Placid sadness

As strange as it may seem, there is a certain amount of comfort to be taken in feeling melancholy. Pensive sadness allows you to feel comfortable with sitting on the couch wrapped in a blanket, staring out the window, absentmindedly focused on fluttering snowflakes. Aaron Powell, known as Fog Lake, captures the semi-contradictory nature of the subsurface relief that comes with undirected malcontentment with “Side Effects,” off of his upcoming album Dragonchaser. Although only being 23 years old, Powell is a seasoned veteran in the world of lo-fi pop, already having three full length albums, two EPs, and a compilation under his belt, which shows in the refined sound he creates in “Side Effects.” Powell’s textbook indie voice, relatively high pitched but somewhat gravelly, absolutely bleeds passionate dispassion and represents those who are quietly in pain, trying their best to get through the day.

Staying true to his lo-fi roots, Powell sticks primarily with simple acoustic guitar patterns to support his delicate vocals, while adding bare bones percussion and subtle swells of synth to keep the track moving. Stripped down instrumentals and a muted, foggy voice may be the basic requirements for good lo-fi pop, but Powell also brings poetic, mood-appropriate lyricism to the table, with painful lines like “I threw my heart into a wishing well” and “some kind of mystery that no one solves except for us.” Perfect for a winter morning spent by yourself, “Side Effects” will help you settle into your existential dread and get lost in your thoughts.