Dear listener and reader of Soundville,

Get ready, because on December 16, the stunning debut album ‘The Comeback’ from Beyond the Midwest will be released. And it’s going to cause a real stir. Beyond the Midwest creates music at the intersection of several genres, from hip-hop fluidity to a warm pop vibe, with hints of capricious R&B and contemporary cool indie electronics. This mix is so delightful that it immediately grabs your attention. The 8 tracks are connected by one grand concept, not only in style and sound quality, but also in the release’s design. Each track has its own unique cover that reflects its mood, energy, and idea. I love how expansive and polished the release sounds. Every beat showcases stylish execution and richly textured arrangements, creating a unique atmosphere.

As part of the album, each track seems to form a new reality, and together, they create a new life, a fictional universe where every listener can discover something personal. In ‘The Comeback,’ Beyond the Midwest intertwines top-notch sound quality with conceptual storytelling. Themes of self-discovery, grappling with a suffocating reality, and searching for a way out of a web of problems are deeply woven into the music. And you know what? Beyond the Midwest finds that way out, offering a sense of hope through their music and sharp lyrics. It’s the feeling that if Beyond the Midwest can overcome, then anyone can find the warmth of the sun and the peace of hope. I had the chance to listen to the album before its release, and let me tell you, this is truly an album everyone needs to hear. I’m excited to share with you the coolest tracks you have to look forward to.

The album opens with the track ‘Sleepless Nights,’ a bold cry that instantly wakes you up. A groovy, driving melody fills the space, inviting you to simply follow the brilliant lyrics that guide you through the darkest thoughts to the light. The incredible energy in ‘Sleepless Nights,’ with its cool indie guitars and bouncing beat, hits the mark right away. You’ll hear something familiar and melancholic in ‘Sleepless Nights,’ as if Beyond the Midwest took the best elements from iconic hits, reimagined them, and added unique hooks to craft a fresh sound that grabs you immediately.

The next track, ‘Outside,’ starts with cool, processed, distorted vocals that still retain their energy and drive. I love how the melody in ‘Outside’ takes on a more drawn-out, elongated sound, almost as if it’s trying to envelop you with its soft tones. I love how a light experiment with textures enhances the track’s sound. Here, energy, sensuality, and lightness blend into a unified sound with a soft pad. Flawless!

The personal and cozy aspect of the release is captured in the groovy indie track ‘Letter To Myself.’ The sound is intentionally distorted, with a slight crackle in the beat, adding the atmosphere of an honest, unpolished, and raw conversation with oneself. I admire Beyond the Midwest’s boldness in connecting raw sound with personal emotions and unpolished, glossy-free feelings. It captivates me immensely, making this track particularly personal and relatable.

Undoubtedly, one of the most commercial tracks on the release is ‘Rage of War.’ If you love somber yet irresistibly sexy and vibrant tracks, remember ‘Rage of War.’ This stylish commercial track immediately pulls you into its cool web. Listening to this track feels like an endless, thrilling night where every emotion burns hotter than whiskey. And you know, that atmosphere continues into the next track, ‘Maybe Someday,’ which feels incredibly powerful because of it. I promise you’ll want to nod your head to the beat and turn up the volume at this stop, because ‘Maybe Someday’ has an incredible magnetism. I let myself get carried away, and you know what? Do the same when the album drops, because Beyond the Midwest’s sound is just what you need to disconnect from the world and feel its full spectrum from acceptance to anger to liberation.

You can really feel a sense of liberation in ‘See Me,’ with its distorted, almost broken vocals lightly treated with autotune. Yet the melody sounds light, almost evoking a spring-like sense of rebirth. There’s undoubtedly a palpable shift in mood and energy, making it a great way to wrap up the album on a stylish and airy note. Beyond the Midwest allows you to look at life from the outside, as if saying, “Hey, yeah, shit happens, but the best and coolest things are still ahead, just let it happen.” And I recommend you, dear reader, mark December 16 in your calendar, set a reminder, and listen to ‘The Comeback.’ It might actually save you or at least help you have an awesome time. Yeaah!

Hey Beyond the Midwest! Thank you for releasing such awesome music, not being afraid of experiments. You’ve created an unrealistically cool modern sound. The processing of your vocals adds unique charm and new meanings to the sound, meanings that, perhaps, with polished studio vocals wouldn’t be as cool. I feel how much inspiration, strength, and energy there is here, in these unrealistically expansive, textural arrangements and vocals. I’m really looking forward to the release, so I can show absolutely everyone your awesome tracks. I adore this and want more. Make more of such excellent music, it really, really hooks me xoxo

IG @beyondthemidwest

With much love,
Soundville