With so many DIY artists flooding our inboxes, last week we decided to revive the DIY Artist of the Week series, that featured a talented and relatively unknown musician, Thad Kopec. IRC has always been about profiling DIY/unsigned artists who have something important to contribute to the musical experience, but for a long time they were included with the big weekly playlist post series, Best New Releases.
This next artist also made an impression on us with his beautiful and brilliant songs that we’ve listened to numerous times. From Tele Aviv, Israel, Ronnie Slogun is an unsigned indie musician and singer/songwriter who sent in some tracks from his new DIY album release, Yonder Our Despiser. The lead track from the album features the dreamy folk pop track, “Baby Blue Eyes,” a song that has quickly become one of our favorite DIY singles of the month.
“Baby Blue Eyes” – Ronnie Slogun from Yonder Our Despiser
Slogun told IRC: “Right now, I am searching for a label that might be interested in my project, sending out a copies of my first album as a demo, and currently planning a few club performances, as well as a live session in the studio.” He added that his indie folk, dream pop sound is influenced by artists like Husker Du, Slowdive, Evan Dando, Belly and John Frusciante.
After years of playing in various bands in Sweden – where he was also working on a master’s degree – and in Israel, Slogun decided last year to record nine tracks from his “nearly 100-song music book.” And we’re sure glad he did. What is important to keep in mind – and we have to be aware of this all the time – is that Slogun is a DIY artist, and wrote, recorded, mixed, released and promoted his own material.
“River Blues” – Ronnie Slogun from Yonder Our Despiser
“In my songs,” Slogun told IRC, “I combine acoustic/semi-acoustic sound with simple melodies and unobtrusive, low-key lyrics.” For those interested in listening to more of Slogun’s tracks, visit his Bandcamp page which features all nine original songs and one cover song.”
In the next track, “The Night Song,” reminds us of Billy Corrigan of The Smashing Pumpkins. The lo-fi demo, featuring only Slogun’s soft vocals and an acoustic guitar, projects a sincere melancholy that is heart-felt, and highlights the mixed emotions of young love. The song “Mrs. Katsuragi” is about a woman Slogun had seen walking up his street almost every day, and when he had just got up the courage to go out and talk to her, she never returned. Eventually, he found out who she was.
“The Night Song” – Ronnie Slogun from Yonder Our Despiser
“Mrs. Katsuragi” – Ronnie Slogun from Yonder Our Despiser