Max's Music Mondays with runo plum and Kai Kwasi
good songs in here i swear you'll wanna hear em
Welcome to Max’s Music Mondays - a ~music discovery newsletter~ where I get too excited about songs I love. I hope you love them too. If you do, follow along on spotify and please respectfully smash that subscribe button. Let me know if you do, I’ll send you a thank you playlist or something.
Okay let’s be honest, it’s Monday 11:46am and I’m just starting to write this intro. Probably too late to think of a good photoshop this week, I’m sorry. I know that’s why most of you are here anyways, but we’ll be back with a good one next week I’m certain. The long and short of it is, I’m going on vacation soon and pretty stressed trying to get all work done and ready for when I’ll be traveling. And also stressed about being stressed etc. etc. And all that thinking takes up a good chunk of time!! But the good news is, it doesn’t take up all my time and I was still able to find some truly wonderful music. Music that helped me relax and reset and music that I’m so thrilled to share with you!! Even if I’m getting a late start.
This Week’s Songs
Please please follow along here ^^ for this week’s and every week’s songs. Each song is perfect and that is an objective fact and in no way my biased opinion i promise.
yin to yang - runo plum
My goodness do I love tiktok. Aside from the entertainment value, it’s become a stunning place for music discovery. All praise to the algorithm gods, as always. Somehow I landed on runo plum’s page and am very grateful. Looks like this was the first one I saw, back in April:
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMdVyYwhg/
No shock to reveal I was hooked. A breathtaking voice (that way that potion turns to ‘mmm’!!! the way ocean pops!!!), such beautiful writing, all so lovely and human. And that feeling stays the same with this song, their first release on Spotify. It opens with such intimacy, just that diy bedroom guitar feeling, runo plum singing from their diary. I think too much, and I care too much / thought I was a bird, but I’m a lady bug. What a way to kick this off!!! I’m smiling and crying at the same time?!?! There’s something so devastating about these lines, but it feels, and sounds, safe here. I find myself wanting to write about every single lyric as I listen, so let’s keep it short and just agree that this whole verse is beautiful. And it’s enough. It’d be a perfect song if it stayed in this small moment the whole way through, but plum is generous enough to offer more. A lot more. Knocking down the walls of the bedroom to bring in a couple more band members at 0:50, the atmosphere growing fuller. The drums coming in soon after were a surprise to me the first time I listened. Even in their slow understated nature, pack such a punch. Another synth sparkling underneath it all before we let the guitars shine. Now the intimacy of the verse really delivers in the new contrasting context. That moment at 2:25 is so special too, the way plum’s voice swings so easily up and settling right back down. I just adore it. The chorus hits again, expanding out to the edges of the universe? It feels so big/endless and so small/contained at the same time, it’s magic I’d reckon. Either that or runo plum is just a dang good artist (probably this one now that I’ve thought about it more).
Follow runo plum on IG / Spotify
unt - Kai Kwasi
Putting the tape in the deck, even the notification ringing out can’t break this calm feeling. So warm and easy. Add in that saxophone and at 25 seconds in I was certain this would be on the playlist soon. It’s a magical intro, Kai Kwasi’s subtle hums only adding to it all. And when Kwasi comes in for real, that layered vocal - stacking the clean lead with another rougher/megaphone-esque line sitting right underneath - is a stunning move. It gives it this yearning and nostalgic feel. There’s so much emotion and texture over otherwise simple production, some guitar chords with keys fluttering around the edges. I love the chorus too, naturally shifting into a higher gear, the saxophone getting back in the mix while those drums rattle on deep down. It’s a delightful rhythm and can’t imagine any other scenario where I’m beaming from ear to ear as earnestly I sing “I act against my better judgement / I waste away all of my days / I keep on making poor decisions”, but I can’t help myself here. It’s all so heartfelt and lovely!! What do you want from me!!?! The vocals split up, offering some surprising but great harmonies too. I’m thrilled the sax and drums stick around for the verse. Such a sick groove, I wasn’t ready for them to leave quite yet. The second verse is quick but full of impressive choices. The single line of vocals feeling more fragile (in a great way), power of those gentle harmonies coming in like a soft wave, the crazy triplet run just after 4am that feels like it might never end (almost wish it didn’t). And that’s just in the first few seconds. Efficient stuff Kai, I’ll tell ya what!!! That bass brings it all together as we float back into the chorus, that simple addition enough to make the moment entirely different. A catchy chorus pouring out before some stellar saxophone. Shining out into space, reflecting back, it’s just good freaking music. Leads us into the outro, just Kwasi over the bass, as if the song’s world is collapsing into this tiny cassette. We hit eject, and strings take us home with the help of an old piano. Plain beautiful!! Love this one so much.
Follow Kai Kwasi on IG / Spotify
Whew, thanks for the patience, well worth it I’d say!!
Business time: Please follow the playlist and please please pass it along to anyone you know who might be in need of new music!! The more people here, the more people hearing these amazing songs. We got a bunch of new faces this week, I hope you enjoyed it half as much as I enjoyed seeing you all here, this shit really does make my day!!!
As I mentioned, after next week’s MMM, I’ll be off for a few weeks(!!!) which I am very excited about. Might schedule a random post or two, but if you don’t hear from me, don’t fret, I’m just enjoying some down time :)
See you on Friday where I will once again be overwhelmed by all the good music.
Max