Max's Music Mondays with BEL and Fredwave
It's Monday, what more could you want than two really great songs?
Good morning, happy Monday (or afternoon, or another day… happy time when you read this). As always, the tunes all live on the playlist linked here, please follow and listen along. Also, just fyi, every time someone subscribes to the substack it makes my day so if you haven’t yet, please just know how much power you have (and plz use it for good).
This week I heard someone say, “like a kid in a candy store” for the first time in a while, what a fun phrase. Besides its metaphorical meaning it also carries such a heartwarming nostalgia. I can picture the candy store I used to go to. There was two of them actually - one better for gummies/sour stuff (pictured above), one for chocolates. But the metaphor suggests this wonder, this freedom and awe. The whole world at our fingers. My experience was a much more dialed in process. I knew exactly what I wanted, no room for messing around. The perfect proportion of each candy, it was all business. It’s funny to think about that now. About, what that freedom meant to me then. About how I opted for routine, for the combination I knew. I hardly remember trying a new candy, was I scared to risk ruining what I already had? Certain I had reached my personal candy mountaintop? I’ve been trying to think about that more. To be more mindful in choosing to stray from routine - knowing that routine will be there for me again. To opt for the gummy sharks of life instead of malted milk balls (these were the MVPs of my perfect candy bag) knowing I’ll be back at the candy store soon enough and can ditch the sharks next time if I don’t like them. Remembering to realize when I am in the candy store and savoring every second of it. And one of those times is when I’m listening to music, every time I open spotify feels like willy wonka all over again. These two songs have both been beautiful new additions to the routine, both very sweet (get it like candy? wow nice one, Max…) and I hope you enjoy them too.
Something Beautiful - BEL
Listen, is it the obvious thing to say? Sure. But sometimes you just gotta hand it to an artist. BEL has gone ahead and written the perfect and correct description of the song with its title. It is absolutely, without a doubt, something beautiful. There’s a lightness, both in colors and weight, that lifts this song up, and in turn, lifts me up too. It’s got me floating with ease. That bass line acts as a warm welcome. The verse is so calm and confident, using this optimism to fuel some excitement rather than get caught in the undertow, sucked into the darkness of ‘what-ifs’. Instead, BEL just enjoys the moment. The chorus paints the picture so perfectly in content and in feel. BEL delivering a great performance, with waves of gentle harmonies by her side. “I can’t help but think / we’re on the brink of something beautiful” a chorus that really reminds me of The Fool. It’s one of my favorite tarot cards, so I’m bound to love anything that brings it to mind. A card about stepping freely into whatever is to come, taking a leap led by “some deep feeling rather than careful planning” notes Rachel Pollack in her book Seventy Eight Degrees. Trusting in yourself, knowing it’s leading where it’s meant to lead, and just enjoying it. It’s an admirable attitude and you can just feel that excitement pouring out of the song.
As the chorus wraps, BEL tosses a “huh” that catches me by surprise, a smile on my face to ride out this bluesy climax. That bass line, our ol’ pal, returns with shaker in hand. With the spotlight on, BEL lands note after note with this melody exploring and driving us all over. Some masterful touches - the slight echo on “all these years”, background vocals as good as they get, and truly heartwarming lyrics. I love this whole verse, such a great moment. The chorus is back, with that laid back, day at the beach, just-basking-in-it-all energy. At this point I’m screaming along the chorus, dreaming of myself in this song’s choir. The way the keys and guitars play together keep putting the word ‘jangly’ in my head. So now, it’s on paper/screen too! The bridge is breezy and builds us to the biggest chorus yet. BEL is going all out and it’s making my day, so loving. These strings are an unexpected touch, but what a touch they are!! Sheesh! A wonderful way to round out the sound and the song. Really elevating it all. Oof what a gem! Step out into something beautiful and just let this play all day, a perfect sunset of a song.
Shovel - Fredwave
Alright here’s the truth - I’m writing this one on Sunday afternoon. Let the whole week get away from me. But hey that’s life!! I find when this happens, I struggle to pick a second song, wanting something perfect to make the wait worth it. Well, Shovel just fell into my lap (bless the soundcloud gods, as per usual (how do you shorten usual? Uje? Ushe? please help)). It’s all that and more. A jazzy sample pulls you in, it feels sexy, warm, light, and in that quick snare-to-brass hit, everything changes. It’s dark and mysterious (but still sexy tbh). Fredwave’s vocals sound so genuine in that first lyric, and make the transformation complete. I love the percussion samples going crazy, buzzing like some dang bees, rolling underneath as Fredwave continues on. The bass in these kicks pack a fucking punch and the whole thing feels intoxicating. This big booming kick sparsely dropped, these smooth, lush vocals pulling us through, and this urgent, unstoppable percussion pushing and pushing and pushing. It’s got my heart rate up and my attention locked tf in. Around 45 seconds we turn a corner, suddenly feeling like we’re building towards more. When those keys drop, the beat finds a new shuffle, and it’s a tremendous reward. Even without letting up, it feels a bit more spacious. That bass stays knocking for this next verse, it’s landing off beat at the end there, throwing my body lurching right as Fredwave finds himself ‘stumbling upon the street’ the tiny things all so well done. It’s impressive, that off-beat kick throws such a wrench in the momentum of the song. But, a testament to their beauty and power, Fredwave’s vocals are enough to keep you moving all the same. It’s almost uncomfortable at first, certainly a surprise, but with every listen find myself enjoying that groove more and more. A second chorus expands onwards, those background vocals finding the spotlight, each voice sneaking off for another note or two. Interspersed with more bits of fun to keep you guessing. The keys taking on a house-y feel. Sometimes people say less is more, but somehow Fredwave figured out how to add more and more and still make it all make sense and make each addition feel needed and in its right spot. Out of the chorus, a new twisted little vocal drives the bridge with samples and screeches and effects popping up, rolling on. A perfect touch, weird and surprising (again) and just what the song needed (again, again). I never saw it coming - maybe it’s the urgency and persistence of the song that set me up. So much happening at all times that Fredwave can take advantage and make these small moments and changes count for even more. It’s like that video where you count how many passes the basketball teams are making and then it turns out you missed the person in a bear costume who moonwalked across the screen. Except in this case the bear jumps right in front of the camera and gives a stellar performance. ty Fredwave, a really really good song here.
In case you missed it:
- Rico Nasty with a great tweet
- Amaarae ft. Moliy music video is VHS nostalgia and looks like so much fun
- Obbbviously I’m going nuts for this Taylor Swift x HAIM Gasoline Remix
- New Charli XCX feature on a fun tune
- I always find Alice Phoebe Lou’s songs intoxicating, Dirty Mouth is no different
- New Kaytranada going wild as always
- This Vegyn x Jeshi song is so cool, funky and weird and great
Bang my line if you want a tarot reading I’m trying to practice more :/
Max