I been living in a state of fear / I been fearing the world / It’s ’bout time I broke out this funk / ‘Bout time I lift this curse
This year is bananas, amirite? Maybe not the best time to be quitting jobs and all that, but hey, everyone’s gotta live their life to the fullest, pandemic/contested election or not. For the adventurous, this month’s featured track, “The Curse,” is a must listen. Performed by Yellow Days and featuring Mac Demarco, The Curse is The Cure for those needing that kick out the door. Maybe our current president could benefit from a spin or two?
Yellow Days is actually a white guy named George van den Broek. He’s a bedroom pop / vibe singer-songwriter from Surrey, UK that crossed over into the US when Donald Glover co-signed him for his Atlanta show trailer. The moniker he uses as his performing name comes from his synesthesia – the ability to perceive colors while listening to music. Frank Ocean and Pharrell also report to have this gift, which certainly places him in good company. Yellow is the color associated with sadness and melancholy, which is George’s wheelhouse. Not saying the dude is depressing, but he’s more Billie Eilish than Bruno Mars.
‘Bout time I live my life
Van den Broek’s latest release, “A Day In A Yellow Beat”, is 23 tracks deep, with Mac Demarco being one of the few features. Mac dropped one of my favorite tracks from 2019, “Nobody,” which has the same vibe and tenor of “The Curse.” In fact, I’m not even sure where he features on this track, they sound so similar. With both their music, there’s a certain hesitancy, like they recorded their first open mic performance and released it as an album. That dip-your-toe-in-the-water style would seem uninspiring, but it’s the voice of someone not leading, but on the journey with you as you determine your next move. Regrets? Sure. But hindsight is better than no sight at all.
Why did we act that way? / I didn’t want to be afraid