School of X - “Write My Name”

SXSW 2020 - OEB Score: 7; Popularity Index: 3

Pairs Well With…Night Beds, Band of Horses, Death Cab For Cutie

A balance of indie folk and chillwave pop embody Destiny, the sophomore release from Dutch artist School of X, dreamily produced with minimalist hands and hazy distance. School of X’s sound is cool and comfortable, going between synth soundwaves, acoustic strumming, and some jazzy interventions across the subtly soulful EP. Opener “I’ll Never Be Ready to Die” is a sad lullaby of almost New Orleans style jazz informing the echoed melody, and is bookended by highlight “Write My Name”, one of the fuller songs in his catalog adding some nice mid-tempo swing. Overall, School of X’s mix of accessible and experimental is in a sweet spot on Destiny without losing a relatable and melancholic, emotional core. (Kevin McStravick)