What were you doing when you were 17 years old? I was doing a lot but it was nothing compared to putting my heart on my sleeve and releasing an EP. That’s exactly what Notah Hatch has done. Sure, I worry that his youth may affect the album and fear that I may not be able to relate to it because I’m an old lady now but I still felt a sense of intrigue from the first day he emailed me. Described as a unique blend of hip-hop and bedroom pop, it sounded like something that would fit my current mood after a lazy Sunday absolutely perfectly so let’s see what this kid is all about.
The title track kicks off this five-song EP with such a sense of calm and pure beauty that I was instantly captivated. A soft guitar starts before a heavy beat and echoed vocals take over. I instantly fell head over heels for Notah. Although the vocals, at surface level, are simple, I can feel the emotion behind each word meaning that there is so much more meaning to the words. Sure, some of the vocals seem a bit out of tune at times but I feel like that adds to the charm that is Notah. The description of being a blend of hip-hop and bedroom pop is dead on.
“Long Sleeves in the Summer” is the first track that Notah had sent me so I have listened to this one a few times but, every time I listen to it, I feel like I hear something new. Whether it’s in the infectious beat or the words they come across with an undeniable sense of pain and conviction– even on the listen I was catching onto some new elements that I had never heard before. There’s a repetitive nature in this track that I typically hate because I see it as killing time on the artist’s part but, even with the repetitive part, I feel like you get more and more emotion with each repeat.
I really love the acoustic guitar that kicks off “Flies” and how it kind of fades into the background but never goes away completely throughout this track. This was a favorite track of mine. There’s just something a bit stronger about this song compared to the previous three. I wish the vocals were a little more prominent throughout but also like how it’s a little off-balance. It’s a cool element that could either be a statement or just the way it was mastered. I absolutely see this track being a stand-out for Notah and maybe the track that really gets his name out where it belongs.
“watch me bleed” closes out this quick EP with a sense of tenderness that feels more like “Fire Drills” than the power felt in “Flies”. The lyrics of this one really struck me. Although they did feel a little youthful as far as being about fighting with your significant other, I loved the word choice because I feel like, no matter what age you’re at, they are relatable. The drums in this track bring a really cool element to this song and it made me wish the live drum sound was used throughout the other tracks vs. a more electronic sounding beat. Regardless, this is a stellar ending to a quick and impressive EP to come out of a seventeen-year-old.
Favorite Track(s): “Flies”
For Fans Of: Bedroom-pop with infectious beats; Brilliant word choice
Daydream-ability: 4 out of 10
What My Cats Thought Of It: Artie laid right next to my desk like a loaf; Autumn waited for her dinner to be served in the kitchen
How Badly I Want To See This Performed Live: 3 out of 10
My Overall Rating: 5.2 out of 10
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