mary sue : to those foreign nights, i love you
mary sue
to those foreign nights, i love you
With a refreshingly organic approach to sample-driven hip-hop, mary sue’s latest visual EP to those foreign nights, I love you presents the producer/rapper’s darkest entry yet. Be it the viscous production on tracks like for hours and ornament, or the gorgeously sparse keys on been here before (which stylings can be easily traced to Fauxe’s hand in additional production), sue’s production choices perfectly compliment his bars, delivered in an assured Earl Sweatshirt-esque drawl.
ornament, in particular, is a standout track. With its lyrics alone, sue details an insomnia-stricken experience that morphs to overthinking. Digging up past regrets, his delivery carries an uncomfortable and desperate energy, powerfully mimicking the struggle of failing to fall asleep (“sleepless in the night i couldn’t stop fidgeting/ nibble at the past could u hear the dissonance/ seeing thru the cracks couldnt make amends/ got my conscious shrivelling”). Accentuated by repetitive and deceptively simple beat work, its atmospheres conjure a sinking feeling.
But they aren’t the only things that sue brings to the table. On been there before he flexes his singing chops - resulting in a surprisingly moving and intimate performance. Kanye West’s influence is apparent throughout, be it on ornament’s Bound 2-type beat, or his take on Runaway’s satisfyingly cathartic distorted autotune “solo” on seen this before. Thankfully, sue manages to avoid the pitfalls of hero worship. With his own emotional vulnerability, husky production choices, and unique delivery, sue’s sets his work well apart from his influences. As sue brings you falling down insomnia’s rabbit hole with him, you’re not sure when this is ever going to end.
Experience to those foreign nights, i love you here:
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