New Wes Sounds '19
this is just a lil’ selection of recent (or at least semi-recent) music put out by current wes students or recent wes alums.
Kevin Holliday
Please do not sleep on this one!! Kevin Holliday ‘19 made a name for himself in his senior year at wes with a series of high-energy shows, culminating in a victorious performance at the Battle of the Bands. His band’s set at Spring Fling was certainly more memorable than Jay Critch’s (😮) and since graduating, Kevin has played a few great shows in nyc and elsewhere. With a collaboration with Beats in the works, you might be wondering how it is that Kevin has attracted so much attention so quickly. Well if you click this link below and check out Space Cadet, you’ll understand. These tracks are smooth, with a Roy Ayers-esque breeziness coursing through most of the album, and plenty of exciting explorations into funk, chillwave, and disco all within the record’s 22-minute runtime. You gotta hear it to believe it, and once you do, tell your friends and get this man on the cover of Rolling Stone or something.
Roach Girl
It’s hard for a lyricist to be witty and personal at the same time, but Roach Girl seems to have it figured out. Throughout her debut album Roach World, Aili Francis ‘19 sounds supremely confident over impressive production. The lyrics are littered with biting put-downs and irrepressible sexual energy. The band and producers shine as well — the synths are lively and the drums are crisp. A highlight is the studio cut of live favorite “Sexy Time”, with its slow-burning buildup and airy arpeggios.
-Tucker Kirchberger
Mother’s Friends
Mother's Friends is a fairly new campus band playing what they call "Cute Pop." There are 3 constant members: Emma Valentine, Nic Catalan, and Sammy Osmond. They also have other members who play shows with them. They currently have 2 singles released on Spotify: It Happens Every Day and Your Biggest Fan. Their music is pretty fast and groovy with Emma's and Sammy's voices alternating. So far they've played a few shows in WestCo with much appreciation shown by other students. Their lyrics mainly focus on love and romantic relationships. One can easily feel strong summer vibes in their music.
-Tim White
Rhys Langston
Rhys Langston ‘16 is everyone’s favorite erudite MC. His latest project is a 10-minute suite that finds Langston waxing poetic over smooth, lo-fi beats. The short film that accompanies the project is impressive as well, and contains moments that further add to the existential ennui of Langston’s bars. The visuals conclude with a powerful moment where Langston falls backward into the same armchair and cup of coffee that he began his day with, as he croons about the humdrum aspects of adult life: “waking up to tea / take the caffeine / so I can sit down”
-Alex Richwine
Primary Partner
Primary Partner is the project of Lance Lepelstat ‘20. His Primary Demo EP sounds less like it was made in a bedroom—more like a garage in the 90s. It’s easy to listen to, equal parts vibe-y and yell-y; needless to say, a multi-functional sound. Ringing guitars complement Lepelstat’s fuzzy, yelling-from-the-back-of-the-room vocals just right—this much is clear from the stellar opening track, “Known.” Put on the EP when you’re with friends for a good indie-oriented soundtrack, but don’t be surprised if conversations taper to listen more closely to it. Keep an eye out for shows in the spring, because it’ll be your last chance to catch Lance while he’s around.
-Amy Geiger
Overcoats
Overcoats, the badass electro-pop group consisting of Hana Elion & JJ Mitchell (both ‘15), recently released a single, “Leave If You Wanna / Keep The Faith,” the duo’s first release on their new label Loma Vista. The a-side “Leave If You Wanna” is a triumphant reminder of the sheer power Overcoats has. The duo’s passionate harmonies sit atop a massive instrumental that’s adorned with some mesmerizing guitar and synth riffs. The synth lead hits you hard like a blaring siren directing you to the dancefloor. The b-side is impressive as well, tapping into a more sensitive vein that fans of Overcoat will be familiar with. The band also released a song earlier this year, “The Fool,” which is propelled by some really fun gang vocals and some more towering synth leads. Taken as a whole, these three songs signal a real step forward for the band and should definitely make anyone excited for what’s to come from Overcoats.
-Alex Richwine
Flaccid Ashbacks
Flaccid Ashbacks latest album Come On Come On is a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Flaccid Ashbacks’ willingness to experiment with music is apparent, each of the songs on the album has its own feel, and each one excites on every listen. One of my favorite tracks from the album is “Cherri,” honestly it so fun that by the end you’ll be jumping around and singing it. In total, this album does not disappoint and I would recommend if you wanna go for a ride.
-Luca Coletta
Bodhi Small
This is 4 am music (or, to pull more directly from Mr. Small’s canon, 5:45 am music). Small has created an album devoid of his own vocals (although he does utilize the human voice, and by that I mean everything from the button where you can make Google Translate read aloud what you’ve written to a John F. Kennedy speech), which sounds by and large like the soundtrack to a TV show portraying a hallucination. It’s a collegiate nightmare, including urges to follow a quality self-care/nutritional regime (“Bean Week”) and to avoid plagiarism (“Bibliography”). I think the album ought to perhaps be considered in conjunction with Small’s recent Argus editorial, Selfies and the Self, as a reflection upon the self within the bizarre existence which is the undergraduate experience.
-Sam Marcus
