London-based artist Leo Walrus released What’s in Store this week, a collection of his singles, What’s in Store, Gotta LUV Your Home, and Old Words, New Mess. Delightfully playful even in the face of fatigue, it’s rich, vulnerable, and hopeful in all the right measures.
What’s in Store opens with the eponymous title track, a tender exploration of persistence in the face of exhaustion. Emotionally, the track takes you on a journey full of unexpected turns: it starts off with an air of melancholy and almost despair, but by the time we reach the central refrain of “breathe”, it blooms open and moves forward on a positive note. It’s heartwarming, reflective, and introspective in a way that’ll make you want to pay closer attention to it each time, peeling back the clever layers placed upon it. The track’s vocals are clear even as they’re laden with emotion; breathy and a little hazy, their nonchalant delivery adds to the song’s overall slightly psychedelic feel.
This overarching vibe continues into Gotta LUV Your Home. Opening with “I got left a soul / when I heard you leave / fighting for control / lying for belief,” immediately sets the tone for the rest of the song – it’s a push-and-pull between staying back and moving on, and the effect it can have on the people around you. Gotta LUV Your Home carries the clear, emotional vocals forward with a new spin: the song doesn’t hold the same breathiness and haze as What’s in Store. Instead, it features a sound very reminiscent of artists such as Rex Orange County, in its openness (both thematically and vocally!), introspective nature, and bright backing.
Old Words, New Mess contemplates the worth of starting over with a warmth that feels like a nice hot mug of chocolate on a chilly evening. It builds on the shimmery atmosphere that the preceding two tracks set up beautifully, resulting in a song that’s quietly, subtly infectious. The song is comforting in a familiar way that feels like you’ve lived lifetimes with it, yet fresh in the way it manages to give you small, satisfying ‘aha!’ moments. It’s easy on the ears and can effortlessly find a place for itself in the rotation of songs your brain just can’t seem to forget!
Overall, What’s in Store traces a journey from emotional tiredness to resilience despite it. Through its hazy textures, warm motifs, intimate vocals, and a sound that balances vulnerability and nonchalance with enviable ease, Leo Walrus’ world is one you’ll be itching to explore soon – I know I am! Give these tracks a listen here.