Rising Arp: Who Are m1sty as1oth? Introducing The Indie-Rock Newcomers
m1sty as1oth are substance beneath the potentially confusing name (Credit: m1sty as1oth)
The era of indie-rock might be way past its heyday, but it’s not buried in the ground yet. Keeping it alive in the scene amidst a glut of electronic contenders is the peculiarly-named m1sty as1oth, that shouldn’t have any problems in search engines whatsoever. Distinctive moniker aside – it’s aptly pronounced “Misty A Sloth” – this is an outfit that walks the talk with their music. Despite their relative infancy, they have seemingly mastered a sound with an impressive stature, making a smashing first impression with just one single.
Their debut release, “Take It”, is a piece of musical déjà vu, mirroring the features of the once-revered genre that dominated the noughties. The quartet have replicated the recipe with anthemic guitar riffs and counter-melodic staccatos, while a brawny rhythm section charges headfirst like a bull seeing red. It’s easily a sound that could fill stadiums, even if they’ll never nab that opportunity in the foreseeable future. #PandemicWoes.
m1sty as1oth are Benny’s, Ou Wen, Jolin and Russell; all are alumni of Singapore Polytechnic’s Diploma in Music & Audio Technology (Credit: m1sty as1oth)
This show of power is contrasted with the lighter, androgynous vocals of Benny’s (another stylised alias), delicately cutting through the flames with hints of Imogen Heap. The subject matter is similarly misplaced albeit in an amusing manner. Benny’s pares down the hot-headed nature of the track with lyrics that tell a comedic scenario – what happens if you’re confronted with an indecisive robber and you’re losing your patience? The predicament develops as uncomfortably laughable as you’d expect. “So do you want my purse or not? / Stop looking at me while caught in a dilemma / You should’ve thought about this at home”.
This is the first offering from m1sty as1oth’s upcoming full-length, and it shows a formula that’s familiar and sorely missed, without sounding gimmicky or stale. As someone who grew up latched onto the indie-rock wave, I’ll take it.
(Credit: m1sty as1oth)
