Miles Island – Who Are You? (2020)
Miles Island is a Minnesota musician who is returning to our playlists with the single ‘Who Are You?’. The track and accompanying video follow on from his 2019 debut album Right As Rain. The video was filmed by Miles Island in Minnesota and introduces him visually for the first time.
The track itself picks up where his debut album left off and explores competing impulses. The battle between wanting to stay in a comfortable environment and wanting to get out into unfamiliar territory is beautifully laid out. The expanding sound palette makes this standalone single a great continuation from the album.
‘Who Are You?’ grabs your attention with a psychedelic opening full of conflicting notes that somehow seem to work together. There is a driving beat hiding under these notes that draws you through the track. One of the most interesting things about the song is the different instruments that pop up. The sound of the harmonica are replaced with guitars in the next moment to provide a strange soundscape. While strange, it all works together.
Adding Miles Island’s vocals to the track creates another layer. His vocals are light and fun to listen to. The lyrics of the track are written in a way that works with the mercurial melody and highlight his performance.
Miles Island takes you through a sonic playground with ‘Who Are You?’ while exploring competing impulses. The melody of the song is captivating as you never know quite what to expect. The vocals create a steady anchor that ties everything together is a cohesive unit. The accompanying music video is well worth a watch because it is an illusion created by a single person.
Find out more about Miles Island on his website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
