A wise woman once said daylight savings time can kiss my ass, and she was right. Let’s re-regulate by getting into some new music news. We're getting through the time change by vibing out to Foamboy’s new album, Eating Me Alive, and we’re absolutely thrilled to finally have a Wynne-Earthgang collaboration (kind of). Get into all this and more, Hear in Portland.
MUST SEE:
Upcoming local event(s) featuring local artist(s).
Foamboy Eating Me Alive Record Release
Producer Wil Bakula and vocalist Katy Ohsiek formed Foamboy during the pandemic, releasing the duo's debut My Sober Daydream in 2021. On March 8, they released their sophomore album, Eating Me Alive—followed by a Deluxe Edition with six exclusive additional B-side tracks—and on March 16, the band will headline an album release show, with support from New Body Electric. Foamboy deals in sleek, vintage R&B-inspired pop and dreamy disco-informed dance tracks where live instruments meld into electronic sounds. There's a lot of sonic diversity throughout Eating Me Alive, resulting in a collection of electronic jazz pop songs that take unexpected turns. Ohsiek’s ethereal vocals on the fast-paced dance jam “He Fucking Texts Me” are sometimes reminiscent of Zero7 or Annie Lennox, then broken up by a wild saxophone solo and subdued keyboards. The band’s earnest writing process uses their music and lyrics as a form of emotional catharsis, and often find a grim or weightier tinge to the song’s deeper meaning, such as on delicious slow jam “Song About You” where Ohsiek sings: “Like god! We’re adults! / Still you’re pushing me on the playground / My friend, I deserve better / Then your neglect spilled on everything / It's not fair I'm so much cooler than this / I thought I was cooler than this.” Then we're back to summertime day parties with straight-up-groovy dance floor jam “Exit Sign.” The album is available on all streaming platforms, but the deluxe version is available exclusively for purchase on Bandcamp. (Mississippi Studios, 3939 N. Mississippi, Sat March 16, 9 pm, $15, tickets here, 21+)
MUST LISTEN:
New release(s) from a Portland-relevant artist.
“Cut & Paste” WowGr8 and Wynne ; “1 For Me,” T.$poon feat. Wynne
Wynne keeps her HunnyComb fanbase fed, okay? On February 23, Portland-based rapper T.$poon released a new single featuring fellow Portlander Wynne titled “1 For Me.” The poppy and romantic rap single is radio-ready and loaded with clever punchlines, over a beat that samples “Rockin’ That Shit” by the-Dream. T.$poon raps the first verse and sings the “You’re-the-one-for-me / Hop-on-this-flight-have-some-fun-with-me” chorus, which is all about being madly in love and infatuated with a new partner whom you’re trying to impress. Maintaining the vibes on her recent single “Wife, (feat. Chris Patrick),” Wynne is all domesticated and fully committed in her verse: “And when you come home / I want your work shirt unbuttoned/ Show me that Hanes tee, it’s dinner in the oven,” she opens. We love a quality local rap collab!
On March 8, Wynne also released a high-profile joint single called “Cut & Paste,” with Earthgang’s WowGr8 (AKA Doctur Dot); this one is about, well, the negative parts of dating in the modern world. “Up late, can’t sleep / Love hate, we just cut and paste/ Anyone can be replaced these days / More choice, less fate these days,” goes the chorus, which both artists take turns melodically singing—we like being reminded that Wynne can sing, too, and her verse is frankly, beautiful. At the end of WowGr8’s chorus he prompts our girl with “Prove me wrong,” to which she calmly replies: “No. Why I gotta prove myself to you for? / No matter what I say you always looking for a loophole/ You don't want me hot but you gon' hate me if I'm lukewarm / Go fuck her if I'm too bored.” Go listen to the song to hear how perfectly she wraps up the toxic love.
ADDED TO THE QUEUE:
Some upcoming music buzz to add to your radar.
The Road, China Forbes Album Release
Beloved local legend China Forbes—the glamorous voice of Pink Martini, Portland’s own world-famous “little orchestra”—is celebrating the release of her brand-new solo album The Road on with a rare pair of solo concerts at Patricia Reser Center for the Arts (AKA the Reser)! Scheduled for global release on May 17, The Road features 11 original songs by Forbes, including the singles “Full Circle” (heard often in concert with Pink Martini) and previously released “Rise.” Accompanied by a small band that includes members of Pink Martini and Forbes on piano, these intimate concerts were initially only going to be one night, but the May 18 show sold so swiftly that the team added another on May 19. Right now, the shows are the only planned regional appearance of China’s new solo album, and an opportunity to hear the first live performances of much of The Road's material. (The Reser, 12625 SW Crescent St, Beaverton; Sat May 18, 7:30 pm & Sun May 19, 7 pm, $55-75, tickets here, all ages)
