Charlottetown electro-pop darling Russell Louder has dropped their debut album, Humor, after several years of teaser singles. Weaving their signature soft power of their synth melodies and cadence and wrapping it all up in their ability to tell stories through song, the 9-track collection is poignant, liberating, and undoubtedly Russell Louder at their finest.
Leading Humor‘s charge are the four singles that preceded the album’s release; “Cost of Living,” “Light of the Moon,” “Hello Stranger,” and “Home.” Long-time listeners of Louder will be happy to revisit the infectious confidence with which Louder tackles grief and identity, while first-timers are given prime insight into Louder’s multi-faceted, character-driven musical power.
“I think the role of a title is to be the door that opens people into the work,” says Louder of their choice for the album’s title. “Humor can also have multiple meanings (in bad humor, in good humor, ‘humor me’, etc.) so that gives the listener some agency over what the album means to them.”
“I don’t want this album to feel like I’m telling you something; here is the message. I wanted to leave it open-ended enough for the listener to feel like they can make their own meaning from it. My favourite work does that.”
The debutant tracks of Louder’s discography on Humor follow suit, adding brand new perspectives to Louder’s work while never steering away from the cool intensity that they craft so effortlessly with their synths and vocals. We’re offered a musical detour in tracks such as “Lavender” and “Go Now,” showcasing a more acoustic and experimental side of Louder, but the album’s standout goes to “Outside,” boasting positively enchanting melodies and neck-deep themes of grief.
“The first half of ‘Outside’ was written as an improv track in 2016 and sees a protagonist watching someone lose touch with reality, ripping at the seams and turning into a shadow of something they swore they would never become,” says Louder. “The second half, written in 2020, is an incantation from the protagonist to protect and distance themselves from the harm caused.”
Having been in the arts game since the ripe old age of 17, Louder’s already-astounding talent and creative direction has all the space and time in the world to continue blooming, and “Humor” is the first of many petals that Louder’s work will ultimately contain.