Staff pix 9/25: Self-Produced

“Bros” by panda bear

I truthfully don’t even know how to write about this song. It’s a looping centerpiece in Panda Bear’s discography, navigating abstract samples of yesterday and tomorrow. The lyrics are simple, narrating a strained dialogue between Lennox and his brother as they push-and-pull themselves between the distinct lines of childhood and adulthood. Accompanying the repetitive 9 lines of passionate pleas are an amalgamation of sounds, some familiarly Beach-Boys-esque, some so distorted they’re almost unidentifiable. There’s (what sounds like) the metallic jingle of train tracks, an occasional scream ringing out, a rattling pocket-full of change, a drawn out sob, and distant fireworks discharging. Merging together seamlessly in the latter half of the song, all of these everyday sounds become a pounding heartbeat, a collective display of exactly what Panda Bear does best. – Sophie Parrish

“Tennis court” by cece natalie

It’s hard to pick my favorite self-produced Cece Natalie song, because about 99% of her discography is self-produced. But whenever I wonder what my favorite song by the mysterious electro-pop chanteuse is, the answer is always a deep cut off of Miss Behaves, the hypnotic “Tennis Court.” This song takes a million different forms, taking inspiration from Aquarius-era Tinashe, Grimes, and Fifth Harmony. The chorus is addictive, and then the song spirals into a chant of “Gas money, gas money, hand me all your gas money,” it’s impossible not to dance along. I’ve caught myself lip-syncing to this song in public on many occasions. Banger! – Bennett Himmel

“Worry with you” by sleater-kinney

Released on June 11, 2021, Sleater-Kinney’s tenth studio album, Path of Wellness, is their first since Call the Doctor (1996) not to include the group’s longtime drummer, Janet Weiss. Path of Wellness is not only Sleater-Kinney’s first record as a duo—Carrie Brownstein and Corin Tucker—but also remains their only self-produced album. Path of Wellness’s lead single “Worry With You” opens with stunning electric guitar as it swoons into the pleasure of getting lost with someone else: the surging spontaneity of driving down a different road or playing with fire. “Let’s get lost baby / And take a wrong turn,” plead Brownstein and Tucker, “That’s the life, that’s the life / We never ever wanna get burned.” “Worry With You” relishes the reality of life, quietly accepting the mistakes and mess ups and melancholies that come with being human alongside another human. – Heather Thorn

“gun show” by lil hero

Lil hero has been my go-to artist for when I need something fun, light, exciting and hard-hitting all at once. Her glitzy, sparkly Y2K-pop style is enjoyable in any setting or mood and can heighten my energy just as quickly as it can mellow me out. It was definitely very tough trying to pick a favorite of hers, so I decided to go with the popular fan favorite “gun show,” an electropop sugar rush perfect for knocking you awake in the morning or getting you prepared for a night out. It’s a song about playfully urging your crush to shoot their shot, lil hero taking on the persona of a girl at the club who can attract everyone except the guy she likes. It’s a silly, over-the-top and relatable fantasy sung over irresistibly slick and energetic production that makes the song perfect for just about any person and any occasion. What really sticks out to me about lil hero’s production is how she’s able to take such accessible beats and melodies and upgrade them to something totally addictive that doesn’t feel derivative or uninspired at the same time. There are plenty of other artists you could easily compare her to, like Pinkpantheress or Yazida, but I think what’s most special about lil hero’s music is how she can distill that very specific sense of electropop Y2K nostalgia down to its most addictive and infectious parts, set on creating the perfect hype music for anyone who likes a bit of glitter and drama. – Diego Gonzalez