Listening to Summi’s “Wake Up and Smell the Roses,” I couldn’t help but imagine roses in an NYC alley. Hunter Sumner’s or Sumni’s sound relates to today’s youth hard, especially after the long quarantine where we were locked inside our own homes.
Summi’s 10-track album starts with Rise (Intro), more of a cinematic composition with piano playing over background noises resembling something of a car loading and unloading, along with shuffling sounds and a couple of male voices interacting. To me, the track seemed like a romanticization of mundane everyday things while showing that these mundane things play a role in bringing about changes in life as well.
The intro passes on to “FALLIN,” the 2nd track that gives more meaning to the intro as Summi starts singing, “Everyday fallin’ on top of my head.” We see that the first track spoke one side of the story—the exterior side of ourselves. Meanwhile, we masked whatever went on inside at the same time.
Let alone the context, Summi’s instrumental composition evokes a catchy, poppy, yet relaxing appeal with the synths, acoustic and electric guitars, cymbals, and other percussion instrumentals used, giving off chaotic good vibes. On top of that, there’s that high timbre of Summi that really sets the mood. He got other musicians like Daniel Gallardo and Relaye to feature in his album, and what can I say—the diversity in voices and tempo changes are a chef’s kiss! Besides, the siren-like, soft female voice give the album more of a honeyed ambiance.
Released on the 7th of April in 2023, this hip-hop and pop album takes us to the 90s sound halfway around its musical realm and brings us back with its nonchalant and raw expression. Go check it out if you don’t mind some realism infused with urban pop vibes.
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Review By: Naomi Joan