“Judge Me”— Ludic(rously) good!

By Sophie Severs

F.Y.I: If your significant other serenades you with Ludic’s “Judge Me” this upcoming Valentine’s Day, they might be trying to tell you something... 

“Judge Me”, released Feb. 4, 2022, marks another electrifying release from Ludic, a three piece band from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Formed in 2017, the band consists of guitarist Ayla Tesler-Mabe (she/her), bassist Max Cunningham (he/him) and drummer Rhett Cunningham (he/him). 

Known for their funky grooves and fresh genre-blending sound, Ludic’s discography is full of playful and adventurous tracks that demonstrate their dexterity both as a collective and as individual musicians. 

As the title suggests, “Judge Me” comes from a place of vulnerability— it encapsulates the frustrating feeling of not being able to do enough for your partner and being, well, judged for it. In an Instagram post to the band’s account, Max provides insight into the process of writing the single, stating that even when something is being said with “‘good intentions,’ [...] criticism is still hard to take. It hurts your pride and makes you forget what you have actually been accomplishing.”  

However, Ludic diverts from the typical narrative that dwells on the sadness and hurt that comes from being critiqued by a loved one. The band instead chooses to confront those feelings head on, challenging the “judgment maker” to keep on judging. 

The track reflects this emotional boldness instrumentally, beginning with a bright bossa nova guitar riff underscoring Tesler-Mabe’s soulful vocals that quickly evolves into an explosion of Ludic’s signature funkadelic sound. The bold opening lines “Judge me/C’mon baby, go ahead and judge me/Tell me what you because you love me/Yeah you love me,” immediately reveal that Ludic is unafraid to face criticism, even if it might sting a little bit. 

As the famous saying goes, love hurts. Ludic acknowledges this as they sing: “Now come and hug me/I know that you meant it, what can I say/Now I can’t stop fucking up your bad days/Stuck in my ways” effectively taking on a heavy burden, accepting the blame and claiming responsibility for others’ feelings. There is an inextricable desire to be perfect for them, but also a fear of inadvertently making things worse that Ludic adequately expresses in just three minutes and twenty seconds. 

This is only the first release of the year for Ludic. Fans (or as the band lovingly calls them,“Ludatics”) that are eager for more Ludic content can look forward to the band’s first official 8-track EP, Grown?, to be dropped in April 2022.  

But until then, listeners can use “Judge Me” as both an excuse to bust a move and and as a reminder to embrace the judgment.