Mohawk Castle releases new album

For more than a decade, Californian creative Erik David Hidde has been making an impact in the indie music scene. First arising through his critically acclaimed solo project Prison Escapee back in 2014, Erik has built an astonishing catalogue spanning several studio albums, an EP and multiple singles, earning a reputation for experimentation and a knack for taking his sound in new directions. He’s also played a role behind the scenes, serving as CEO of Housewarming Records, an independent digital label active from 2011 to 2013 that sought to set new standards for digital releases within the indie community.

Mohawk Castle represents the next chapter of that creative journey, introducing another side of Erik’s musical vision by bringing together the atmospheric grit of indie rock with the hard-edged impact of trap production. Electronic synths, trap beats and post rock guitar textures collide to create something that lands between rock’s expansive qualities and electronic music’s rhythmic punch.

The project first arrived in April 2024 with “Cold Beat,” the debut Mohawk Castle single, while a run of further singles followed as Erik built towards his first record, Die for Love, released the following year. But with the sophomore album titled Stoners Trail, Mohawk Castle becomes something entirely more expansive, opening the project up to a wider range of influences and heavier subject matter.

The album’s title comes from a profoundly personal experience; as a young man in upstate New York, Erik survived a near-death car accident, miraculously walking away unscathed from his wrecked vehicle beneath a rainbow. That extraordinary moment provides the backdrop for an album that explores the experiences of PTSD-suffering veterans, the downtown Los Angeles riots, the Second Amendment and end times prophecy. The record isn’t solely concerned with wider social and political themes however, its most personal material looks towards the personal, including the tale of how Erik found his wife through spiritual discernment.

Musically, that breadth is reflected in a diverse release shaped by influences ranging from Animal Collective and LCD Soundsystem to The National and Broken Social Scene, which parts of the album reach back to the earliest days of Mohawk Castle. “Music From a Cloud” kicks off the record with the bubble of synth notes as smooth vocal leads and drifting instrumental textures form an immersive electronic pop scene that flows with bright melodies and colourful arrangement.

“City Slicker” follows with droning tones while mellow vocal lines float alongside the dreamy instrumentation, casting a mesmeric alternative pop sound that develops with the downtempo pulse of percussion and transportive aesthetic. “Sunset Diner” glides with the steady taps of percussion as intricate textures gently swirl around Erik’s emotive vocals, channeling a moving post rock vibe akin to The National, cut with woozy synth elements.

Tracks like “Era of Good Feeling” and “Kings in Queens” were written during the sessions for Die for Love but deliberately held back, eventually finding their place on this new release, both offering superb displays of Mohawk Castle’s musical range with two contrasting takes of synth pop music. “My Body Heals Itself” drifts into focus with hazy tones before the arrangement builds with the intricate flicker of synth layers and alluring vocalisations, offering a hypnotic listening experience that’s memorable and highly unique.

“You Look Just Like the Stars” forms with buzzy synths and sparse percussive shots as Erik’s expressive voice rings out above, casting an atmospheric sound that glides with wholly absorbing instrumentation and truly engrossing writing. Closing the album with “In Moonlight,” soft piano notes give way to the pulse of subtly distorted synth shots as Erik’s vocal layers float above, forming a thoroughly engaging finale to his sensational sophomore record.

Listen to Stoners Trail below