Photo by Emma Quale
The deeper into quarantine/self-isolation I find myself, the more I’m drawn to softer music. Maybe it’s the the salve for the anxiety or fear or just keeps my heart rate down more than pulsing, screaming post-punk. That’s why coming across something as wonderfully wholesome, sweet, and catchy as Miloe’s indie pop/80s hybrid “Winona” is a welcome end of summer treat.
The music video is crystal clear, but dreamily dips along with it’s image-stabilized movement and suburban shots filmed by Miloe’s (aka Bobby Kabeya’s) parents. You can hear them talking in the background of the opening shot, a personalization that straight away makes the project feel more familiar and close to home even with it’s glossy hi-def sheen. I mean this in the most flattering way possible, but Kabeya in the backyard almost reminds me of “Baby” era Justin Bieber — obviously with much more style and way less cringe. Besides the dance moves, as a young artist releasing a strong debut pop track like this, I could very easily see “Winona” being a defining release leading to a very successful career for Miloe. This is the first track off his forthcoming EP Greenhouse — an homage to summer and his childhood spent in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
You can keep up with Miloe on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook