Listening to records that traverse through routes of neo-soul, R&B chill and jazz especially when the creatives behind them are Indian, is always a pleasurable process. Somehow, the bustling lives in Indian cities and the musical tonalities imported from American soundscapes always interweave to make intriguing products. Tushar Mathur’s new EP, Snooze, is one of them.
The project is short — comprising 4 tracks : the titular Snooze, Waiting For You, Curious, lie/goodbye. Mathur explains, “This EP reflects a time when I felt confused about many things, caught in a constant state of limbo between action and inaction, as if I was hitting the snooze button on life. It explores moments of weakness and hesitation, but also the pivotal moments that led to some much-needed self-discovery.” He further provides an overview, , “Snooze” is a heartfelt EP that captures the intense emotional journey that one goes through after moving on from a breakup. Each track dives into different aspects of the aftermath: from feeling stuck and hesitant in “Snooze,” to facing the harsh truths and farewells in “lie / goodbye.” “I’ve Been Waiting” talks about the frustration and loneliness of feeling unsupported in a relationship, while “Curious” reflects on the confusion and what-ifs of drifting apart. Together, these songs paint a raw picture of Tushar’s journey through love and self-discovery.”
At first listen, one can easily tell that the EP zips open the skin on the head and looks inward, at the mind not as much to the external. Waiting for You, the first song, is seductive, menacing, and there seems to be the musical equivalent of a self-aware smirk on the artist’s face as he croons : “Remember, when you’d ask me about my day/ my mind would do the math and tone up the grey/ that’s the only way you’d relate/I had to put myself down, make it a trait.” Drawing upon a relationship that is teetering at the edge of an open drain, the artist waits for their counterpart to mess up, as the other does the same, in this track. The soundscape is sultry, and the light percussion draws you in, matching the lush vocal delivery.
The second track is a shift. Curious is not as menacing in its melancholy, but is more reflective. The artist induces a drunkenness to his delivery, as he drives the fact home with the “I can’t ask for another shot” midway. The stringwork on the guitar is impressive, as it is bound to be as that is one of Mathur’s trademarked skills.
The third track, Snooze, which is also the title of the album is the catchiest, most delightful, and interestingly produced track on the album. The trumpets, and Mathur’s jazz influences are obvious on this one, paired with synths that are beautifully arranged. The vocal harmonies are pleasant, and mesh well with the artist’s clever, almost sardonic songwriting. He ends the song with “I don’t wanna take the fall, I’ve been standing tall but I feel small”, tapping into the ever-so-familiar sentiment that all of us have encountered somewhere along the way.
“Lie/goodbye” is the last track on the record. It is a muted descent from Snooze, as the artist accepts the futility of efforts to resuscitate an already fading relationship, and instead chooses to bid a goodbye. It is groovy, demure, and forms an appropriate conclusion to the record, as he sings: “You said you’d want / To-know what I feel inside I said / I-ain’t sure, I’m not the sharin kind / Years go by, maybe this ain’t what they call love”. Overall, the EP is cohesive, well-produced, and well-written. No track is too jarring, or out of place, and the narrative arc remains consistent : of a romance toeing the lines of reminiscence, vitriol and acceptance. The only complaint one can form is that an invested listener would want a little more storytelling from Mathur, perhaps in the form of longer tracks, or a record with more tracks where he writes and explores all the spaces that he does not in order to be crisp and concise. I think therein lies the success of any record, where you are left wanting more.
