An evolving, dynamic debut from San Francisco-based artist julip, “Ectothermic” touts an emotive rock sound balancing pop-rock ferocity with textural dream-pop envelopment. Heady guitar distortion and lushly melodic vocal layers converge with replay-inducing appeal, as lyrical references to a former lover — who caused ample tumult and heartbreak with their cruelty — are conveyed with heartrending depictions, showing the complexities of a healing process wherein one party is cold and resistant.
The artist, who is also a software engineer, excels with a sound that balances ’90s alt-rock nostalgia with an emotively intense outpouring. “Ectothermic” — whose title references temperature fluctuations of reptiles and insects — proves resonating in its depiction of a relationship gone cold, and the healing process that ensues.
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This and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Best of October 2023’ Spotify playlist.