Review by: Stephanie Smith
William Hinson’s third installment in his Elevator Music EPs arrives today. In line with the series’ evolving album artwork, Vol. 3 is classic (Hinson)–yet the singer-songwriter has envisioned a fresh sound for himself, including a punchy new collaboration with Sonny Miles.
Since releasing Vol. 2 in September, Hinson has launched SOON (‘Something Out Of Nothing’) Records with friends Miles and Grace Christian X. Vol. 3 presents Hinson as the spearhead of a collective; all five tracks, notably, offer warmer, groovier vibes.
Appropriately, said tracks kick off with “High Hopes!”, a feel-good, laid-back jam on which Hinson boasts smooth vocal runs–and it’s safe to say the crooner delivers on his foreshadowing. “Lovesick” and “Mary Jane Wanda” are two sides of the same coin; it’s had enough on the former vs. can’t get enough on the latter, to the tune of fuzzy jazz-pop. “Take My Time,” featuring Miles, is perhaps the most brand-bending track Hinson has made to date. And to conclude the newest Elevator Music chapter, he follows LANY’s lead–the artists share a love of incorporating recycled audio into their music–and reflects on the progression of his familial relationships in adulthood on “Parents.” Looking forward, he’s realized, requires looking back–and Hinson’s marriage of his contemporaneous personal and musical evolvements is seamless.
Stream the EP:
