Music You Should Check Out: "Missed Calls" by Illsamar
Growing up is hard. Sometimes, it can be one of the hardest things you can do. It takes courage, tenacity, maturity, and awareness. You learn to figure out what's important to you and guard your energy accordingly. “Missed Calls” by Illsamar sounds like growing up.
The opener, ‘Absolute,’ finds Illsamar seemingly running a victory lap within this newfound space. After finding herself, Illsamar is questioning her loved ones to do the same, to match her energy. The mellow track has wavy keys with heavy percussion that pushes the listener closer and closer to the ceiling.
Each track is interconnected by various voicemails about video shoots, catching up, and words of encouragement.
Illsamar’s world is populated with boom-bap beats, weed smoke, and like-minded individuals. Zensoul, Donald Guy, Destruct, and Silvandgold feature and serve as companion pieces to Illsamar’s thoughts. ‘Brown Jesus’ is an odyssey of self-discovery. Rapping about toxic traits and endless cycles, she reflects on her last decade and what needed to happen to find true happiness. ‘Mimosas’ is a dreamy love song. She is taking time to reflect on her lover and acknowledge the blessing in their relationship.
The central theme of this project is effort. The effort you put into yourself and your relationships. Maybe even more profound, the effort you put into your relationship is supremely pivotal to relationships with others. This album is a mellow yet mature reflection piece that explores overcoming trauma and taking accountability.
“Missed Calls” is now available for streaming here.