MMM with Neu Blume & Chapis
I love these songs + new tunes from Satya, Daffo, Hayden Everett, and more!
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
Happy Monday - welcome to Max’s Music Mondays.
In case you missed it - last week I released the live recordings from my new show series, Two by Two. A chance for you experience some of the magic. Take a listen :)
I’m really proud of how this show and this musical world is developing, and grateful for you being a part of it. I’ll be writing more about the making of this show this month for paid subscribers.
Next up, I’ll be back for Two by Two no. 3 on April 22nd. Tickets on sale soon!
So much more to come. Music, projects, shows, and probably plenty my little brain has even dreamt up yet. So, stay tuned.
Last week I got to catch Bartees Strange live at The Paramount here in LA. They put on one hell of a show, my god. Technically so sound, and as performers, the band is delivering. Strange able to explode into massive rock and roll moments with ease and power, yet so sweet, gentle, and human as he connects with the crowd between songs. A loving room that was ready to rock. It was a great one. Please check out his new record, Horror. From country ballads like ‘17’ to the four on the floor, 4am underground house of ‘Lovers’ there’s a lot to savor. Wrote about one at the end of this post!
Ok on to this week’s picks!!
Please follow the playlist if you haven’t already - slowly but surely pushing our way to 1,000 <3
Neu Blume - Power
What? I’m gonna find out about a wonderful indie band from Detroit and not right about them? Lol good one. My Michigan roots run deep, I’ll always feel a sense of pride for a band like this. Shoutout No Expectations for the assist on this one - always a trustworthy source for me.
But bias aside, the music earns its place here within the first fifteen seconds. Honestly, the first four. A guitar riff calling out for attention from the left side. The drums giving a taste, before that ride brings in the rest of the band, a wave crashing on that down beat spilling out onto the shores of Good Song Beach. The next time around, the crash is more mellow, the missed kick sucking us in, that guitar bending and sliding as such sweet relief.
The wave metaphor is easy, but this one really has a strong western feel. I just couldn’t quite find a similar metaphor about horses. Hope you’ll forgive me. The band carries this vibe though, hot under the burning sun as it sets. Slow and sticky, in a alluring way. This twenty second intro feels much longer, and I wish it was, could sit in this forever.
Instead, we’re blessed with a verse. Neu Blume’s Mo Neuharth taking the lead this time around. You’ll find the other half of the duo, Colson Miller, later on, some gorgeous background vocals. In other songs they trade roles, yet magically it all feels Of One Band, if you will. The sound and feel well defined regardless of who is telling the story.
Patient and smooth, Neuharth lets the lyrics fall, and lets the band breath. The melody builds through these quick lines, pushing harder through that last word. The band supporting the emotions, and Neuharth running out with a sick little flourish at the end the section. Scratching this Daffo itch I haven’t been able to get enough of these past few months.
Once again, the band delivers here. The drums are so fucking clean it’s obnoxious. I feel like people always talk about ‘punchy’ drums and if you crank this one up, you’ll finally get what they’re all talking about. Some descending guitars, the bass opening up a little more, a fuzzy new chord, all settling and reseting for another verse.
Here’s where Miller joins, and the stack is so effective. An added push of emotional heft and interesting texture. I got lost / trying to protect you left with so much space, you really feel the heaviness this effort created. The two voices are both so lovely and really create some special music here.
The song shifts gears into this new section at the 1:33 mark, a new urgency, a new sense of demand, Neuharth really trying to get an answer here. If I gave a reason / would you take it? / ‘cause I can be real or / I can fake it. COME ON. I love that.
From here the band opens it back up - shifting the mood a bit brighter again. Everyone shines in this section, a sum greater than its parts but damn the parts are great. We slide right back into the last scene, still trying to get to the bottom of all this.
Such a gorgeous song, I haven’t been able to shake it from first listen. So stoked about what’s to come for this band.
Follow Neu Blume on Instagram // on Spotify
Chapis - Ride or Die
Oh! Ok. Let’s dance.
Instantly bouncing, just keys and kick drum. We’re welcomed into the room, a few friendly voices chatting as we settle in. The laughs come in, then a synth comes flying in like a shooting star. As the vocals kick off, Chapis is so calm in their delivery. It’s a great grounding balance as the rest of the band hops in.
The intro offered this clubby dance feel, a kaytra-inspired bass line to boot. So the way it falls so beautifully into this full band arrangement, I’m surprised and so excited. The drums and bass hold it steady down the middle, deep in the pocket. My shoulders popping with every snare/clap. One guitar holds out floating chords that give it a vintage disco feel. On the right, another guitar picks through a dreamy riff. The whole thing does feel like a dream, really. But not some surreal thing, more of a danced-all-night-until-the-sun-came-up-haze kind of vibe.
Through this first section Chapis rides a great melody - its small moves able to do so much over this gorgeous band. It’s a mesmerizing moment, the writing’s structure making it easy to fall into. Repeating history again acting as a perfect repeated touchpoint. The second time through, forging a path into another section. The bass dropping out for just a second to really let things float a little.
It drops into full groove mode, Chapis laying down these single(ish) word lyrics, as he’s seemingly tossed from side to side before finding his footing and landing some sweet full lyrics to end the moment. Repeating the shape, focus all the love we have / make it stronger, make it last a heartfelt punctuation. It’d be easy to get lost in this production. It’s so fun, so groovy, just a joy. But when you tune in for the lyrics, there’s plenty to love.
This one happens to give way to a Santana-smooth guitar solo, breathing even more life into this track. A really delightful surprise to find here. Chapis continues to pursue this love in the next verse. As nice as ever. The vocals really showcased with that last mushroom cloud lyric left in the spotlight.
We cruise through the chorus again, the lyrics familiar, but new sounds popping up. A saxophone rises to somehow add more of a sultry feel. A synth raining down as the first pass finishes. The band letting you enjoy the comfort of repetition without ever letting you get bored. And let me tell you about not getting bored… launching into a saxophone solo… My god that’s a beautiful thing. Dancing through these final moments, it’s truly such a joy. Still can’t stop dancing, it’s just so breezy.
The Southern California band’s spotify bio reads “Charming dishevelment…” and I couldn’t agree more. They also put together a really nice video for this one. Some great characters here and great group choreo :)
Hope you enjoy it as much as I have, can’t wait for more of Chapis.
Follow Chapis on Instagram // on Spotify
Last Week on All The Other Days:
Tooth (feat Jia*) - Hayden Everett
My god… Just casually putting out an instant favorite.
I love collaborations like this, Hayden Everett pushing himself beyond his own sound, evolving into something magical. While Jia* does the same, finding their place in a song like this and growing beyond their typical sound. They both get the best of each other and find something new, and so special, together.
Everett’s emotional writing and performance feels like it was meant to live over Jia*’s production and layering. Hearing them all at 0:39? I had to press pause. My little heart can’t take it. It really opens up past 1:30 and I’m on cloud fucking nine. I like how you look with your rain boots on… I like how you bundle up. Come on man!!! This shit makes me swoon. The saxophones grow up and out, the guitars tie it back together, the bass drives us home. Love this.
Absence Makes the Heart Grow - Daffo
On a well documented (and already mentioned in this newsletter) Daffo TEAR lately. And to hear them come alive, louder and heavier than ever? Oof I’m sold.
I’m so desperate, it’s disgusting / I've been burning for you for five wringing years / I've come to learn that I might be a chandelier. How could I not eat this up.
The chorus’s melody is so brave and unexpected and angry. I adore it.
Then key change??? Too much too much, I love it.
Bartees Strange - Baltimore
The first new song to stand out during Strange’s show was this one. A slow country tune. As he searches for a true home, we see these cities through his eyes and his memories. It’s sweet and honest, and culminates in such a familiar feeling - thinking bout the lives I don’t have….
<3 beautiful song, beautiful guitar work, I’m so in on this one.
MOSQUITO - Matilda Marigolds
Another MMM-fav has delivered yet again. A heaviness opens, Marigolds so close to us, these first lyrics delivered with such an intimacy. But the second you lean in, we’re met with a wall of sound. It washes over me and feels so so good. So calming to be honest.
That ‘woo!’ a perfect adlib and one that feels like a Matilda Marigolds signature. The song carries this same contrasting moments that drew me to Hatchet. Such a joy to hear it in a thrilling new way on this one.
Falling back into a second verse, catching me by dropping chrysanthemums in there with such ease. The performance offers a different version of the same contrast - gentle delivery with epic-centuries-ago writing.
The ending takes a cinematic twist that caught me off guard. Co-produced by the king, Ben Coleman, it’s like this one was made for me <3
Mine - Satya
She’s back, thank goodness. Produced by another one of my favs, St. Panther, it’s such a joy to hear Satya singing again. Kind enough to do a little live session back in 2021 Satya has only gotten better. Her voice is so smooth it’s hard to describe. It has a richness, all these tiny edges and warmth that really give the song such a life. And praise to the mixing engineer for making sure all of her voice sits so clearly here.
Obsessed with the production, vintage drums giving the song such a gorgeous back bone. The little triplet section at 1:45?? Crazy move, and one done so well. All the background vocals are wonderful too. This one is just so damn sweet I can’t get enough of it.
Blade Bird - Oklou
this is my shit.
Jolene - jerod
Never gonna not mention jerod. stellar cover art, stellar cover.
Thanks y’all, until next week,
Max