New album from Beyond the Midwest

Beyond the Midwest is an artist forging profound emotional connections through music via a unique approach to creativity. Encouraging listeners to pause and engage with art in all its forms, whether in a gallery or online, he believes these moments of reflection can uncover layers of humanity waiting to be felt. His philosophy is based on the hope that his music can offer comfort and inspiration, even during the darkest of days.

First unveiling his unique sonic vision in 2020 via the debut single “Call Me,” he’s since released an astonishing amount of music over the last few years. Now he brings us his most ambitious release to date with his brand new debut album, the aptly titled eight-track LP, The Comeback.

The Comeback represents a year-long journey of reflection and creative exploration. The album, mixed by engineers Leslie Brathwaite and Larry Whitt alongside Beyond the Midwest himself, features production from talents including Cee B, G-Icy DaFlex, Panther Beats, 5Head and Andrew Dean. Unlike projects driven by specific objectives or commercial goals, The Comeback emerged organically, with the artist focusing on using the tools at his disposal to tell his story.

Thematically, The Comeback acts as a journal; a candid chronicle of the artist’s mental and emotional struggles and the path to finding balance and purpose. It opens with a heavy emotional weight, framing topics that have tested him intensely but as the album progresses, listeners are invited to witness his journey, marked by setbacks and breakthroughs, before reaching an ending that feels both optimistic and open-ended.

Starting the release off if “Sleepless Nights,” where spacey vocalisations are met with the strum of guitar and boom of kick drum while the taps of hi hats ushers in an enveloping emo-tinged alternative hip hop jam. Flowing with slick rapped bars, rock-inflected grit and crisp beats, it’s an anthemic outing brimming with emotion and catchy songwriting.

“Outside” follows with belted vocals wrapped in a lo-fi aesthetic before the arrangement gently slips into an uptempo energy of punchy beats contrasted by the hushed vocal delivery carrying poignant, storytelling lyricism. It’s another superb display of Beyond the Midwest’s ability to thread moving songwriting through an engaging and infectious soundscape.

With “Tamagotchi Friends,” warbling vocal elements give way to thumping rhythms and impassioned vocal leads peppered with pitched vocal textures to craft an epic alternative sound. Other highlights on the record include tracks like “Rage of War” with its delicate vocal lines drifting through an atmosphere of ominous sonic tones before the muted strike of shifting percussive shots casts a dark and moody scene.

Closing the album with “See Me,” Beyond the Midwest links up with producer Andrew Dean to serve up a heartfelt sound of vocals aching with emotion that float above a blend of gentle guitar plucks and piano notes, resulting in a stunning finale that’s at once meaningful and compelling. Throughout The Comeback, Beyond the Midwest delivers a triumphant artistic work that captures a thrilling snapshot of overcoming strife and struggle to reach a more hopeful and brighter future.

Listen to The Comeback below