MMM with Isaiah Hull & Hiding Places
2 songs 2 love <3
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.
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It’s scary to do, knowing that Taking This Seriously, asking you all for your continued support, means I am committing, and opening myself up to failure. But, failure of what? Of these big lofty goals? Yeah, maybe, but every week is a success. Every time you listen to one of these songs, it’s a success. Angie McMahon read Romy’s album review from a few weeks back!! Are you kidding?? What more could I ask for. This is really a note to myself, that sometimes, the consistency is all it takes. Trusting the ideas, trusting the work, and just getting it out there.
And most of all, trusting the music. Knowing that I could write 1000 words of gibberish every week, but at the end of the day, the music stands on its own anyways. Which takes a lot of the pressure off.
This week, there’s two songs that do just that, enjoy <3
Isaiah Hull - spike lee
It feels so good to hear something new. To stumble upon a new world, to be instantly won over, instantly obsessed. That doesn’t happen often but when it does… bliss.
When I feel stuck with music, I go back to my trusted technique. Go to soundcloud and do things that some people would call “a waste of time” but I call “finding needles in the world’s biggest haystacks”. I find a song, see who likes it, see who follows the artist, and repeat for as long as necessary, following the rabbit hole from there. Endless. Often fruitless. But this one went ahead and worked out, my god.
This search somehow led me to life is beautiful. A collection of incredible artists, musicians, and creatives. Building some amazing stuff together. I was enthralled immediately, listening to every one involved. REACH (by Isaiah Hull & aloisius) catching me first, a fifteen minute epic. aloisius’ production haunting as it leads us from scene to scene, Hull matching the tone with his storytelling and intimate delivery. Not to mention an unforgettable voice.
A voice that really shines in another tune, spike lee. My pick this week because I cannot stop listening to it. Oh man oh man do I love this. The orchestra shining in warm light, grand, elegant, beautiful. The chords descend, and Hull opens up. Off rip there’s two things I need to point out. You hear them too, obviously, but they’re both special.
First, the way his vocals are recorded. Like we’re watching him rap live, mic in hand, the rough edges left there, all of feeling so alive. It’s sick, and with the little delay, all of it amplified. Second, his actual voice. So playful as it pops up in the second half of each verse. Giving his performance such a delightful shape. Vocals pulling me into the groove that much more. Intoxicating!!!
The production is so smooth, the drums subtle but great, the strings swelling at all the right moments. But plenty of space to focus on Hull. I don’t want your number / put your soul into this iPhone. Something about this humor, this flirtiness, it’s so charming but in this almost ‘high society’ way. The choice of words, the vocabulary, it all feels… like more. It’s hard to describe. It’s like… a painting??
When they ask you if you wanna marry me say I do / we don’t even know each other, I don’t even like you / you don’t even like me
genius. funny. sick.
The lyrics start to repeat, this time the production finding its courage, sticking new chops into the sample, letting the drums pop outside the groove a little more. It makes the moment feel entirely different. And it is, taking a different rout past that marriage line. I’ve always been a psycho / you should know the cycle. It’s so good.
And now we do, cycling back for a third scene. We repeat the first verse in full - letting that last spike lee float off before the sample gets the spotlight. The strings come back for the outro, before echoing off forever. It’s an exciting song - exciting voice and exciting structure. It’s a thrill to find someone doing their own thing. Can’t wait for more.
Follow Isaiah Hull on IG / Spotify
Hiding Places - Crown of Tin
I’ve been listening to this one A LOT since it came out in December. It’s so good. Because I love a surprise. And this song has one for you, if you’re feeling brave.
It opens with acoustic guitar, simple and hazy, this gentle chords seeming to hold the song in its hands like a warm breeze all around us. The vocals match the guitar, this verse like caramel - oozing out slowly. There’s a low octave creeping around down there that gives the moment that much more gravity. A heaviness in the words too, counting seasons to see someone again, winter stretching on forever, a grayness over the song’s world that feels oppressive. I should say, the vocals are sick. This simple melody that feels so impactful. It’s immediately stuck in my head, the kind of song I try to sing along with even before I know the words. I’m just in.
The guitar holds court for a bit between verses and it’s perfect. We get back to the next verse, the same melody, good luck not having this stuck in your head all day. It sounds like the grey has continued, “Waking up at nine i pull my body out of bed”, pulling yourself out, knowing you need it but feeling so overwhelmed by what it would take. Seeing yourself outside yourself. It’s a straightforward lyric but holds so much juice. As with every other line in this verse. So much unsaid, but you can feel it all. Getting outside, looking for some level of connection, some chance to socialize and feel a part of the world. And you get out there and uh… it’s just as lonely. Returning home, where at least the lonely is comfortable. Been there, Hiding Places, been there…
Another quick reset from the guitar before the final verse. This time aspirational. Breaking the mold of this depressing scene, dreaming of something better. Animals will smile at me we’ll make conversation. This Where The Wild Things Are whimsy. A connection beyond what seems humanly possible. It’s nice to hear this kind of thing from a song like this, trusting the band that we will break out of this pattern, that better days, brighter days are possible. It feels so sweet, so free. Ending with more passion, finding a new melody for that last line, bellowing out to the world, screaming from mountain tops. Crown on her head.
And you may be thinking… that’s the surprise? A little switch in the melody? Oh just buckle up… HP has something wild up their sleeve and I know you’re gonna freak.
Some drums rumble up out of nowhere. And the band lands with force. It’s a real explosion from where we’ve been. Shattering the entire world they’ve painted here, really. Letting all the emotion out as the guitars pound onwards. Some shimmering from a violin causing havoc as the band spins faster and faster. Like we’re all holding hands spinning in a circle. A couple last notes before we let go, fall, dizzy from the chaos. On our backs with a smile, knowing this is all going to be ok.
Really excited to hear more from Hiding Places, the 2nd track off their ep coming later this month *eyes emoji*!!!!!
Follow Hiding Places on IG / Spotify
Well there you have it. Two songs, both sick as hell, both made by artists creating their own sound, their own rules. Love em both and hope you do too. Hope to see you again next week.
Yours,
Max