Entertainment
Sub Lights Shine With Their indie- Electronic, Social Commentary Album Medicine
New York City duo Sub Lights releases their indie-electronic psych-pop project out of the bedroom and onto the stage with their first album, Medicine on November 1, 2021. Medicine is available on a platform that the band supports, as well as all major digital streaming platforms including Spotify and Apple Music. The lead singles off the album, “I Wanna Start a Riot,” were inspired by the #metoo movement.
The band members, Stephen & Meredith Duncan, used the NYC lockdown as a way to channel their passion for social justice into music. As they both share songwriting, instrumental, and vocal duties, the album delves deep into the murky depths of the psyche and wrestles with issues that other artists often shy away from. “I Wanna Start a Riot” is a prime example: building on the hook–a product of one of Stephen’s nocturnal songwriting sessions–Meredith took the torch and finished out its fiery melody and lyrics, while the two collaborated in their studio on layered rhythms and synths. Medicine’s other tracks, like “No Alarm,” “The Bleeding Machine,” and “Sympathetic” similarly bloomed from core ideas (from the protest against political corruption to personal grief and a hopeful statement on solidarity) into full collaboration.
As Meredith says about the band’s process: “Our music acknowledges the beauty and grit of life. Living in New York has a way of making you feel connected and more aware of how unique yet the same we humans are. The random conversations in close spaces, the unexpected kindness of strangers, and the utter diversity of experience become fuel for our songwriting.” After a lot of experimentation, late nights, early mornings, deep meditation, and variously enhanced psychic explorations, Medicine has emerged as a “soundtrack for the psy-pocalypse.”
Artist Spotlight
Marsha Bartenetti reinvents in her own style “New York Minute”
Marsha Bartenetti’s latest release, “New York Minute,” written by Don Henley, Danny Kortchmar, and Jai Winding, offers emotional depth, turning a timeless look at life’s fragility into a reflective, cinematic journey. Stephan Oberhoff’s arrangement perfectly frames Bartenetti’s voice, and Kevin Bate’s expressive cello adds a warm resonance that makes the track feel like a movie.
The way each instrument sounds makes it feel planned, which lets the listener stay in the fleeting moments the song so beautifully describes. Bartenetti’s singing is the best part of the song. She shows an openness that feels real, as if she has lost something and still fully embraces love and presence with complete honesty. Her choice of words and small changes in tone make the lyrics feel even closer.
“New York Minute,” is a new version that pays tribute to the original while showcasing Bartenetti’s own style. The movie-like instruments and heartfelt vocals make the song feel both personal and universal. It makes us think about how hard it is to let go and hold on.
Artist Spotlight
“Yonkers” – Song by Tyler, the Creator
15 years ago, Tyler, the Creator released “Yonkers.” The song would go on to shape a generation of hip-hop fans and make him one of the most talked-about artists in modern music. Tyler’s work on “Yonkers,” which came out of the Los Angeles group Odd Future, was a brave mix of raw lyrics, dark humor, and simple production that made him stand out from other artists right away.
“Yonkers,” which is just over three minutes long, seems simple but has a big effect. The song’s production is based on a spooky bassline, simple piano chords, and simple drums. This puts Tyler’s voice and story front and center. His flow is slow and threatening, and it sends out a stream of verses that balance shock value with deep thoughts on themes like being alone, rebelling, and thinking about oneself. This song has a modern twist on the gritty, confrontational style of hip-hop that was popular in the early 2010s.
The music video for “Yonkers” became a cultural phenomenon all by itself. In the black-and-white video, Tyler looks straight into the camera while doing something that surprised both fans and critics. Tyler became known as an artist who isn’t afraid to push boundaries when the song’s raw lyrics and stark images quickly went viral. The video’s viral success brought Odd Future national attention and helped Tyler get more work, including his albums Goblin (2011) and Wolf (2013), which were both well-received by critics.
People who didn’t like “Yonkers” thought it was a new take on hip-hop. People in the genre often liked flashy production and collaborations, but Tyler’s solo song showed that minimalism can be just as interesting, if not more so, when it has strong lyrics. Young people who wanted realness and change connected with the song’s unapologetic tone, and its influence can still be heard in music today. Many contemporary artists assert that Tyler’s early compositions, particularly “Yonkers,” significantly influenced their lyrical writing and visual storytelling techniques.
“Yonkers” was a big moment in Tyler, the Creator’s career. It was a bold statement from a single artist who wanted to change the rules of hip-hop, and it captured the spirit of early Odd Future, a group that thrived on chaos, creativity, and free expression. More than ten years later, the song is still a touchstone for fans and a turning point in the growth of alternative rap. Its creepy beat, controversial lyrics, and viral music video are still seen as examples of a time when hip-hop was pushing its limits and welcoming a new generation of voices that were willing to question the way things were.
“Yonkers” is a cultural artifact, a snapshot of the time that shaped Tyler, the Creator’s unique artistic style, and a reminder of how powerful bold, unapologetic music can be.
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