MMM with marlon amon & Big Dumb Baby 🎶
two perfect songs if you can even believe it
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.
Last year when I released the compilation, I learned something new about my own taste. I learned how much I loved the sound of something unfinished, in progress, imperfect yet still magic.
I recognize now, that I’ve always been partial to things that sound raw in some way. Sonically sure, but I think there’s more life and realness in it - or something like that.
It’s been back on my mind again this week with two “major music news headlines” - James Blake’s new venture, Vault, and Adrienne Lenker’s new album.
Blake went viral (which is funny to say about someone very famous which a huge audience) recently for posting about how hard it continues to be for musicians to make a living off their art. Now, he’s announced a partnership with Vault - a subscription to support him and his music. In exchange, there’s exclusive demos, unreleased music, and surely there’ll be more to come as the site develops.
But that immediately caught my eye, of course, the chance to connect deeper to an artist, to hear these WIP’s. It somehow feels like getting in on a secret or getting to hear his line of thinking and watch as those ideas become songs. When you hear demos this way, it feels more like a moment in time than a polished song. Witnessing an artist doing their work.
Water & Music went deep on what it takes for online music communities to succeed long-term. Along with Consistency and Governance, the third necessary pillar was Intimacy. Connection that extended past just music and began to create relationships between fans. This part really jumped out to me, and feels like a deeply powerful thing to tap into.
Lenker’s new record, Bright Future, (which is so unbearably special) sports a new version of Big Thief’s Vampire Empire. A song which already had a storied history, the live version ‘debuted’ on The Late Show differing from the recorded version released, the band saying on IG: Every time we play it, it is a different version. We weren’t gonna go into the studio and try to replicate what we played on Colbert… plus there’s no way it would’ve been the same, because songs are vessels for the expressions of our present selves, and not highly manicured concoctions polished to be consumed based on demand.
So to hear Lenker take it on again in a totally new way, with a different cast around her feels so exciting. A new expression, a different present self. Creating a deeper intimacy with her fans. It does make me wonder if Ye’s version of this in the past - releasing, re-uploading, never quite finishing - while coming from a different, more egomaniacal place, might stem from this same truth, same feeling. That music is ever-changing, its recording and releasing, unfairly ending the song’s, the art’s growth. The concept of a Live Album has waned over the years, but maybe it’s due for a renaissance (please!!). The chance to hear different versions, to connect to a song in different ways - it feels beneficial for everyone. The artists able to flesh out ideas, not forced to churn out another new song. Fans able to tap in deeper into a moment, into a song. These versions and evolutions creating conversation and connection between fans, space for the intimacy within the community to build.
I also watched this great video from Jack Stratton of Vulfpeck the other week:
The TL/DR - Jack is brilliantly proposing a 90/10 fan-centric payment model for Apple Music in order for them to regain their footing as the king of music streaming. Suggesting a model where artists receive 90% of a user’s monthly payment, split up based on their listening - i.e. I spend $10/mo, I only listen to Medium Build all month (not too far of a stretch) and MB receives ALL of my $9. If I listened to half MB half Remi Wolf, they both get $4.5 from my monthly payment. And so on and so on.
In this context it feels like another opportunity pushing artists to be as themselves as possible. To break from ‘what the algorithm wants’ and instead create, and iterate, on what they love and what they want to make. Pull fans in deeper through their uniqueness not by conforming.
Do I have a conclusion here? I guess it’s just that the current system doesn’t seem to be working for artists - and by default fans too. There is some better way coming, and while I don’t know what or when, it does feel like Lenker is ahead of her time in this pursuit to capture the moment. I hope others will follow her lead.
marlon amon - seasick
The warmth of the room crackling, welcoming us in to this space. marlon amon finding his place and taking off. A guitar that I cannot shake, rolling high and low, incredibly dynamic even as it stays on one chord.
amon joins quickly - with less than 100 seconds of song, he’s gotta hop in sooner than later - each word stretching out over the course of a chord. You can feel a couple layers of vocals in there, depth to the gentle performance. They lay in nicely, the guitar rising up around them holding them secure in the middle of the track.
The guitar flickers through those final chords, getting ready for the turn, getting us back to our starting point. This time, amon’s voice splits. The different takes breaking a little left, a little right. A subtle falsetto reaching high in the background. Barely perceptible but so impactful. The pace picks up, the lyrics keeping up with the guitars changes.
Split by the sea / Split me open and see / every crevice you infect in me. The voice and guitar working hand in hand to build this special moment. That low note meeting amon at every word, but falling back into that familiar finger-picked shape as soon as the phrase ends. It creates this cool feeling, breaking the mold and feeling so exciting, landing back home to keep things comfortable right after.
amon lays down two final lyrics, embracing the vulnerability on offer. The imagery of ripped seems and spilled guts reframed with that final tenderly. Somehow making the gore seem sweet.
From there the guitar takes over, a quiet vocal tags along as the melody slides around the fretboard. It really feels like some sunrise, sipping coffee type thing - so warm, so soft, so loving. amon returning one last time to repeat the final phrases, the guitar ringing out as long as you’ll bask in the thought.
I was worried I wouldn’t be able to write enough about such a short song, but he’s loaded it up with beauty. Even in its simplicity it’s full of remarkable moments (clearly), I hope you enjoyed as much as I have. A song I keep coming back to.
And also a quick shout to the rare Single title!! dropping two tracks called seasick and twistedtight and calling the ‘single’ sick & twisted is so damn genius, we stan.
Follow marlon amon on Instagram // on Spotify
Big Dumb Baby - Jenny’s Place
From the second I saw Big Dumb Baby’s cover art I knew I would be a fan. And that’s to say nothing of their perfect name. It’s somehow so contemporary and silly but also I can only see the name being funnier and more brilliant as time goes on.
Anyways - back to the art. On her ‘23 EP, Terrible Twos, there’s this surreal collection of miniatures, toys, and more. It feels like some iSpy meets weird stop-motion animation kind of thing. It’s otherworldly and beautiful. Creepy but inviting. I know it’s corny to say, but it creates a universe for her music to live in, and I love that!! Context to the music that sets it apart.
This track kicks off with bass and drums, clean and crisp, that little turnaround giving it a cowboy flair as the guitar rings out. BDB’s delivery is personal and smooth. Straightforward and conversational, by the time she invites us over it feels like we’ve known her for a long time. The tongue in cheek writing paints a beautiful picture of this NY apartment - full of roommates and mice and potential.
The bass takes a breather, the guitars coming in fuller, some keys layering on too, the song feeling lighter and more massive as it points towards some bigger release. The claps layer in nicely, feeling like all the roommates are here to support the song as it builds. But the moment ends this time, the bass back to walk us into the next verse.
BDB’s writing continues to rule. Observational, critical, but a lightheartedness that carries it all. Don’t you find it charming, just a little bit? / I do. And I do too - this isn’t someone just complaining about everything. It’s someone admiring all that’s wrong with a little smirk, appreciating what a silly little life this all is. A train as alarm clock, again finding the light in daily frustrations.
There’s nowhere I’d rather be ringing out as the band comes back to life. The moment feeling bigger and more spectacular than last time. Warming my heart and feeling honest. By the end of this section I’m singing along, believing every word.
The whole band (sans that high hat) dip out for a minute, that initial invitation coming back around. It has such an under-the-moon feeling, the band’s return keeping me warm and getting the song moving again. The lyrics change ever so slightly, just BDB and the Boys down at Jenny’s place. She stretches that last note out, and when the band hits, I’m transported into Jenny’s place. I’ve never been, no idea what it looks like, but the song makes it feel alive, surrounded by love and friendship and fun. I feel cozy and I want to dance with all my pals!!! That last refrain such a powerful final scene, the big climactic version we knew would come. Done so well, so tastefully, it really rocks!!! All the while, BDB stays calm and easy, again feeling so genuine and personal.
What a tune, I really can’t get enough of it and have really enjoyed digging into the full EP from last year. Can’t wait for whatever’s to come.
Follow Big Dumb Baby on Instagram // on Spotify
Thanks for reading, as always - catch more some blurbs on what I listen to All The Other Days. There’s so much good music coming out and I’m doing my best to share what I can catch.
Friends we’re SO close to my next big subscriber goal. If you enjoyed these songs, this writing, please please send it along to someone who might also enjoy. It means so much more than you’d think!
All my love,
Max