Alternative electronic artist/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Robert DeLong has announced a new album: PLAYLIST of DOOM, out September 13 digitally and on CD. A vinyl offering will arrive later this YEAR and will include two bonus tracks (see tracklist below)
DeLong has today (June 28th) revealed his brand new single ‘soft boy,’ a track with an upbeat pop-sounding veneer disguising a reflective look at society’s distaste for men expressing emotion. The song follows ‘Deserve It All (feat. Pahua),’ a Latin-tinged song featuring Mexican electronic folk artist Pahua released in April.
“I wrote ‘soft boy’ in 5 minutes,” says DeLong. “I wanted to remind men that it’s ok (and maybe ideal?) to feel emotions or to be affected by the late-stage-capitalism melancholy we all live in.”
Like many of the other songs on PLAYLIST of DOOM, ‘soft boy’ embraces a raw honesty in its lyrics. “My first few records were more existential,” he says. “In your twenties you think you know everything about the universe and you want to tell everyone everything you know. But as you get older you learn more about yourself and relationships, so it made more sense for me to write about that.”
Throughout the tracklist, fans can hear subtle hints of Robert’s varied influences, resulting in an album that’s as eclectic as he is. They range from his obsession with dub, the dusty drums of breakbeat and jungle, the songwriting of ‘90s alternative music and early ‘00s Seattle indie, as well as classic songwriters like Tom Petty, David Byrne and Depeche Mode. He also nods to more modern artists like Gloomer, Post Malone, Pugilist and Om Unit.
“I started doing this in my twenties, and I was very young and at the beginning of my life,” he says. “I feel evolved from the person I was. I feel good about making music and being part of a record label that reflects where I am and who I am today. It all just feels right.”
PLAYLIST of DOOM
Out September 13 via Round Hill Records
Digital/CD configuration
SLOWLY
soft boy
Deserve It All (feat. Pahua)
HeadRush
2 Of Us (feat. LYell)
PLAYLIST of DOOM
Sweet Talker
Makeshift Paradise
Fatal Flaw (Livin’? Alright!)
GOD 1.9
Vinyl configuration (out later this year)
SIDE A
1. SLOWLY
2. soft boy
3. Deserve It All (feat. Pahua)
4. HeadRush
5. 2 Of Us (feat. LYELL)
6. Can’t Get U Off (Me)*
SIDE B
7. PLAYLIST of DOOM
8. Sweet Talker
9. Makeshift Paradise
10. Fatal Flaw (Livin’? Alright!)
11. Open Season*
12. GOD 1.9
*denotes vinyl-only bonus track
Photo credit: Corinne Schiavone