Transcending synthesizers amplify vulnerable vocals to express an inevitability akin to blue hour.
Read my track-by-track breakdown and learn about this playlist’s “artist-to-watch”, Joey Gerlach, below.
Track-by-Track Breakdown
1. Joey Gerlach – “Outer Space”
I built this playlist around “Outer Space.” The juxtaposition of Joey Gerlach’s reverbed, soulful vocals and the spaceship synths is so unique. If you listen closely, you’ll be transported into the narrator’s mind through brilliant metaphors (see the lyrics). He reminisces a relationship about to blast off like a spaceship on its last bit of fuel. I always look forward to the robot voices in the chorus––that sound is infectious like Daft Punk vocals.
2. Ryan Beatty – “Evergreen”
Baby voice effects are a distinctive element of “Evergreen” and add depth to its vulnerable feeling. Ryan Beatty touches on many phrases that resonate with any human who has experienced a relationship’s blue hour. “What comes after? What comes after?” and “Thought I wanted you back, I wrestle with that” are standouts.
3. SG Lewis, Clairo – “Throwaway (with Clairo)”
SG Lewis has the versatility to both energize and tranquilize his listeners with production. On “Throwaway,” Clairo’s candid vocals illuminate the tale of someone falling hard with her heart on her sleeve. SG Lewis’ simple synth melody complements her tone beautifully.
4. Beach House – “Space Song”
In “Space Song,” there’s a simple synth melody that reminds me of the last track. Every element of the song sounds serenely celestial, painting an image of a broken-hearted lover floating around in space.
5. Daft Punk – “The Game of Love”
The concept of love as a game is central to this playlist’s concept. “The Game of Love” repeats a small set of lyrics and lets the mysterious, melancholic synths tell the story. To me, this game of love occurs after the honeymoon phase ends. It’s that unsettling time when the sun sets, the sky is blue, but soon it’ll be too dark to see anything. It could accompany someone’s feeling that their love is turning unrequited.
6. 070 Shake – “Guilty Conscience”
This track had to follow “The Game of Love.” 070 Shake notes that the song “is about the moment when your intuition is reassured by your conscience.” The song wouldn’t create the same emotional effect without her bright vocal delivery in the chorus–– it sounds like she’s pouring her heart out.
7. Tame Impala – “On Track”
Tame Impala opens the song with a piano chord progression and then pauses. In a different key, the same piano chords come back and the song starts up. It suggests a new change in perspective. The lyrics address both the narrator’s perseverance and optimism with real honesty. Between Kevin Parker’s lyrical sentiment and wondrous production, “On Track” reinforces the notion that everything one goes through brings one closer to his or her or their true path.
// Artist-To-Watch
I reached out to Joey Gerlach on Instagram and asked him about his debut track, “Outer Space”. He said, “I wrote, produced, and recorded this song in the early stages of quarantine and released it during my first week of medical school” – Joey Gerlach.
As he wraps up his first year of medical school, Joey is pursuing psychiatry or neurology. Between his lyrics and academic pursuits, he deeply understands the human condition. Joey plans on releasing another track this summer, so follow him on Spotify and Apple Music for new music in the near future.
Listen to Joey Gerlach’s inspiration playlist for “Outer Space” below–– it was really cool to see how our picks lined up.
