This was supposed to go out in October
The YouTube black hole is something serious when you are searching beyond your “vibes” or “Chill Mix” playlist. My journey was spent with no purpose attached however, I came across what might’ve been the purpose that I was looking for. All in the form of jazzy beats, smooth dynamic sound, and a dream. Dream pop that is.
If American Apparel had stores still standing, made a mass mixtape and gave it away during their buy two pairs of pants sale, Men I Trust would be featured. I don’t know how I stumbled upon the Montreal, Quebec, Canada based group but I do know what made me stay, escape. I was sitting at my work desk looking for a sound that I hadn’t listened to in a while. A soundtrack that would bring me to a dream-like state and go with my 10:30 am daydreaming.
“I Hope to Be Around” was the simplest and dreamy introduction to Men I Trust. Reminding me of a stroll in my local neighborhood on a fall Thursday afternoon. “I Hope To Be Around” captures the essence of working towards understanding. Understanding how our feelings, emotions, and actions affect our goal in life. Incorporating that understanding to real life can aid in interpreting our purpose. In other words, “I Hope to Be Around” is the solo, late-night drive after a long day at work or misunderstanding with a loved one.
I continued down the Men I Trust black hole and found plenty of gems from their 5-year journey. After their first being a self-titled album released in 2014, Men I Trust have been able to create 4 albums to follow up their debut. Men I Trust showcases a sound that has not been publicized on public radio. The key to what makes them great is the low-key nature that they have maintained. My favorite aspect of music is when you randomly come across an unknown (to me) artist or band. And to answer your question, yes I am that person who likes to say that I discovered a musician before they blew up. The sound of Men In Trust is the perfect background music to a dreamy and vibrant A24 film. No ranges, high pitch vocals or runs are necessary for the bands’ sound.
Fast forward to December 2019. After months of fangirling over the vocals of Emma Prolux through songs “Dorian,” “Tailwhip,” and “Again” featuring Ghostly Kisses, I had stumbled upon the opportunity to see Men I Trust live in concert. In previous posts, I mentioned that attending concerts alone should be an act of self-care and help boost your sense of independence. With that said, the concert was a whole VIBE!
The crowd filled with many, like me, urban-indie listeners you can find at Soulection or BoilerRoom DJ sets. The concert was not Men I Trusts’ headliner tour but it was Virginia Beach bred, indie-dream pop group Turnovers’ statewide tour. Opening act Renalta from Brooklyn, NY cut a new pocket of sound that night and the bassist was so fine. Afterward, Men I Trust graced the stage with a full “Oncle Jazz” set. Every song was on point, the live version of “Oncle Jazz” complemented the digital version.
An individual mood was cast off by each band member which meshed together to bring in a calm and collected aura to the venue. I looked forward to each song that had lyrics I faithfully memorized for that moment. The night was like a dream. Their performance wrapped and the next to perform on stage was Turnover. The group was more than I expected. I walked in not knowing who Turnover was, what they sounded like or their musical history. I was impressed by the sound, incorporation of lights that fit their performance and, lyrical content. I would dive into Turnover but this write up is about “Oncle Jazz”.
The night had ended and it closed my initial exploration of Men I Trust. Listening to Men I Trust still gives me the feeling I had when I discovered them on Youtube so, Thank you Youtube. Being able to be a part of their musical journey through new songs, shows, social media and merch have cultivated a longtime fan. After reading this, I hope you hit the link at the end of this sentence to hear Men I Trust for yourself.
Also, check out my video clips from their December show!
Selah, Raven
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