DISCOVER : "I Don't Mind" [single] by Keeps

[image from: source]

Innovative indie seems to just keep flowing out of Nashville. Meeting in college and finding themselves knee-deep in country-pop, Gusti Escalante and Robbie Jackson somehow waded through, creating a beautiful shade of shimmery, laid-back indie called Keeps. Inspired by 80's dream pop and driven by glittery guitar, Keeps will quickly become your new favourite band.

The band's single "I Don't Mind" is not only the first song on their 2016 album, Brief Spirit, but also the band's top song on Spotify. The song starts off with the click of a cassette player, which fosters the nostalgic, dream-like quality of Keeps' sound. Percussion is constant, yet gentle, creating an unrushed, laid-back feeling. Escalante's vocals are washed out, and slightly tired-sounding, further putting the listener at ease, while summery, echoing guitar rolls underneath. It's the type of song that has the ability to make you forget about any previous worries, and fill you up with a warm sense of calm.

Listen to "I Don't Mind" on Soundcloud here.

Lyrically, the song could be interpreted as a sort of coming to peace with the passing of time. Lines like "Though the glow never lasts / A present soon past / Ever repeating", "Keeping time but never asking why", and "So I'll keep droning on / The glow's now gone / But I don't mind" highlight that no matter how hard we try, the days will just keep passing. The "nothing lasts forever" mindset of this song shows that it's sometimes better to accept the inevitable than to fight it. This peaceful state of acceptance described by the lyrics is emulated through the tranquility of the instrumental. The lyrics also enforce the nostalgic feeling this song promotes, prompting memories of times we wish could have lasted longer.

Find Keeps' LP, Brief Spirit, on Spotify here.

Keeps are the type of band that almost everyone will be able to fall in love with. Their warm guitar lines and serene melodies are practically irresistible. Keeps have recently been gathering hype from some trending acts, most recently as the opening act on COIN's current tour. Hopefully, this will bring them the attention they so deserve. If you haven't added Keeps to your playlist, you're missing out.

Find "I Don't Mind" by Keeps on Spotify and Apple Music, and check out this live version of the song from their AudioTree Live session above.