indie underrated

Candy Paint’s new album HUMAN BEINGS is finally here! This alt pop record combines some time-tested musical techniques with modern production qualities to achieve a sound that is simultaneously fresh and familiar.

“CHEMICAL BATH” establishes a motif of restraint that persists throughout the project. This acoustic guitar-based track presents a spare-yet-effective performance through a filter of reverb, grain, and other atmospheric effects. This texture is a staple of the Candy Paint sound, and we think fans of Post Malone should love it.

“C R Y A B O U T I T” diverges from the acoustic to employ lush (but still spare) synth tones over a classic, downtempo R&B groove. To us, this one sounds like a modern take on soul ballads previously championed by groups like The Persuaders and the Delfonics and we’re thrilled to see a new artist embracing this style!

R&B influence can be found, too, in the drowsy rhythm of “HELL.” But this is also where we start to see some modern pop characteristics emerge from the record. The simple chord progression and sinister melodies here remind us of Billie Eilish. What distinguishes the “HELL” sound from hers, though, are those sharp guitar screams toward the end.

Candy Paint’s style is perhaps most explicitly represented in “HONESTY.” This song is characterized by lofi percussion, uncomplicated chords, and soulful vocal melodies. Candy Paint has a dynamic voice that appears as the centerpiece of most of these songs, and it’s always used to deliver carefully-crafted lyrical compositions. Here, it reminds us a little of The Weeknd.

Check out these four songs on our playlist and the entirety of HUMAN BEINGS, available now on Spotify!