The coming of spring yields new music from breakout artists
by Ellise Shafer, ‘17
Australian singer-songwriter Matt Corby got his start in the music industry on “Australian Idol” in 2007 at the age of 17. Corby finished as runner-up and since then has been actively producing music, releasing three EPs. “Telluric”, however, is his first studio album; in which his unique style is clearly showcased.
As a whole, “Telluric” is a mix of genres and influences: americana, jazz, country, blues, reggae, and gospel (just to name a few). But, what stands out on every track is Corby’s smooth vocals, making even lyrically-heavy songs seem calm.
“Telluric” begins with the eerie “Belly Side Up”, which is oddly comforting for a tune that clearly concerns heartbreak. Following are stand-out tracks “Monday” and “Knife Edge”, both equally simple and beautiful. “Knife Edge” also gives a taste of Corby’s lyrical genius, ending with the words “I love that I can say I wouldn’t feel this way without you/I love that I can say I wouldn’t be this way without you”. Experimental and folk undertones liken Corby to artists such as The Arcs and Mac DeMarco, specifically in “Oh Oh Oh”, “Sooth Lady Wine” and final track “Empires Attraction”.
However, the true gem of this record is the quiet “Good to be Alone”, consisting of Corby’s voice accompanied by a single strumming guitar. Corby’s soaring falsetto is especially showcased here, covering the ears like a warm blanket.
Although some tracks fade into the background in comparison to others, “Telluric” is a solid debut for young Corby, with its number one stance on the Australian charts showing promise for similar results in America.
One would have to be living under a rock in order to not hear the news of Zayn Malik’s departure from ultra-popular boy band One Direction in November of last year. However, 1D’s ex-resident bad boy is back— and badder than ever—with his debut album “Mind of Mine”.
“Mind of Mine”, released March 25, boasts an impressive 18-song track list. Surprisingly, the album contains quite a few sure-to-be-hits— if you can get past the random capitalization of the song titles. In a Frank Ocean-esque fashion, this record contains both an intro and an intermission, with the second track being his scandalous first-single “PILLOWTALK”. Despite the popularity of “PILLOWTALK”, Malik shines the brightest on ballad “iT’s YoU”. Beautiful lyrics combined with mellow-yet-poppy instrumentals are sure to have teenage girls everywhere imagining Malik singing it to them. On tune “BeFoUr”, Malik draws comparison to Justin Timberlake, his impressive falsetto highlighted against a dancey beat. In addition, the influence of R&B artists The Weeknd and Frank Ocean can clearly be seen in “sHe”, “lUcOzAdE”, “BLUE” and “LIKE I WOULD”, as Malik continues to embrace higher notes and groovier rhythms.
In conclusion, although the layout and sound of “Mind of Mine” is nothing new, Malik effectively proves his talent. A mix of pop and R&B is sure to please 1D fans as well as skeptical critics, leaving them listening to the record on replay. In fact, breaking off from One Direction might just have been the best decision Malik has ever made.