As summer slowly yet surely fades into a too-hot fall, we all need a soundtrack to accompany the purgatorial liminal space of mid-September. Enter Brooklyn-based artist Dru Cutler, with new music that will do just the trick.
Cutler self-released his latest album, Will to Mend, on September 1. Its eight tracks are each a digestible three to four minutes, though it hardly feels that way; within each song, Cutler builds expansive, immersive soundscapes that are easy to get lost in. Put this album on as easy background music, and the listener is quick to find themself tuned into the layered instrumentation and rich production that permeates each song.
Though sonically related, Will to Mend runs the gamut of style. “Last Duet” is a dreamy, synth-rooted song reminiscent of 8-bit games of yore, while “Vibrate” steers more traditionally acoustic pop with Cutler’s voice layered over mostly unplugged guitar. “Step Into My Dream” falls somewhere in the middle of those two.
Cutler pairs his wide breadth of technical skills with a storytelling lyricism that adds yet another dimension for audiences to dive into. On “90s Shoulder,” he sings a tale of vulnerability and human connection, building a plot that’s as visible in the mind’s eye as a film trailer. “Ride Into The Sun” looks to the future with a bittersweet optimism. And, in true Dru Cutler fashion, “Peach Evening” has no words at all, instead letting the music speak as it fades out into atonal uncertainty.
Alongside the album release, Cutler is about to embark on a small northeast tour. He stops at the newly-opened Rockwood Music Hall in the Fenway later this month, with support from homegrown act chrysalis and Californian singer-songwriter Lily Kelso. Gear up for the show by streaming Will to Mend via Spotify below.
DRU CUTLER + CRYSALIS + LILY KELSO :: Thursday, September 28 at Rockwood Music Hall, 88 Van Ness St. in Boston, MA :: 7 p.m., $15 :: Event page :: Advance tickets