As fun as it is to cover big-name artists and give opinions on the hottest music out right now, it is ultimately more rewarding for me to highlight up-and-coming or independent artists that I believe deserve more shine. There is so much great music being made right now by so many talented artists from anywhere and everywhere. I am constantly coming across music that is just as good as anything I am hearing in the mainstream by rising artists who are just waiting for their big break. At the end of the day, I started Eastside Vibes as a way to spread great music with as many people as possible, and that includes(and perhaps should focus on)  artists with not as large a following. An artist I came across recently who fits into this mold that I wanted to write about is S. Reidy. He is an independent artist from Norman, Oklahoma, who makes pretty unique Hip Hop music. Their music has a deep and unique sound and style that truly stands out. S. Reidy sets himself apart with intricate instrumentals and lyricism. S. Reidy has been steadily putting out music for quite a while. Since 2017, they have 5 albums and 4 EPs. One can hear the growth and maturity in their sound as they peruse S. Reidy’s catalog. The further he has gotten into his career, it feels like he has truly come into his own. A couple of months ago, S. Reidy dropped their latest EP, I Think I Feel A Little Different. Below, I wanted to give some thoughts on this new project from S. Reidy. Please let me know in the comments what you think of S. Reidy’s I Think I Feel A Little Different, and also comment the names of any other independent artists you think I should check out!

S. Reidy starts this record on a very emotional and interesting note with ‘Coffin Practice.’ The instrumental for this track is pretty simple but somehow hits so hard. This track is driven by a guitar riff with an acoustic Emo Rock tone that is warm and cold at the same time. Even though there is something about this riff that feels kind of inviting, there is also something about it that feels despondent. This melody is put on top of an easygoing beat that progresses the song along but does not overshadow the vocals or melody. Speaking of the vocals, S. Reidy’s performance on ‘Coffin Practice’ is very cool. He demonstrates a variety of flows that provide varying levels of emphasis, making this song pop. I also like the high notes he hits on the hook, as they give the song an interesting texture. In ‘Coffin Practice,’ S. Reidy discusses his lack of self-worth and wanting to find meaning in life, as he feels he has lost his course. The next track, ‘Hard Body Harold,’ has more of a traditional Emo-Trap feeling to it. Whereas the first track had an Emo melody put on top of a more old-school beat, this beat that drives this one has a somewhat hard-hitting Trap tempo. The melody for ‘Hard Body Harold’ is a bit more full and pushy than the one on the opener. It is driven by a guitar riff with a somewhat similar tone to the track that precedes it. This melody, however, is complemented by some distorted synths and vocal effects that give the melody for ‘Hard Body Harold’ some depth. The vocals on this track are pretty dynamic. S. Reidy sings with multiple tones and flows that certainly show his range as a rapper and singer. The variety of vocal styles used on this track is so different from each other that it almost sounds like there are multiple artists on this track even though there are not(which is pretty cool). In ‘Hard Body Harold,’ S. Reidy talks about the negative things he has put in and done to his body due to the state of his mental health. He sees it as a good and a bad thing that he has been able to put himself through what he has gone through. ‘God In Glass Ceilings.’ which features Skech185, is a lot tougher and harsher of a song than the first two. The melody for this one is way more negative and gritty than anything that precedes it. This melody is provided by a distorted synth loop with a very low and downtrodden tone which is complemented by some squeaky, robotic synths that come in and out. The beat for this track has a deliberate, mean Trap tempo that is really punchy; even though the beat does not necessarily feel very big, there is something about it that hits super hard. The vocals on this song are great, but Skech185 is the one that truly stands out. His gruff and brazen tone flow has such an interesting texture; the way they sit on the beat and contrast the more even-keeled delivery of S. Reidy gives this song a looming feeling which I dig. S. Reidy does his thing on this track as well, as his steady delivery provides a bit of a buffer from the harshness. On ‘God In Glass Ceilings,’ S. Reidy and Skech185 rap about the pitfalls of substance abuse and watching the people around them crumble as they succumb to their vices.

‘Watch Me Dance’ is the shortest song of the project at 1:30, and it is also the most energetic and quirky. The melody for this song has a neo-futuristic tone that kind of leans into some of the modern Industrial-tinted Trap music that has become big over the last couple of years. When I hear this one, I think of artists like Ken Carson, Destroy Lonely, or even Yeat. I like how the melody sounds like it came straight out of a dystopian ultramodern dimension. It has a tone that is kind of uplifting, but also a bit apprehensive. The beat for this one is very off-center and rapid. It sort of leans into some of the weird Drill music that has been brought to the forefront this year by artists like POLO PERKS or Cash Cobain. Normally, on this kind of instrumental, I would expect eccentric auto-tuned vocals. Instead, we get a pretty blunt and balanced flow and tone from S. Reidy. The way his somewhat monotone delivery contrasts the instrumental for ‘Watch Me Dance’ is honestly pretty cool. The vocals create a juxtaposition with the melody that makes them stand out profusely. On ‘Watch Me Dance,’ S. Reidy sees some hope in his life, realizing that he is loved and that he needs to learn to love himself. S. Reidy closes out the EP with its lead single, ‘Castles,’ which features Paper Rose Haiku. This instrumental has a pretty cool progression. It starts out with an Acoustic Emo-Rock sound, and slowly picks up power as the track progresses. When the melody is in its fullest state, it is pretty luscious and big. The guitar riff that drives this one has a pretty ethereal tone. Its tone reminds me of a cloudy day, but there is also something about it that makes me feel like I am floating through space. The floatiness of the melody is certainly emphasized by the synths that come in and complement the melody as the song moves along. Like the preceding track, ‘Castles’ has a very convoluted and intriguing beat. For most of the track, it has a spatial Atmospheric Trap tempo, but towards the end, it speeds up and almost takes on a bit of a Dance music tempo, which I dig. The vocals on this track are very poignant and effective. S. Reidy’s rap flow and tone are complex and bold, giving the song a level of prominence that makes it pop. The sweet and laid-back singing vocals from Paper Rose Haiku give this song a sense of calm and hope that is very soothing. On ‘Castles,’ S. Reidy and Paper Rose Haiku talk about trying to find joy in themselves and learning self-love in a world that is full of hate. They are trying to see the good in everything around them and in the lives they live.

When I came across S. Reidy, I knew this was an artist that I needed to cover. He is an artist who definitely deserves so much more notoriety. This is not only for the style of music he makes, but the message he portrays in his music. Sonically, there are moments on I Think I Feel A Little Different that are very individual for Emo-Rap music, and others that are typical or more mainstream-sounding. Even though this project is only 5 songs, there is a lot of variance in its sound. I especially enjoy the moments where S. Reidy steps outside the box a bit. I really like the songs with the more glitchy, eccentric beats, as they stand out and pop. Vocally, S. Reidy and his features kill it throughout this record. There are so many interesting vocal styles throughout this record. S. Reidy himself ranges from sounding like the lead singer of La Dispute to sounding like Lil Peep at times. The diversity in his vocals is impressive and certainly shows how wide his range can be. Lyrically, every song on this project hits hard. S. Reidy lets the listener into his mind and covers important, emotional topics that so many people can relate to. Overall, I Think I Feel A Little Different is a cool little Emo-Rap project with a style that feels very personal. This project intrigued me quite a bit, and it makes me excited to follow S. Reidy in the future and see what he does next.

BEST TRACKS – ‘COFFIN PRACTICE,’ ‘GOD IN GLASS CEILINGS’ FEAT. SKECH185, ‘WATCH ME DANCE’

7.5/10