Often, music stems from a strong need for artistic expression. Take Mild Monk, for instance: the San Jose young talent has been building up his musical prowess without any formal education, only knowing what he wanted to ultimately achieve. The results are staggering: his music is mellow yet intense, an irresistible sonic concoction of retro tones and modern features. Not to mention Mild Monk’s understated vocals: never overpowering his pieces, he connects with listeners thanks to metaphorical empathy and witty storytelling.
‘Don’t Wait’ is the perfect example of that. Taken from the project’s latest album ‘Back To Earth’, recently released, the single is a delicious slice of indie-pop goodness. Over steady and tasty drum beats, Mild Monk constructs layers of malleable retro keys and analogues synthesisers, the perfect musical companion for his ethereal vocals.
The solo project of multi-instrumentalist Henry Stein, Mild Monk has slowly but surely emerged as a beacon of DIY creativity and self-expression. This approach has been recognized and celebrated within the Bay Area music community; Stein has been commissioned by San Jose Jazz, performed at San Jose Museum of Modern Art and Kapwa Gardens in San Francisco, and even received a feature in Content Magazine’s issue 12.0. His 2020 album Pocket Comforts was released on the record label Needle to the Groove.
Describing the lyrical inspiration behind ‘Don’t Wait’, the Californian musician explains: “It is sort of my pump-up song/mantra to not feel held back by societal or social expectations and norms. In the process of finding the sounds I wanted to use for this EP, I encountered so much imposter syndrome and feelings of doubt that I wasn’t good enough or I wasn’t ready to be the artist/musician I imagined in my mind. I wanted to take this frustration and throw it into a song that feels playful and groovy as if the solution is just to take myself less seriously and treat the whole creative process like a game.”
Recommended! Discover ‘Don’t Wait’ on Spotify:
