Louis Prince - “Ode”

SXSW 2020 - OEB Score: 9; Popularity Index: 1

Pairs Well With…San Fermin, Sufjan Stevens, Bon Iver

With less than a minute of music to preview for SXSW 2019, hearing the potential in Louis Prince’s music was a gamble last year, but now with a trio of proper singles it is easy to see the strength of his creative output of indie pop/R&B. Latest track “Ode” melds a tense string pulse, jazzy piano and horn melodies, and complex trip hop percussion in a dreamy blend of chamber pop, while “Lounging” echoes soft, new wave synths in a mid-tempo groove. While a fusion artist, Louis Prince’s music rarely sounds busy, rather explorative while holding your hand throughout the ride. (Kevin McStravick) 

2019 Review: I’m reviewing Louis Prince on just forty-five seconds of music, but even in this small space of time he presents a piece worth noting. “Swimmers” is a chamber folk tease, a simple piano melody accompanied by a wealth of sound both organic and electronic as just four choral strikes. Incomplete, yes, but beautiful in exactly what it is. Louis Prince is the latest project from folk-pop artist Jake McMullen, a strong songwriter who may be on the verge of a musical explosion.