My Idea – “Start Again”

SXSW 2022 - OEB Score: 7; Popularity Index: 3 

Pairs Well With… Sidney Gish, Illuminati Hotties, ROE

My Idea’s songs are tailor made for the soundtrack of an indie teen coming of age movie. Young as they are, band members Lily Konigsbert and Nate Amos having been writing and performing for years, solo and with other bands. Thus, they are confident in having fun with their experimental lo-fi EP project of five warm, quirky, fuzzy electro pop rock tracks. “Stay Away Still” cleverly juxtaposes twee vocal declarations with deadpan eye-rolling comebacks. It’s bouncy with needling guitars and clever lyrics like “depression’s a conspiracy theory” and “all I care about is friends and animals and family”. “I Can’t Dance” is similarly bright, touched with a twinge of melancholy, and distinguished by twangy guitar lines. My Idea also plays around with a soft autotune in “Keep Lying to Me,” distorting vocals into a robotic but still emotional sound. The song has a foot in the 2000s but is made modern through its odd beats. All in all, My Idea is a worthwhile addition to the modern electro pop genre. (David Zlotnick)