Wotts – terminal

The contemporary indie scene has been thriving for the past decade, with many artists and bands delivering some of the finest works since the inception of this long-established genre, which dates back more than forty years. However, the scene has also reached a point where every music outlet sounds superb, yet only a few manage to deliver something the audience has never experienced before. There are a few reasons why this is the case. It seems like all those music outlets overly explore their musical influences, experiment to the point where their works seem unlistenable, or tirelessly try to reinvent the same old wheel by providing something we’ve all listened to a thousand times before. Thankfully, our favorite Canadian indie pop duo always delivers fresh, unique, innovative, and exciting music while maintaining the fundamental aesthetics of the genre. Wotts never cease to amaze with their brilliant ideas, a perfect sense for composition, and superb musicianship that will satisfy even the pickiest indie pop fans. With “terminal,” their recent standalone single released on September 19th, they break all the rules and shapeshift the boundaries, but also remain true to the essentials that defined their sound for years. Besides indie pop, some listeners might notice some elements of synth rock, psych pop, rhythm and blues, but this composition carries many styles, lurking beneath the initial structures. While the song mainly carries qualities that meet all the trends in contemporary music production, you’ll also hear how they implemented subtle touches of nostalgia, spicing things up, and elevating this number to an entirely new level. This level of dedication to the craft is rarely heard or seen on a modern indie scene, but it seems like Wotts write, compose, arrange, and produce their music with such ease. Therefore, these experimentations with various styles resulted in a marvelous composition that will immediately end up on your playlist.

Wotts are masters in crafting that addictive, hypnotic, irresistible atmosphere that immediately pulls you by the collar and forces you to spin the song over again. There’s something in the way they write and compose their music that makes their songs extra special. They unquestionably pay a lot of attention to the structure that always carries some of the finest vocal harmonies, melodies, and beats. For example, the vocals are calm but still perfectly melodic, sticking like glue to the initial melodies. Some listeners might notice how whispery they are, but there’s more than enough pitch that expertly balances low, mid, and high notes. The vocal performance brings more than necessary emotional depth and complexity through passionate, soulful, sincere, confident, and powerful harmonies, emphasizing everything Wotts intended to achieve with this track. In the meantime, the synths play a significant role here by providing the main melodies and a perfect backdrop for all the vocals to shine upon. You’ll hear how they accentuate and elevate each segment, with all those lush, complex ambient pads, harmonies, melodies, and themes lurking around. It’s nearly mindblowing how all these layers articulate together without overwhelming each other.

The equally impressive, vividly hearable, warm-sounding, detailed basslines contribute heaviness, clearness, and deepness by working directly with those synths. While synths bring high notes upfront, the bass guitar resonates with all those rich, warm, deep, dense, heavy notes, immensely supporting the remainder of the rhythm section. Wotts also thought about rhythmic sequences, so you’ll hear all those robust, groovy beats, breaks, fills, and other percussive acrobatics roaming around and keeping everything in line. As usual, the duo thought about everything while assembling these songs, and each instrument plays a significant role. If you’re looking for a perfect, soulful, emotive indie pop track spiced up with rhythm and blues, “terminal” will be right up your alley. Wotts crafted another excellent composition where their brilliant ideas and tremendous musical abilities shine in the limelight, and you should immediately head to your favorite streaming platform and listen to this indie pop masterpiece. Don’t miss it!