Meat In Space – Outta My Head (2023)
Take Nirvana, add some Smashing Pumpkins, and then scatter hard rock with heavy metal inclinations into the mix, and what do you have? Meat In Space, of course. Inspired by a plethora of rock styles, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Shawn Stedman (also known as Meat In Space) emerges from vintage grunge, alternative rock, garage rock, punk, stoner metal and shoegaze with a flourish. Despite having only two tracks to his name, including the one we’re about to review, Stedman is turning heads on a global scale.
Following his well-received debut single ‘Chromium Dioxide’, ‘Outta My Head’ is the second track of Stedman’s upcoming EP. Similar to ‘Chromium Dioxide’, listening to ‘Outta My Head’ is a mind-altering experience. Retaining the blunt vintage punk brashness we heard in his debut song, Stedman’s sophomore track is a biting blast to the system. Yet, diversifying from the retro punk with grunge undertones, ‘Outta My Head’ is far more rugged, gritty and leans toward the heavier side of Smashing Pumpkins.
Adhering strongly to the DIY ethic of production, ‘Outta My Head’ is self-composed, self-recorded and self-produced; all in Stedman’s bedroom. Pounding drums match scorching guitars with a crisp bite of vocals executed in a “singing shout” manner. A tinge of sophisticated production lies loosely in the arrangement, like a whimsical trail of light hidden in a murky haziness. No, not a murky haziness, a rambunctious live session sound with cringing distortion holding the surreal melody together.
Stedman explains that he has “learned to never judge an idea in the early stages and at least document it, even if it goes nowhere…” In my opinion, ‘Outta My Head’ is going somewhere but it’s lost in a mind-altering transition of time, space and sanity. Surreal, inconsequential and floating atop a twirling kaleidoscope of sound, Meat In Space removes rationality and lets go in an illogical “looseness” to “get people out of their head…hopefully, it can be medicine for others.”
For more from Meat In Space, check out his Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
