For the shortest month of the year, Atlanta musicians released a whole lot of music. See what you may have missed from local artist in February.
“F.I.L.” by Dylan Elliott
Rapper/producer Dylan Elliott debuts brightly optimistic single “F.I.L.;” a straight-forward love song about wanting to fall in love. Sweet, but not sappy, “F.I.L.” highlights Eliott’s signature no-nonsense style. His lyrics aren’t typically cloaked in metaphor; his messages are simplistically positive and effortless. “F.I.L.” precedes the February premiere of Elliott’s music video for “Leave My Bones Behind;” a punchy synth single teasing his upcoming EP entitled Drole.
INTERSTELLAR by Liamette
Liamette’s two-song, space-themed EP INTERSTELLAR finds the rapper with a strikingly clear artistic vision. INTERSTELLAR follows 2019’s LP Agony in Stardom and a slew of singles released in the interim. The celestial EP features two distinct production moods: the slick, smooth vibe of atmospheric “ANDROMEDA” produced by Atlanta artist/producers Hanzo and Grandma, and the crunchy, confrontational “INTERGALACTIC” with production by MarlinBeats. Despite their differing production choices, both tracks are incredibly cohesive and display Liamette’s sharp writing and powerful delivery.
How Come Your Sister Doesn’t Know My Name Anymore by Double Vanities
How Come Your Sister Doesn’t Know My Name Anymore is the latest discordant improvisational release from Double Vanities. The brainchild of experimental musician and poet Matt Goethe, Double Vanities is a project built on examining different sorts of sound-making and the usage of non-traditional instrumentation. How Come Your Sister Doesn’t Know My Name Anymore is no different; squarely fitting within the Double Vanities catalog with heavy utilization of the ukelin, a long-forgotten 32-stringed instrument primarily used in the early 1900s. Exploratory and ephemeral, How Come Your Sister Doesn’t Know My Name Anymore isn’t concerned with forming conventional song structures, but prefers to be purely investigational.
“Back of My Mind” by Dinner Time
Dinner Time returns with ”Back of My Mind,” the second single since their 2019 self-titled debut album. Continuing the stylistic shift of their last single “Closer,” Dinner Time’s latest releases see the band shaving off bits of their straight-up indie rock in favor of smooth funk and retro RnB. It even opens with the line “Listen, baby” a la Marvin Gaye on “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.” “Back of My Mind” is a sure sign of Dinner Time maturing, growing their influences, and leaves anticipation for more work showing off their evolution.
“Metroid Prime” by 33 Life
2021 is shaping up to be a busy year musically for 33 Life. Accompanied by another single entitled “Volcano” released only a day prior, and following January’s “Ravioli, the latest single “Metroid Prime” puts 33 Life’s playfulness on full display. “Metroid Prime” balances the rapper’s trademark humor with a dose of sentimentality. It also has the exact amount of video game references: not too many to be gimmicky, but still has the allusions to Smash Bros, Zelda, and Samus that you’d hope for.
“Starfire (Teen Titans)” by 6 Dogs
Finalized before 6 Dogs’ tragic passing in late January, “Starfire (Teen Titans)\’\’ is the first look at the beloved Atlanta rapper’s last recorded studio album. The official lyric video included in the release of “Starfire (Teen Titans)” shows unfinished footage of a bearded 6 Dogs joyfully dancing and driving under a starry sky. “Starfire (Teen Titans)” is bittersweet in how promising it is; it’s 6 Dogs’ most polished and mature work, and forecasts an exciting forthcoming album. 6 Dogs’ third LP, initially titled Wavebuilder’s Club, has been renamed as his given first name, RONALD, and is slated for release on March 12th.
Completed Songs by Sloping
After the release of February singles “Fitting Room” and “Trail”, Sloping finally drops his debut LP Completed Songs. Soberly confessional and honest, JJ Posway proves himself not just as a technically proficient musician, but as an expert songwriter. A masterclass in self-reflection, Completed Songs remarkably recollects the past as it is; neither legitimizing past mistakes nor masochistically stewing in them.
Read our full review of Completed Songs here.
“february” by Burgundy
Burgundy reiterates an innate knack for making nonchalantly listenable music with his latest single “february.” The aptly named track joins the February release of a 4-song EP of demos entitled cold world… i be Chillin\’ <3 that shares the same pop sensibility. “February” is a relatable stoner anthem about just wanting to be left alone. It’s not an overly complicated message, but Burgundy delivers it in an exceptionally catchy and satisfying way.
“No Idea” by Hayes Gotsick
My favorite part of compulsively publishing end-of-year lists is that there is always one incredible record that eludes me. Without fail, I discover the release I totally missed just a few weeks into the next year, and I obsess over my list being a little less perfect. This year, that honor goes to Hayes Gotsick’s Friends Vol. 1, a fantastic EP I should have been listening to since its September 2020 release. Fortunately, Gotsick has hopped right to making new music in 2021 with his music video for “No Idea”. The video is simple, but impactful, with a stoic Gotsick singing while leaned against a tree. Produced with the help of Doud, “No Idea” is skillfully supple with the soulful longing and tension of a Prince record.
“Tour De France” by Barry’s Dead!
Barry’s Dead! has demonstrated he’s a skilled producer; notably wielding an arsenal of vintage soul samples reminiscent of (the best parts of) Kanye. However, Barry turns to a more sinister set of sounds on his latest single “Tour De France”, solidifying that he’s also a gifted artist in his own right. The lyrics are razor-sharp right from the jump, making witty references to Morrissey, Of Mice and Men, Whitney Houston and Yu-Gi-Oh. “Tour De France” is a faultless performance and lesson in flow, with Barry’s delivery and elocution proving that he’s a well-studied student of rap.
Mondo Decay by Nun Gun
An exploration of Italian horror cinema, Mondo Decay by Nun Gun is a multimedia project created by Algiers bandmates Lee Tesche and Ryan Mahan in collaboration with visual artist Brad Feuerhelm. Nun Gun deconstructs 60’s and 70’s Italian horror film scores to create a new uniquely dark and pensive soundscapes. Accompanied by a 144-page book of photography by Feuerhelm, Mondo Decay is the kind of project you can really sink your teeth into. It’s also teaming with contributions from acclaimed artist, writers, and musicians including visual artist Luisa Prado; authors Blake Butler, Sohail Daulatzai, and Michael Salu; and musicians Mark Stewart of The Pop Group, ONO, Mourning [A] BLKstar, and Farbod Kobaki.
Insecurity & The Orchestrated Confidence by Diamant
Insecurity & The Orchestrated Confidence is the stunningly refined first album by Diamant. However, it is hard to believe a debut LP could show this much wisdom. Sensitive and self-aware, Insecurity & The Orchestrated Confidence is remarkable for the exact boldness and confidence the title implicates. Diamant is thoughtful in every choice, cleverly blending hip hop with symphonic instrumentation and traditional vocal arrangements to create a palpably moody pop record.
