Greetings from the season of Wynne. This column became a regular Wynne update so gradually... no, we knew. We're tasked with bringing you the best in Portland's hip hop, pop, R&B, and other, varied music scenes, and so—here in the deluge of Wynne's creative jaw-droppers—the only thing to do is try to keep up. Suffice to say: New Wynne single alert! There's also a great experimental pop show at the end of September you should scoop, and Travis Scott added a second Moda Center show. This is the week... Hear in Portland!
MUST SEE:
Upcoming local event(s) featuring local artist(s).
Schaus album release party w/ Yawa
On September 26, Portland-based pop / electronic act Schaus release a new album, Lovers Loop. You can preview most of the record right now—as eight of the 11 songs are already available on streaming platforms—but your first chance to pick up a vinyl version or hear the tracks live is the record release party, on the following night. Schaus' live band includes drummer Chris Hermsen and Hasan Mahmood. Scott Schaus handles the rest, including space-aged vocals.
We like Schaus, but the reason we're planning to peel ourselves off the couch on a work night is the chance to catch a supporting set by one-woman show now known as Yawa—AKA Amenta Abioto. Yawa is excellent live, and we can vouch for Abioto’s enchanting, hearty voice, which she weaves with guitar and kalimba in improvised loops. Listen for the Earth-inspired and poppy “Plant It,” the deeply moving “Revolution,” (known to induce full body chills), and the ancestral wisdom of “Wade,” which was inspired by the Negro spiritual “Wade in the Water.” DIY experimental pop producer Ghost Piss opens the evening. (Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison, Wed Sept 27, 8 pm, $12, tickets here, 21+)
MUST LISTEN:
New release(s) from a Portland-relevant artist.
“High Standards,” Wynne
We're talking about Wynne every week lately, but this girl is on fire, like for real. She just released yet another single “High Standards,” which isn’t included on her recently released album Some Like It Hot, but fits right in with the energy of the project. Produced by Pliv, the song has an infectious gospel-tinged beat which erupts at the song’s peak, after Wynne has thoroughly roasted and rejected fuckboy after ill-mannered fuckboy, but in a cute, and somewhat gentle way. Wynne imagines herself as the Bachelorette, spending her evening curving shallow dudes because—you guessed it—she, and her cohort of like-minded ladies have high standards! Some of my favorite lines include the chorus, which goes “High standards / call me, I don't pick up, I don't answer / How you tryna talk with no manners? / Uh, come on, baby, fuck I look like? / I can't let him cook; why should I?” The lady poses a very good question, and goes back and forth between talking to the curvables and talking to other women. She continues “'I'm in a different league; argue with your mama / You must—you must be smoking marijuana / You make me wanna stick to the girls / Put that cat on her tongue; I'm at a loss for words.” It's fair to say we’re all praying to the rap gods that this song is included on her upcoming tour’s setlist. Wynne posted a clip of the accompanying visual on Instagram, and it’s no surprise to see her in multiple Blazers outfits. The video was shot and edited by Riley Brown, and the art direction and production assist came from one-time Portlander and soul singer Blossom (who can also be spotted as an extra). Wynne says the full video is due out next week, so hold onto your mini skirts.
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ADDED TO THE QUEUE:
Some upcoming music buzz to put on your radar.
Travis Scott
Travis Scott has announced not one, but two dates at Moda Center this November, as he tours in support of his blockbuster and feature-heavy album UTOPIA. The first Moda Center show sold out rather quickly, and now they’ve added a second show on Monday November 13. That's really good news for anyone who loved his new album, and also isn’t too frightened to attend a Travis Scott concert alongside the most rabid members of his die-hard fanbase—after 10 people were trampled and crushed to death at Astroworld festival, just two years ago. I don’t take any pleasure in saying that Travis Scott shows have felt eerie and childish for years, almost entirely because of the rowdiness of the crowd. And it feels weird to say I’m hoping that security will be tight at the concert, but for once it feels necessary, due to the fact that this fanbase has recently killed people. So yeah, have fun, rage on, but do it safely and attend at your own risk. (Moda Center, 1 N Center Ct, Sun Nov 12, 7 pm; Mon Nov 13, 7 pm, $61.50 - $251.50, tickets here, all ages)
