Beginning my busy week with a little treat, the new EP from underexposed. S.O.S. was released at the tail end of May, and I’ve been twiddling my thumbs through my chaotic weekend, itching to write about it.
Originally from the Pacific Northwest, underexposed has relocated to the LA area of California for the most part. To quote the artist’s submission, “underexposed is an evolving diary where I deal with hard situations by retreating like a spider to a dark room somewhere and writing sad songs. As a musician, my background ranges from concert oboist to jazz baritone singer to lo-fi beats producer.” This range is clearly audible throughout this EP, as the first thing I noticed was the sweetness of the wind instruments in the opening track.
A massive part of why I dig this artist and am excited about their creation is the use of wind instruments. I spent nearly a decade as a trumpet player, constantly surrounded by brass and woodwind players, and that was where I first felt like I belonged. It’s been years since I’ve played in a band setting like that. I think of it often and miss it with every full-belly breath I take.
When listening to this EP, I’m driven to introspection, especially when listening to the first few tracks. siren song, one of my favourites from the tracklist, seems to further point me in the direction of limiting my use of social media, more specifically when using it to fill a void in me and avoid the uncomfortable feelings that the act of trying brings up in me.
When I’m using social media for the wrong reasons, which is probably about 70% of the time, I find that I’m protecting myself from being seen trying. If I keep the goals in my head, like the projects I aspire to complete someday, they’re perfect and untouchable. I don’t have to worry about judgment that way; I can polish it over and over again and watch my life float me by without creation to show for it.
Some lyrics that stood out to me: “Will we turn it off / When the engine starts to cough? / Can we stay on top / If we can’t bring ourselves to stop?” To me, this is the verse that drives it home. In the past few months, I’ve deleted many of my accounts, using only the “necessary” apps to keep up with my favourite bands (like Instagram, for example) or to keep up with writing (Substack and Discord). In that time of limiting my use, my life has improved tenfold, so if you are on the fence about ditching it, I urge you to at least try for 30 days.
Another thing I adore about this EP is the use of lo-fi vocals. According to the artist’s submission, they “recorded all of the vocals on an actual telephone, as well as some other tracks here and there for the lo-fi vibe.” This goes such a long way in curating this specific atmosphere, and I find it super interesting and effective. There are 5 tracks on this EP, and they all have their own distinct identity that you’ll get attached to as you listen.
Check out the latest release from underexposed, the EP titled “S.O.S.”, and immerse yourself in the incredible voyage that it throws you into. Don’t be a stranger either; if you enjoy the sound, follow them on IG @ndr_xpsd to let them know!
Written by Newt Fangs
