The Internet Going Solo?

Sensei Mel
Mar 5, 2017
3 min read

To answer the question above... no they're not but I caught your attention right?

Over the past two months, three (Syd, Matt and Steve) out of five members of The Internet released solo projects. Now, if you're completely unaware of who the Internet are (if this is you then you should feel shame) they are a alternative R&B band formed of five members: Syd (previously known as Syd tha Kyd back in the Odd Future era… which personally I miss like HELL), Matt Martians, Steve Lacy, Patrick Paige II and Christopher Smith. They were formed in 2011 with just Syd and Matt but as time went on new members were added. I think if you are going to recognise who they are at this point it would mostly be because of their critically acclaimed album Ego Death which was released in 2015. You know that song Girl you used to jam to? Yeah, that was them.

So the first member to drop their project was Matt Martians. His album The Drum Cord Theory was released on 26 January 2017. To be honest when I first heard that Syd, Matt and Steve were dropping projects I wasn't expecting much from Matts. Maybe it was because I hyped up Syd and Steve's projects so much in my head because of how much I like them as artists. But boy was I WRONG!!! After listening to TDCT once I fell in love. Matt Martians not only created an album full incredible beats but one that displayed just how versatile he is as a solo artist. Some of my favourite songs on this album for example, Down and Callin' On Me are completely opposite tempos but work together to add depth the project. In my opinion this was the BEST project to be released. His project's message was a mix of friendships being everlasting and leaving those people who just want you when you're up. Look, just listen to The Drum Cord Theory and you'll understand what I mean.

So next up was Syd who released Fin (cleverly named as Syd recently took to twitter to say she sees sharks in the water…Fin) on 3 February 2017. Now I expected a lot of things from this project…but I can't lie I was disappointed. I really thought that Syd's album would've been spectacular; a solid 9/10 but it just wasn't. I listened to the project so many times because I really wanted to warm to it but I just couldn't. Don't get me wrong the project was good but I just think it could've been better. Certain songs like, Smile More and Insecurities did showcase Syd's artistry and how talented she is as a vocalist, but if it weren't for those 2/3 songs the project wouldn't have even been a 7/10 for me. But no one can deny that Syd has come a long way from her days in Odd Future and is an AMAZING vocalist. However, I think at this point in time she's better as Syd from the Internet rather than Syd the solo artist.

And finally, Steve Lacy released Steve Lacy's Demo - EP on 24 February 2017. This project was 8.5/10 partly because he wrote, produced and mixed all the songs on it and he's only 18. Yes, I said 18 that's literally the year above me and he's accomplished so much already. He also released visuals to his songs Ryd and Dark Red (the video is incredible and just pure genius I'll put it down below). Anyways back to the album, this project fuses together jazz with modern soul and a hint of pop in the songs Looks and Some (which might I add isn't necessarily always a dooming thing). I'm not sure if Steve purposely created the juxtaposition of the consecutive songs Ryd and Dark Red; but the awkward change between the two surprisingly works very well. The whole teenage romance meets eerie spectacle aesthetic just put the cherry on top of an AWESOME album.

So that's another post finished, check out this weeks playlist Don't Sleep On Us! It's dedicated to artists who I feel are severely underrated at a cost to society (okay, I'm being dramatic but still they're underrated).