Niagara Falls, ON artist August, Truly Yours delivers a tumultuous eulogy of self-acceptance and self-expression through spoken word with the hypnotizing new single “Easy Listening.”
Inspired by the emotional uncertainty felt within relationships, “Easy Listening” is a whirling maelstrom of intimate communication projected through a sonic framework. As August, Yours Truly himself puts it, “It’s this surreal stream of consciousness, like a bunch of intrusive thoughts appearing in the middle of the night.”
The blistering new single is off the upcoming album, Performance of a Lifetime, which is set to release in June 2022. This album is not just an experimental soundscape; it’s a visceral manifestation of ideas surrounding more than just uncertainty, “it’s also about becoming more sure of yourself and the confidence and clarity in life that brings you.”
August, Yours Truly lays it all on the line with a dramatic departure from his known sound “ I’m taking on more indie art-rock influences, things are a bit noisier, and my vocals are more present than ever before.” The unpredictability in the studio only expanded the scope of opportunity for anything to happen during the creation process.
The inspiration behind the distinct musical style of August, Yours Truly is based heavily on one of the most iconic sample records of all time, Since I Left You by The Avalanches. The discovery of that album changed what August, Yours Truly thought was possible to turn samples and soundbites into music.
Conceptual experimentation guides the sound of “Easy Listening” along with a raw lyrical approach that plunges listeners into the harrowing depths of August, Yours Truly’s mind.
“Dirt under my rotten nails
That I’ve neglected to replace
Old judgements I’ve raised from the dead
A parasite burrowing through
My hardened narrow mind
It controls me
Or do I control it”
Struggles with identity have been a significant theme in the life of August, Yours Truly founder Taylor Elliott. “Growing up in a Christian household, it was difficult for me to come to terms with my bisexuality in a very visceral way… I was more affected than I realized.” Elliott bravely conveys the trials and tribulations of his upbringing to inspire others to look inward, “I’m performing through my art as a way of connecting with people.”
