound' that is undeniably her own.
Age of Exhibitionism is exactly what I want to hear from a pop artist, the production is lush, the songs are full of catchy hooks and there is not one dull moment on this entire record. This is an album where the conversation regarding track lengths is made redundant: this album is concise, each song impeccably arranged with unexpected yet exciting transitions that make you feel like you're on the dancefloor, and the DJ up in that booth actually knows exactly what she's doing.
I can hear faint echoes of Madonna's Confessions and early Britney Spears throughout this album, but with that signature Rebecca Black flair... I genuinely cannot imagine anyone else releasing this album right now! It's about time we give Miss Black her flowers!
Necropolitan - Green Lung
Oh, this is record is fucking immaculate but I didn't expect any less from Green Lung. I've been listening to this heavily on repeat on my commutes, I really can't get enough of it. Green Lung never miss. I'd say they're one of the best modern metal bands going, especially for those who enjoy traditional heavy metal/stoner metal that has all the good shit in it: British dudes with facial hair, ripping guitar solos, wailing vocals and all that fun occult/folk-horror shit.
If you're looking for another metal album next bandcamp Friday, you can't go wrong with Necropolitan. Slap this one on and listen to it from start to finish, you won't regret it.
Pylon - beabadoobee
Over the years, I've found myself going back and forth on alternative/indie-rock. There are moments where I find myself listening to something from the 2010s and it doesn't quite resonate with me the way it did when I was a teenager, but whenever I listen to beabadoobee, I am proven wrong! As it turns out, the genre is much more enjoyable when it isn't inundated with upper class white boys from coastal Australia having a big ol' whinge about how hard it is to 'fit in' as a white boy from coastal Australia...
I thoroughly enjoyed the direction Bea decided to take on Pylon! This album leans heavly into that sweet, wonderful grunge/90s indie-emo bands I grew up with like Sleater-Kinney and Veruca Salt. I can hear echoes of Louise Post on 'Switchblade' which is equal parts moody and scornfully cheeky. I've never understood the criticism towards Bea's vocals (or her artistry, for that matter) because I think her voice is incredibly warm, yet manages to convey so much vulnerability that is so suitable for this genre. It's awesome to hear her experimenting with a new sound.
Pylon is also loaded with incredible features such as Chino Moreno from Deftones and the Hayley Williams from Paramore. It's always lovely to see a fellow Filipino flourishing in her lane and I couldn't be more proud of her! Bea deserves a better fanbase, that's for sure.
Highlights: Satellite, Sun Has Set, Switchblade, Write Me A Letter
Violins - Blondshell
My friend Nicola put me onto Blondshell and I cannot thank her enough because this is one of the most outstanding albums from this year. This sounds like a real throwback to early 00s garage/indie rock bands, with clean production and excessive guitars which is exactly my vibe.
There's a lot of pain and quietly-restrained anger in Blondshell's lyrics, which paired nicely with catchy guitar riffs that lean towards radio-friendly pop sensibility. 'Heart Has To Work So Hard' and 'Two Fried' sound like a long lost anthems for me and makes for a perfect companion on a scenic train ride.
Highlights: Heart Has To Work So Hard, Sea Legs, Stone Fruit, New Age Trojan Horse
The Gem - Julia Jacklin
Julia Jacklin has a huge presence in Australia's alternative/indie music scene, and probably one of our most well-travelled musicians in general based on the sheer amount of people I know who have a well-documented 'encountering Julia Jacklin in a pub' story, and she's always an absolute delight in every one of them.
Right off the bat, The Gem is an intriguing album that sounds more like an amalgamation of Jacklin's entire discography, blending her love of lo-fi, folk and psychedelic rock. There's something so undeniably joyful about Jacklin's songwriting, even when she's caught at a cross-roads and contemplating calling it quits. It's quite a shocking confession to hear from an artist who feels as though she is so deeply embedded in my country's musical identity. And yet, despite all the struggles, she finds a way to push herself to make new friends and create more art.
If you haven't listened to Julia Jacklin (or her brilliant band Phantastic Ferniture), I highly recommend checking her out if you listen to artists such as Sharon Van Ettan, Phoebe Bridgers, Stella Donnelly, and Angel Olsen.
Highlights: Angel Vision, Real Life, You Turned On The Tap, I Wish
Popstar - Tinashe
To the surprise of absolutely no one, Tinashe continues her run as one of the most innovative pop artists of her generation. I'm always floored by the consistency and quality of Tinashe's career, constantly pushing boundaries, unafraid to experiment with her sound and above all the way she stands out from her peers. There's something for everyone on this album, whether it's r&b, electro, trap, soul, pop, and everything else in-between, Popstar serves it all up on a silver platter.
The production on Popstar is absolutely outstanding. Every song sounds utterly fantastic no matter the quality of my headphones or the scenario that I am listening to them in. The album clocks in at 40 minutes and not one of those seconds feels wasted: it's clever, concise, and a deeply ambitious record. I fear I am a greedy creature who wants fifty more hours with ARCA, because 'Sunglasses' might be one of the greatest opening tracks of all-time, but that entire run from 'Flashbacks' to 'TwentyFiveEight' is crazy good.
Has anyone else been busy #upliftingTinashe? I recently had the joy of uplifting Tinashe in rural China, at a hotel where I have been immortalised as the first foreign visitor and first to introduce Tinashe to the future bloodlines of several families. I did my big one for her.
Popstar is flirty, fun and easily one of the best albums released this year, so get on it now!
Highlights: all of it, 10/10, no skips, AlbumOTY, SongOTY, B-sideOTY, CuntOTY etc
p.s very obsessed with watching Lexie Liu #upliftingTinashe on the gram as of late...I hope you get that remix diva.
p.p.s i actually have this exact pair of glasses and felt like a fool for buying them even though I can't actually see out of them unless I wear contacts...anyway no more shall I feel stupid with them on because they are now the Tinashe glasses.
Day and Night - Carly Rae Jepsen
It's always a great year when Carly Rae Jepsen releases new music. As the certified queen of b-sides, I'm honestly surprised this Day and Night is her first double album release, and it's quite a hefty one at that and one that I simply do not have the time to talk about just yet!
Mule - Orville Peck
I can't say I'm fond of country music to begin with, but Orville Peck has always remained one of the most accessible entry points to the genre especially for a queer audience. Like many others, I was initially drawn to Orville Peck's mysterious, lonesome cowboy persona and the weird experimentation on his debut album, Pony. But what I didn't expect was to be utterly blown away by the sheer power and emotion in his vocals, especially when he performs live. You can really tell Peck hails from a musical theatre background, and it's his innate storytelling ability, and his charismatic pull over his audience that keeps bringing me back to his music despite the fact his last few albums haven't exactly landed with me.
It's really awesome to see how far Peck has come in the mainstream pop/country scene, so for that I'll always be grateful even if the level of commercial production polish in his new material isn't to my taste. Lyrically, though, Mule is absolutely heart-rending and some of Peck's most beautiful songwriting of all time. Mule explicitly outlines some of the most painful moments of the last few years of Peck's life struggling with addiction. It takes a lot of strength to be so openly vulnerable and find your path to sobriety, so I really hope he's in a better place these days!
THURSDAY - Hendery
On today's episode of Zeeping Up With The Neos (walk with me folks, walk with me), Hendery Wong enters the boxing ring with the steel chair to deliver some romantic cantopop excellence! Thursday is pure r&b yearning, so dreamy, romantic and undeniably playful! I'm always so partial to singers with deeper voices as I personally find them to be rich, warm and soothing, so it's always a welcome addition to any WayV song where Hendery sings rather than raps. It's especially lovely to hear Hendery's native Macanese accent coming out as he sings in Cantonese as well.
Thursday has a very classic cantopop sound which I much appreciate given I was raised on the greats: Faye Wong, Grasshopper, Leslie Cheung (my all-time bias alongside Jeff Buckley, if I'm being honest). I really do believe Wong Kar-Wai had the vision way back when Hendery was a child: this man should be on the silver screen! We'll make a Leslie Cheung cantopop prince out of you someday...
OUTWEST - TEN
I'm so fond of TEN. I was drawn to him ever since SM Rookies, it was hard to deny he had a lot of charm about him back then and he always stood out. I think I'll always have a soft spot for him because he was my first NCT & WayV bias.
OUTWEST was enjoyable on first listen, though I didn't think I would feel inclined to seek out again. It's one of those fun clubbing songs that makes you want to lose yourself in the beat but not something I'd obsessively put on replay, but something I listen to before getting ready for a night out with my friends.
Weirdly enough, OUTWEST has grown on me despite the corny the line "wanna bring along another baddie friend" in the chorus making me giggle. I think most of that is in part due to watching TEN's stage performance and also looping the music video on repeat, as the visual element provides an interesting contrast to the song itself. OUTWEST loses some momentum for me towards the end, though I've come to expect this from idol releases that are marketed to global audiences. But it's a fun song and exactly what I want to hear at a club!
The b-side, "IRL" opts for a more mellower, albeit cheesy, pop sound which TEN is extremely fond of. The song pays homage to the past decade of TEN's career as an idol and feels like a monumental landmark for him. Hopefully we'll see an EP or full album released under ILLIMINT sometime next year!
In the workshop...
As I mentioned earlier, I really loved the atmosphere and visuals of the OUTWEST music video so much that I ended up designing a poster for the song. I kept the green tones and water imagery, but decided to combine my love of old electronic music posters from the 00s that always convey a sense of longing but not without subtle hints of a darker underbelly beneath it all.
I stumbled upon this old interview from OUTWEST's director, Novv Kim, who discusses his queerness and the themes and imagery in his work which I found so evidently expressed in the music video. There's a subtle element of horror throughout OUTWEST which I find resonates with me a lot and something I noticed in the video for Nightwalker as well! I love a slightly creepy music video!
I recently noticed most of my posters this year have featured TEN, which surprised me quite a lot as it wasn't exactly intentional most of the time. I create all of these on a whim depending on whose photos I like the most. TEN's physique, plus the fluidity of his movements when posing for photographs is always so visually pleasing to me, and a lot of his photoshoots make for excellent poster material. I hope the poster demonstrates some of the movement I tried to capture in the landscapes blended throughout. This is definitely an editing style I enjoy so please look forward to another 50 of these in the future.
Great reads!
If you haven't had the chance to check out these wonderful music related reads from some of my mutuals...!
'it's not for you'
+ some thoughts on being a woman in the Australian music industry
here's to the nugu girls
to me... there's something magical about a nugu girl group. sometimes, all you truly need is five dollars and a dream. i'm not going to assert that, on the whole, they are making transcendent or even particularly groundbreaking music. however, there's something really comforting about visiting the deep well of nugudom - and every once in a while, they'll surprise ya!