Max's Music Mondays with Mike Kota and Gidi

v-day? more like me-yay, i'm freaking out about how great these songs are

Feb 15, 2022

Happy Valentine’s Day, I hope this can be a sweet little offering to end a day of love. Because boy oh boy do I love these songs.

On a completely unrelated note… I’ve had some highlights these passed couple days that I’m really grateful for. Last night got to see a beautiful show, Katy Kirby (so sick), Fenne Lily (so sick), and illuminati hotties (you guessed it, so sick). It was a beautiful night of music, a warm supportive room, and artists sharing some really stunning songs in so many different styles. It’s the first show I’ve been to in a while, and one that made its mark. Just all the right variables clicking for me. I’ll have more on that later this week. But it did lead to me being tired and hence sending this so late.

And today I got two things - 1) a new tattoo, another from the incredible @funkadelics and 2) a free little chocolate from the market. Both really did make my day in different ways. The tattoo bringing me closer with my own body and giving me more beauty to carry. The chocolate bringing me closer with my own community, a small simple gift that just made me smile and feel a part of my neighborhood. The two reaching completely opposite ends of the “how long will this be a part of my life” scale, but impacting my day all the same. Just appreciating how the little things can make such a difference. And obviously not comparing the two, because wow I am thrilled with how sick my tattoo is, so so happy *tearing up emoji*

Anyways, these songs could be either for you, a tattoo or a chocolate. But regardless I hope you’ll give them a spin because they are sweet and they are sensational.

This Week’s Songs

Please please follow along here ^^ for this week’s and every week’s songs. They’re all really good I swear!!! <3 Please like and enjoy and send to someone you like and enjoy!!

Mike Kota - Rift

This voice is destroying any conception of what I thought of when I thought of a “good voice”. Even this first 13 seconds - where it’s one word and some aaah’s, I am sufficiently blown away. Riiiift floating up and out like a candles last wisps of smoke, spreading and strong even as it fades. Over these simple guitars, the vocals sit front and center, nothing here to cloud the sound. Those gentle wind chimes dancing as they get mentioned. That moment of Yebba-esque tone thirty seconds in, a vocalist in complete control of their voice, mastering the melody. The move is a surprise to me here, vocals that have felt so otherworldly getting firmly rooted in the moment. But let’s not lose sight, it’s not just the notes but the words. The lyric that follows, dreaming alive / lucid in the lie, a magical bit of poetry, our narrator drifting through reality. Easily sliding on, that over and over and over lines pulling me forward with each over, that first one landing so unassuming, revealing its second syllable well beyond when I stopped listening for one, my brain so sure we had moved on. Mike Kota holding us in that moment, carrying us along in that emotional pacing. We move to a new scene at 0:51 - a wolf with a sorrowful howl way off in the distance, a new warm bass walking underneath. That wolf revealing itself again, a subtle bending guitar making its way between notes. Those first harmonies show up on also risen, drawing new attention to the background vocals, giving more strength to every voice you can hear. This song is just so mesmerizing, ugh, I am finding myself writing through this song so much slower than most. Savoring each little bit, again and again. Even in its simple structure and arrangement there’s so much rich detail it’s hard to capture it all. From here everyone gets a chance to shine in quick succession, each of these moments worth so much more than one bullet point but hey here we go:

Heaven has gates / and it’s still a prison
the tiniest flutter and then gentle growl across separate and thousand respectively
the harmonies going wild on thousand prisms
the moses sumney yearning in rift
the gnarly little bass run
the background vocals coming and going, shapeshifting their way through
1:41-1:43’s warm chord bending ever-so-slowly into place
everything coming together for one more a thousand prisms

The whole thing is just so gorgeous and special, it blows my mind that more people aren’t running around screaming about this one.

Follow Mike Kota on IG / Spotify

Gidi - Damned - Acoustic

The rare acoustic version!!! I love it. Gidi’s original it’s a sultry number, hard drum hits, a powerful piano, a bass with no hesitations about having fun. Some gorgeous textures that lean more maximalist. This beautiful business, full of really fun and unique sounds. And then here, Gidi just wipes it all away. A simple version that lets the vocals star and makes me swoon. Bright acoustic chords coloring the song like a sunrise, Gidi impressing from the get go. Easily living in that falsetto, smooth and full of heart. Dropping down in a blink and picking up some added punch. These two sides of his performance trading back and forth across the first thirty seconds. Plenty of layers tying them together. We launch into the chorus, the falsetto leading the way, pleading for their lover. Punctuated with that crisp guitar riff. A careful and bold melody taking that can’t can’t can’t for a ride. The whole thing is great, each vocal making an impact. Entering back into that next verse, it’s so well choreographed, the voices entering and exiting and supporting each other and giving each other the space they need. The whole thing swirling with love and pain. Pain, in wanting more of that love. Another chorus, more vocals really building something special. And what’s an acoustic version with an acoustic solo! Getting kicked off with that pitched voice pulling your attention, so dreamy. But the star is the guitar, really matching the moment and emotions across the solo. So much tension held on display with the rawness of the acoustic. Releasing and sparkling so sweetly as it closes. You can feel the band descending again, that wave softly crashing and carrying us on. And when it crashes Gidi does too - these familiar lyrics coming back with more and more energy. The emotions building and bursting, the entire production bringing us to the edge, cranking the heat, and watching the boil reach the edge of the pot. It sneaks up so naturally, I only really notice when it breaks. Then just a lush ride home, covered in ooo’s and aaa’s that are so heartwarming. A tender rendition and one I’m glad gets to stand on its own. Gidi has got some hits, I can’t wait to see what’s next.

Follow Gidi on IG / Spotify

XOXO I am sending virtual hugs and roses and chocolates and hope cupid is treating you right.

Love you, sleep tight, or good morning, idk it’s late.

Max

Max's Music Mondays