If you’re sick of your own lockdown-inspired introspection, delve into Ontario-based singer-songwriter Jonah Atkins’ through their latest single ‘Not Ready’ instead. Given that we’re all experiencing a collective period of stagnation where it’s safer to look back than it is to look forward, the lyrical resonance within ‘Not Ready’ is invaluable.
2020, and now subsequently 2021, is the never-ending New Year’s Eve, where you know what you need to do to move forward, you feel the guilt for what you haven’t done and the uncertainty of your capacity for success every day. Not Ready wraps all of those painfully shameful emotions together and still manages to unravel as an upbeat feat of alt-indie.
With vocals which are somewhere in between the Strokes and Kurt Vile breaking through a light layer of reverb, the accessibility parallels the distinction while rich choral tones weave garagey sonic indie new wave progressions to bring a shimmering sense of optimism to the soundscape.
Not Ready is available to stream and purchase via Bandcamp.
Review by Amelia Vandergast
