The Indiana-based teenager delivers with his dynamic new EP
Whether it’s digicore, hyperpop, or something else entirely, the semantics of genre tags applied to midwxst are irrelevant. Considering the landscape of the SoundCloud-sourced community, the 17-year-old is a unifying voice for an eclectic internet scene.
His new project, SUMMER03, is a compact, compelling offering that enlists an impressive cast of producers and collaborators across its seven tracks. The passionate album opener, “Liar,” thrives in heart-wrenching pathos as midwxst candidly reflects on isolation and suffering, supported by visceral guitar-work from Scott Ryan. The subsequent fan-favorite cut, “Trying,” fits snugly within the record as midwxst slides atop a shapeshifting beat from frequent collaborators elxnce and thislandis, alternating between aggressive glitches and tranquil guitar licks. On “Smile,” the producers reunite with midwxst for a glaive-assisted outing that’s a shimmering highlight of the project where two community pillars trade brilliantly sung verses, the tangible sincerity of their vocals at their most apparent.
midwxst’s alliance with heavn on “Devour” is equally potent as blunt lyrical meditations are underscored by subtly atmospheric production, lacing melodic touches through coarsely delivered sentiments for an immaculate sense of balance. That ethos is sensed on a broader scale throughout SUMMER03 as midwxst frames gloom in the grandiose, always seeking to paint the most vivid emotional picture (on “Vivid’‘ he croons, “I know God says forgive, but I’m too far gone/I hope you sit and you cry over what you’ve done”).
While emotional turbulence is indeed an overarching theme of SUMMER03, there’s still joy to be sensed here. “Jack Of All Trades’‘ is a sonic celebration where midwxst delivers a quick-hitting list of boasts, from flashy outfits to catchy hooks, all of which are enhanced by a kaleidoscopic instrumental from elxnce and Delto that animates midwxst’s every inflection. It’s an exuberant microcosm of a bright artistic future ahead for the ultra-talented teen.
Stream the full project below