🎶 Max's Music Mondays with Sleeper's Bell & Jahni
literally two perfect songs, you're gonna love these wow
Welcome to Max’s Music Mondays. My ~music discovery newsletter~ where I get too excited about songs I love. I hope you love them too. Your subscriptions go such a long way. Free subscribers help these artists get the audience they deserve, paid subscriptions help keep this thing running and also PAY THE ARTISTS!!! 2/3 of every subscription goes right back to the artists I write about. Please consider supporting independent music and music journalism(?) here today <3
Good morning, good whatever time you’re reading this. As we roll into the final week of the dog days of summer (did not know there was a designated period), I’m starting to feel the light ahead. I hope you are too.
As some of you know, I got laid off from my day job a couple months back. Not to get too earnest, but life is so wild omg. It’s been a hard stretch, dog days aside, I’ve been anxious, scared, overwhelmed. But it’s starting to feel possible not to be those things. To trust and keep moving forward and appreciate how good I have it. It’s only now that another daily reality is starting to emerge. Spending time with friends I haven’t seen in too long. Seeing more concerts than usual. Finding new favorite coffee shops to spend a few hours click clacking way. New projects, new opportunities, things starting to become more clear. All of life is learning. It’s still nerve-wracking, but also very exciting.
Through it all, you’ll be unsurprised to hear, music is getting me through. Finding songs like these will always lift my spirit. I hope hearing them will do the same for you too. Sending love <3 <3
Every song added here!! Please like the playlist if you haven’t already!
Sleeper’s Bell - Road Song
Every week I look for music. Every week I listen to SO much that is SO close. And then you hear a song like this and know within seconds that I’ve finally found what I was looking for. Music that is so beautiful, creative, unique, and just gonna say it, good!!!
The drummer counts us in, not enough drummers doing that these days!! The band jumping in quick, guitar and bass sliding right into place. Add in these smooth vocals offering an eerie and exciting melody, and folks… that’s it for ol’ max. What more could I ask for.
Oh that’s right, how about incredibly insightful writing?? Spent so long on the road I / forgot there was somewhere to go / when I got there well I just don’t know. Sleeper’s Bell is fronted by Blaine Teppema who’s voice is so sick, my god. Bending around the melody, delivering every note with such a stunning tone. We roll towards the 0:25 mark and the band feels like they’re really hitting their stride.
And THEN they roll out the saxophone?! I’m pissed. This is too much for me to handle. Adding the sax’s seems to lift up the whole song, the song’s same eager momentum now redirected towards the mountain tops instead of further down the road. Just beautiful. And it’s in this beauty that Blaine lands my favorite lyric -
looking for the words to find
The way it felt when we were young
God, it’s on the tip of my tongue
My goodness… so heartbreakingly relatable. That last line delivered with such a gentle frustration. Like, fuck!! It really is just right there but right out of reach too. A genius lyric, really. I certain relate to it, wanting that simplicity of childhood to help ease the anxieties of ‘real life’.
Whew, I need a breathe, and graciously the saxophones rise up to the occasion. BLESSING us with a thrilling little solo, moving so nicely through these chords, taking some brave runs while all the horns mix together. Teppema catches us on the other end. Is that a little bit of flute? Some strings? Or just some soft soft sax? Whatever it is, it’s perfect. The final two lines delivered with a second layer of vocals, kind company to help land the ship.
And with no hesitation, no warning, it’s over. Just over two mins, and I would’ve enjoyed ten. The first single released since the band’s EP this January and it’s one heck of a return. So so stoked to see what else they’ve got coming.
Follow Sleeper’s Bell on Instagram // on Spotify
Jahni - LALA
It’s summer. We all deserve a song that just feels good. Feels warm. Feels easy. And Jahni has come THROUGH for us this week. A beautiful tune full of love and so many brilliant touches, it’s a stunner.
Muted percussion like a racing heartbeat, moving quick to open the song. I love how their true rhythm appears as soon as more elements join. Those elements being Jahni’s wonderful voice and a crazy, Jai-Paul-esque guitar covered in effects. Both are perfect and this is already one hell of a start to a song… and it’s only 9 seconds in. But stick with me, somehow it only gets better.
The way Jahni sings so special - both this big attention-grabbing, arena-headliner voice and also this intimateness that really pulls you in. Is this what you choose looking you dead in the eyes, an earnest question. The moments when the autotune peaks out even more balancing me out, breaking the eye contact. That little fill at 0:32 hinting at so much more. But that change is on the horizon, instead right here, right now we breathe out and settle into this chorus. Jahni going with the flow, his companion more important than the activity. Say no more, say no more, as the bass comes through heavier than before, the song filling out before our eyes.
We move back to another verse, the guitars open up, and the drums (THE DRUMS!!!!) step in. The drumming is nuts on this. And it’s so downplayed, so subtle, but the sparse rhythm is to die for. Ever so perfectly shuffling around the track. It’s sick as hell!! But don’t let it distract you, everything else in this moment is amazing too. The writing (never safe to be without your armor), that low growling fuzz of a guitar at 0:54-0:55, the synthy flute floating left and right above it all. Just magic right here!!
At like 1:06ish there’s the quietest synth, some kind of keys tucked away on the far right of the mix. Effortlessly sliding down and adding a remarkable (if not too subtle) texture to the song. It feels like everyone is picking up steam here, each piece of the band getting stronger and opening up more and more. But it’s all so in control.
Flipping back into the chorus, things simmer, still strong but no one going too wild. I’m loving the new piano added here - again, just the right tone giving the song a little added elegance, only amplifying the groove. The tiny harmonies too! All these little choices building such an elevated song.
As the chorus ends, that little guitar begins to breakthrough teasing a solo, but fading back to leave space for these two leads. Sounds like one is a synth and the other is Jahni run through some filters. The two not quite parallel but heading in the same direction. Then at 2:00 the floodgates open.
There’s so much to catch here, I thought of making a bulleted list like it was an I Spy book but frankly, you’re better off just letting it all wash over you. Sit back and enjoy it. The band had it in em the hold time, the willingness to and courage to keep it all easy until now… true pros!!!
It all fades back to it’s simplest form. Jahni, a couple instruments, the message as clear as could be. Some twinkling keys on the outside, one little Bon Iver-y sample hits, and the song finishes clean. Really really love it.
Follow Jahni on Instagram // on Spotify
Last Week on All The Other Days:
Ok goes without saying that the Billie remix is a smash hit and we simply must give it up to King Charli for giving the people everything they want and then some. The Brat moment has been crazy and feels like she’s making the absolutely most of it too. Amazing. I have some hot gos about a future remix, let me know if you want to hear it… As well as my predictions for the rest of the remix album.
Otherwise my big song this week is Seed of a Seed, the incredible return from Haley Heyndrickx. OH MY GOD this song is so damn tender and beautiful and every time I listen to it I have to listen to it at least three times to really savor it. Please give it a spin.
Until next time (next Monday),
Max