Early Signs – Hang On
Genre: Bedroom / Lo-fi Pop, Indie Rock
Similar artists: Mac Demarco, Sufjan Stevens
Depictions of rock musicians are full of stereotypes. Most of these representations are unfriendly. Even now, you can bank on any movie or television show to describe rock musicians as lazy druggies that are looking merely to get their rocks off at the expense of everyone else. Not a good look. Not a fair deal.
However, it is worth noting that one similar stereotype has all but been eliminated. And, we might just be worse off for it. It’s the image as the rocker as a fearless, perhaps misguided, explorer. Ever since Bob Dylan sprayed quicksilver rhymes, or George Harrison embraced Indian mysticism as a way to attain the truth, rockers have shown an interest in the otherwordly nature of the music.
Sounds have changed, but the same excitement exists. Don’t let anybody tell you differently. Early Signs’ Hang On is a sonic deep dive in deep, muddy waters of the sound. The Finnish artist sounds animated by the possible discoveries on route, and entirely undisturbed by the lack of any good maps meant to lead the destination. Rockers, even modern pop-centric variety, remain on the lookout for things that need to be experienced to be believed.
Evan Mix – Your Baby’s Home for Now
Genre: Experimental Electronic, Lo-fi Rock, Indie Rock
There’s no real reason why you should know what’s popular on the mainstream music charts. And, frankly, there’s no real reason why those figures ought to be relevant anymore. It’s not just the fact that the mainstream supported music artists have career lifespans shorter than those of the common fruit fly.
As long as you have the internet, there’s no reason why should ever run out of your particular favorite genre of music. The same can be said of any other form of entertainment. If you have a specific affinity, there is simply no way that the well will ever run dry.
But, just like disaster movies or superhero flicks predict a certain obsession in modern society, pop music is a similar compass. Evan Mix’s wacky, experimental, at times threatening, Your Baby’s Home for Now is a good indicator of what most of the world is feeling in 2022. It’s the sound of walking around in a daze. It’s a confusing sound, made weirder on purpose, that echoes the lack of logic of the times. In this way, Evan Mix is the Joan Baez of the day.
