UMI "Open Up" Single Review

UMI is a bright and exciting up and coming talent. Specializing in the modernization of R&B, UMI has released two EPs so far, Interlude (2018) and Love Language (2019). The Seattle born-California based artist keeps up her momentum with plans to release her third EP Introspection on June 21st of this year. She dropped the first song, the title track, in early May. A few weeks later, UMI dropped the second track entitled “Open Up.” Accompanied by an angelic yet sullen visualizer, UMI artfully expresses the genuine pain and strife that comes with self growth on her new song. In particular, UMI laments on having to let go of a partner she cared deeply about because she saw the importance of working on herself in order to fully love others.

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“Open Up” begins with a simple rhythmic acoustic guitar melody. The bass drum comes in followed by UMI’s voice. She establishes her vulnerability early into the track by singing the first few lyrics modestly on her own. It is not until the verse moves in the direction of the pre chorus that UMI employs vocal flourishes, harmonies, and ad libs. As the vocal production builds on itself, so does the instrumental. In the same progression, what started as guitar and bass drum becomes layered with hi hats, electronic piano, and synthesizers. On “Open Up,” UMI utilizes the layering of her soundscape wisely. Effects move in and out, more pronounced in the chorus and bridges than in the verses and pre chorus. In this way, UMI uses the production of the song itself to emphasize the trouble she has with “opening up” to others.

On the meaning of the track, UMI said in an interview with Rated R&B that “Open Up” is about “‘...that feeling before a breakup when you’re torn between the guilt of hurting someone else and doing what’s best for you. Capturing my inner dialogue, this song is a moment of introspection.” The intensity of this inner dialogue is expressed in the lyrical content of the track. In the first verse, UMI admits to feeling as if she is not being her true self with her lover. She is afraid of the person she actually is. UMI comes to the realization that she can never be there for her partner if she is not there for herself. In the chorus, UMI expresses the desire to feel and give love but knows that her negative feelings about herself have made her unable to do so. However, UMI takes this loss in stride. In the outro, the singer repeats the lyric “I really wanna open up for you.” She does not intend to be closed off forever. UMI aspires to work on herself in order to better love those around her. “Open Up” is a beautiful reminder to acknowledge your mistakes, recommit to intentions of bettering yourself, and to work on being there for the ones we love.

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The Tudor Interview: Finding His Sound, Inspiration, and What's up Next

“I'm no longer trying to make something I think other people will enjoy, I'm making it because I think it's dope and it's fun to make”

By Izzy Stroobandt

Hailing from Boulder, Colorado, Tudor (pronounced two-door) has been perfecting his musical talent since a young age. He remembers “slamming random keys on a piano” as young as three years old. Determined to share his love for music, Tudor has been building his discography for many years. “I've always had the urge to create, and I guess around [15 years old] was when I decided I had honed my musical skills to the point where I was down to give writing my own stuff a shot,” he said. He’s currently in his third year at the University of Washington (UW) in Seattle and takes any chance he can to share his musical talent with his fellow students. 

Originally releasing music under his acoustic alias, Luca (titled after his middle name), Tudor has already hit significant milestones in his career. Despite only having started releasing music in 2018, he recently reached over 1 million total streams on Spotify between both his artist profiles. His first drop, “Quite the View,” released under Luca, is on its way to hitting the 1 million streams mark on Spotify. 

For Fun, a song by Tudor on Spotify

As a relatively new artist, Tudor is still working on finding his specific sound. Embracing the journey to discovering his brand, he has dabbled in making music as a one-man-show as well as working with producers and other musicians. Tudor typically works with two producers, John Laga (based out of San Francisco, Calif.) and Roy Miles (working in Denver, Colo.). When making music under Luca, the music is almost entirely his own work—unless he brings friend and fellow UW student Nico Bilbao into the studio to lay down piano tracks. “Huge shout-out to that man as well. Literally, junior Bach,” he said. 

On June 7th, Tudor dropped his latest single, “For Fun,” a stylistic and moody shuffle of devilish vocals over beat-driven and groovy instrumentals. “For Fun” is a prime example of the emotional and stylistic maturation Tudor has undergone since the beginning of his public music career. 

If you haven’t heard his released music already, with the tracks he has lined up to drop in the future it’s likely you will hear of him again.

I spoke with Tudor about his musical journey, where he draws his inspiration from, and what’s up next. My conversation with the Seattle artist, lightly edited for content and clarity, follows below:

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Izzy Stroobandt, StereoVision (IS): Where do you find most of the inspiration for your music? 

Tudor (T): For the most part, I find inspiration from the music I listened to growing up and the artists I currently listen to today—but I'm also inspired by other types of art as well. It's not uncommon for me to get the idea for a song concept from poetry, a movie, or even a photograph. I've also written songs based off of a single sentence that someone said to me or a specific feeling I had-inspiration is everywhere, I try not to limit where I get it from.

IS: Can you explain your creative process a bit?

T: Yeah, definitely. If I'm writing over a beat that was sent to me by one of my producers I'll typically give it a listen through and try and catch a vibe, as in try and decide what the track makes me feel/think of. Once I choose an emotion to go off of, I'll start messing around with melodies that fit the beat and that emotion. After I've found a solid melody for a hook/verse that's when I go in and actually start writing lyrical content. Rhyme-zone is my best friend.

IS: What are your favorite tracks you’ve made? Why? 

T: Damn, that's a really tough question. If I had to pick one I'd say "Lately," which is a single I released in late December last year. The beat was co-produced by both of my producers which I thought was really cool, and I feel like I really showed range in that song. I go from an alternative/emotional sounding hook to basically rapping in some of the verses which I thought was really cool. I'm kind of all over the place in terms of the music I make, and I feel like that song really encapsulated that.

Lately, a song by Tudor on Spotify

IS: How do you think you’ve grown as an artist since starting? 

T: I think when I first started making music I was always trying to create something I thought other people would want to listen to—which isn't necessarily a bad thing. The music industry is the same as any other industry, you have to create something that other people want to consume. But, I think my work has grown in the sense that now when I sit down to create I'm no longer trying to make something I think other people will enjoy, I'm making it because I think it's dope and it's fun to make. 

IS: What has been the most rewarding moment for you so far? 

T: I attended a party a few months back and somebody hopped on the aux chord and play my first single under the name Tudor called "Rent". Everyone got stupid lit to it, and it made me so damn happy to be jammin’ to my own music with all of my homies around me. Yeah, definitely that one.

IS: Any advice for other up and coming artists?

T: Be patient. There's a ton of steps you have to take in order to turn music into a full-time job, it takes time. I'm really only just getting started myself. Just focus on what you can do today. Write some lyrics, come up with a riff, anything. The only way you'll get to where you want to be is if you completely devote yourself to your craft. There's no way around the work. Don't lose sight of the fact it's supposed to be fun though, that's why you're doing it in the first place. Enjoy the creative process and if you get paid to do it, sick. If not, it's still sick.

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