On the last Bandcamp Friday of 2022 — hopefully not the last ever! — in addition to sharing the usual list of releases I’m excited about, I wanted to celebrate one song in particular that’s been in heavy rotation lately: “aftermath” by Landon Elliott. I had the pleasure of interviewing Elliott about the song, which was written as Elliott was forecasting the impacts of coming out, and I hope you’ll take a moment to check out the resulting Style Weekly Q&A. This exchange in particular has stuck with me:
How has your relationship with “aftermath” changed?
This song is so special for me because it has been almost the through-line of a very tumultuous and difficult season of self-discovery… It’s meant different things at different times, but it’s always been this song about being brave — about knowing that the outcome is worth the hard work. That the outcome is worth facing your fears. That the outcome is worth doing the difficult stuff… Even now when I play it, it still gives me encouragement on the other side of all that I’ve gone through. It still encourages me to step forward.
Whatever you’re doing today, I hope you’re stepping forward. Listen to the “aftermath” below for a boost of courage, and keep an eye out for new music from Elliott. If this song is any indication, we’re in for some powerful, soul-enriching stuff.
As always, here are a few other things I have my eyes/ears on today:
McKinley Dixon — “Sun, I Rise (feat. Angélica Garcia)”
Fievel Is Glauque — Flaming Swords
Daniel Bachman — Almanac Behind
Joan Shelley — Live at the Chapel of St. Phillip Neri
Ohbliv — Anima Mundi
Phil Cook — From The Kitchen (SO EXCITED FOR THIS&#$*FHR#&HFDWI$)
You Hear That 