Content Karma is the third album from The Housing Crisis, and it does not just toe the line between genres. Led by Atlanta-based songwriter and producer Dylan O’Bryan, the project moves between folk-pop and electronic experimentation, creating something that feels introspective yet boundless. Content Karma threads genres together with an enjoyable purpose. This is cohesive work.
The songs and lyrics themselves often feel like letters from different versions of the same person, sometimes fragile, sometimes wry, but always searching – this is the magic of experimentation. On “Pain in a Row,” a track inspired by a friend’s resilience, O’Bryan offers layered harmonies and a soft, swaying melody that masks deeper themes of loss and gratitude. “Turn in the Fall” is maybe the best example of growth, combining acoustic sounds with electronic textures. And “Barely Bonded,” featuring the stunning vocals of Johanna Warren, stands out as the album’s quiet, reflective core.
There’s a collage-like sound to Content Karma, but it never feels disjointed or badly pieced together. Tracks like “Hyperpop Laptop” and “Sleep Marathon” play with genre and structure without losing the emotional core. The album leans into moments of vulnerability without drowning in the song, and songs like “Never Enough” and “Tonight / What Did I Sow?” linger with questions more than answers. That’s part of the charm—this isn’t a project obsessed with discovering the answers. Instead, it captures the motion of becoming and figuring out a plan on the way.
O’Bryan started writing this project at the beginning of the pandemic, and the restrictions forced him to turn his bedroom into a recording studio. The effort the artist put into self-producing and writing by himself and for himself can be heard in this project. I think it is admirable when listeners can see your heart in the process and delivery of your project. There is also something about making something so experimental during a time of isolation, as it also reflects your state of mind and what you are opening yourself up to, which makes the sound of the album very influenced.
At its best, Content Karma feels like a shaky self-portrait, but fully felt. The album is self-produced, mixed, and mastered by O’Bryan, and you can hear the intimacy and attention in every layered synth, every whisper of cello or saxophone. Even the tracklist reflects his desire for storytelling without strict resolution, circling themes of growth, place, and personal evolution. It’s folk, it’s electronic, it’s indie, it’s pop—but mostly, it’s uniquely The Housing Crisis. As unique as that name.
Written by Nthatile Mavuso
