• First of all, I would like to congratulate you on the birth of your child, which coincided with this album’s production and release- another cause for celebration.

Hey thank you. Holler if you want to babysit.

• How did it feel to be making a record while in post-pandemic times and with your busy personal life?

Forced hibernation was fruitful. I like having the time to refine my songwritings.

• The album’s artwork is amazing but also surrealistic. Could you tell me the inspiration behind it and who made it?

Charlie Brand who produced most of the record made the art. Not only is he an audial artist, he’s a visual creator as well!

• Let’s talk about the featured musicians and artists here. Who did you collaborate with and why did you specifically pick them over anyone else?

Charlie sings a bunch of backup and I have about half of the band String Machine on the record somewhere. They are a cool indie rock band, also from Pittsburgh. Paul, the old guitarist for my band, sang some backup vocals.

• From the album’s eight songs, do you happen to have a favorite? If so, can you tell us which one it is?

They are all my children. Right now it’s the opening track – Changing of The Season. When I had that idea for a song, basically the whole song spilled out in real time as I blabbed it into my voice memo recorder.

• Almost all of the tracks seem to have a positive overtone that overlies some repressed melancholy. Can you tell me the inspiration behind this approach?

I believe you just described my personality, which would make sense.

• If you could take some time off your family and personal duties and tour the world with this record, are there any specific venues you would like to perform at?

I would love to play these songs anywhere with a good sound system. Eventually there will be a band and shows will be a thing.

• In this day and age when albums are no longer selling physical copies like in the past, how does a musician, from your point of view, make a livelihood?

The one with the best songs and hustle still wins in my opinion. While the area is certainly flooded, time will tell whose creamy songs will rise to the top.

• If there was a single artist, living or dead, that you would like to collaborate with, who would it be?

Julian Casablancas

Album Review: Long Time Coming by Blue Of Colors

The album opens with Changing Of The Season, which has a very catchy composition. The vocals have a special effect applied to them, which makes them fit with the groovy bassline and bright guitars so much. I love how every element of this song complements the other and makes the whole vibe dancy and jiggly without losing any of its substance or complexity. The second track, Strange Place, brings that Ska Punk/Beach Rock vibe with its rhythm section being the main drive of the song. This song has my favourite chorus on the album, and its drum pattern made me get up on my feet and dance. The guitars are super melodic and they feel like they’re singing with the vocalist at many points of the song- this one is definitely a banger. What The Hell? is set to garner some critical acclaim for sure. It has a synth-led chorus, backing female vocals, and some of the most amazing and memorable lyrics. This one has 2000s pop-rock nostalgia written all over it. It’s one of the songs that are so well done that it immerses you in without making you think about the details or the technicalities behind it.

Come Back has one of the most energizing and pompous drum lines of the entire record. The vocals have more of these cool effects once again, there are some clean guitars and some additional lines that lay in the background as well. The vocals get a true chance to shine here as there are some high-belted chest notes in the middle of the soft bits – all of which make the song a lot catchier. The fifth track, Beauty, has an even deeper bass sound and poppy drum beat. The clean guitar line with its accompanying high-pitched vocals brings a lot of The Weeknd vibes, only if he wrote melodic rock music like this. I can assure you this song’s haunting lead guitar progression and 80s-sounding synth won’t leave your head for days on end. In a similar fashion, Is It Too Late? begins with a synth line that’s mesmerizingly deep and atmospheric. The vocals have a robotic effect/auto-tune applied to them to make the lyrics sound more resonant with the story they are telling. Being the lengthiest track of the album, they managed to keep it interesting with the synths and drums bringing that organised synth-pop element that contradicts with soaring and stripped guitars that are more akin to genres like alt-rock and post-rock.

The title track begins with choirs and orchestration that remind me of a movie soundtrack, then a beautiful chord progression begins with some brightly-toned vocals during the verse. The chorus of this song is, once again, very melodic and memorable. The layering of the vocals puts more emphasis on the lyrics; strengthening the romantic message they are trying to deliver. There is a portion of the song during the bridge that’s almost like spoken word, followed by one last chorus in a higher key and the guitars playing a melodic line behind it. It’s a beautiful song that managed to put a smile on my face with its uplifting vibes. The Eighth and final track, Here In Space, is a melancholic ballad that centres around a single chord progression and some deep string arrangements that make for a more sad-yet-honest emotional delivery. I love how the vocals remained raw and single-layered for most of the song, making them more vulnerable and touching.

In conclusion, this is a record that mixes a lot of elements together from synth-pop to garage rock to even post-rock at certain points, and what makes it cool are the dark and gloomy undertones that almost all the tracks have. It felt like I was listening to an honest emotional experience because of those moments when it could’ve all just been positive and uplifting. I recommend this record to fans of Twenty One Pilots, The Weeknd, and Tame Impala who want a similar artist that brings some more modern rock elements to their sound.