Taking us back to the bedroom recordings of eras past – the simplicity and realism of garage demos and honest indie music. What’s On? created the fifteen original tracks of What’s Off? in between studying software development and working fulltime in a warehouse, and it’s an experimental guitar-pop collection of quirky, often catchy alternative jams.
From the atmospheric intentions and tones of Vietnam, straight into the funk and rap fusing big-band arrangement and energy of Skippin, versatility is as free flowing as storytelling, and this continues into the shoegaze or surf rock haze of Fading, as the tempo calms and we get a closer connection to the artist and dreamer behind the music.
With twists of psychedelic charm and vocal realism all woven together amidst a homemade indie tapestry of self-mixed creativity, What’s Off? is unique but distinct, with uplifting hooks and raw harmonies adding to an unpredictable and almost grunge or alt-rock underbelly throughout. Guess What? is a fine example of all of those qualities intertwined, and provides an early earworm and highlight as a result.
We also get warped and sometimes dissonant moments of poetry and artistic expression that recapture any wandering minds, with the likes of Heartbeat Agitation, then later the rap fluidity and groove of Keepsakes takes us down another unexpected pathway. The style is dreamy and romantic, but also rhythmic and confident, adding shoegaze to hip hop but with an ethereal, softly layered harmonic for the hook.
Conceptually these songs take a little more time to unwrap, certain lyrics piercing through the chaos of the production to provoke thought, but others feeling purposefully mysterious, complex and even random – a stream of consciousness at work. Even the instrumental ambiance of 74 years, just a title and musical outpouring, leaves you contemplating its implications.
Dawsonville is more accessible in contrast, a catchy Americana groove with a relatable theme of smoking and drinking backed by one of the album’s most memorable and snappy hooks, but it also delivers an instrumental interlude or outro that’s beautifully spacious and reflective afterwards.
What’s On? lifts the tempo and intensity for Warehouse, something like postpunk drawing influence from our protagonist’s own work-life – always the live vocals and guitars keep that indie band passion and presence at the forefront – and this is also true for the subsequent and scornful alt-rock anthem You Should’ve Stayed Quiet.
Arrangement matters, and after the heavy distortion of this last song, the ukulele-sounding softness and intimacy of Clear Mind adds a fireside warmth and calm that’s really well-placed for impact. Help On furthers this with a characterful vocal-guitar unity of long-form melodic folk brightness and more lyrical mystique and modern life introspection.
For the final two tracks, something like eighties psychedelic influence rings out, before the roots-rock and psych flavours of a rather beautiful and creative Sunday Drift wrap up this journey on a likable high. You feel compelled to dive back in after this, a great closing track that effortlessly imparts a mighty sense of silence when it comes to an end.
What’s On? keeps things genuine, interesting and playful, sometimes light-hearted, at other times striking in its depth and uncertainty. A refreshing change of pace for the current indie landscape of original music, and an artist with something truly free and engaging about his approach.
Find What’s On? on SoundCloud & Instagram.
