Neue Rook Monroe-EP „SLIM.“ erscheint über Blueprint

      Der Alt-Pop-Regelbrecher Rook Monroe hat seine neue EP „SLIM.“ veröffentlicht und demonstriert damit die Bandbreite seines Songwriter-Könnens mit einem offenen Aufruf, furchtlos in das Chaos der menschlichen Existenz einzutauchen.

      Auf den acht Tracks führt der Sänger, Rapper, Songwriter und Produzent eine aggressive Erforschung von Selbst und Klang an, durchzogen von punkiger Energie und psychedelischen Untertönen. Hört HIER via Blueprint / Warner Records.

      In Chicago geboren und nun in den kreativen Unterströmungen von Los Angeles verankert, hat Rook sich einen Ruf als Songwriter und Produzent für Rihanna („Desperado“), The Chainsmokers, Jeremih, Aminé und andere aufgebaut, bevor er seinen eigenen Weg einschlug. Mit Durchbrüchen wie 2020s „Honey“ (aus seinem unabhängigen Projekt Californialand) und 2024s „L’Eggo MY EGO“ mit 1999 WRITE THE FUTURE hat er bereits über 29 Mio. weltweite Streams erzielt.

      Im Zentrum der EP steht „Mugshot“, ein Synthpop-Fiebertraum in Bewegung. Glitzernde Tasten treffen auf galaktische Grooves, die das Hin und Her öffentlicher Aufmerksamkeit und ihr ungewohntes Verhältnis zur Authentizität erforschen: „Bildperfekt so gut wie jedes Mal / Perfektsein ist so ein Opfer / Was machst du also… wenn sie dich anschauen… / Posierst du für die Kamera, Baby.“

      Rook hat zuvor eine Reihe von Songs aus SLIM. geteilt, die die Bandbreite der EP widerspiegeln. Das Projekt beginnt mit der Lead-Single „i don’t wanna be you.“, ein Aufruf zur Individualität sowohl textlich als auch musikalisch, der Good Charlottes Pop-Punk-Klassiker der frühen 2000er „The Anthem“ zu etwas völlig Neuem umformt.

      Es folgt das ausgelassene, hochenergetische „Brrrt“, ein frecher Rap-Kracher mit einem Ohrwurm-Refrain — „Brrrt. Wer ruft mich da an? / Lass mich in Ruhe, ich will kein Gerede.“ — aus dem zwei Musikvideos entstanden sind, die verschiedene Facetten von Rooks Vision erkunden: die surreale „Sitcom Version“ und die raue „Grunge Version“.

      SLIM. mischt frei Punk, Pop, Synth, Rap, Rock, R&B, Funk und alternative Klänge in scheinbar endlosen Konfigurationen, während Rooks Gesang sich durch üppige Melodien, knappe Bars, gesprochene Schnipsel, wilde Ad-libs und sogar DIY-Soundeffekte bewegt. Seine Texte reichen ebenso von herzlicher Poesie, popkulturellen Referenzen, tiefen Selbstbefragungen und abstrakten Beobachtungen bis hin zu Trash-Talk. Der EP-Abschluss „kaleidoscope“ liefert die perfekte Zeile, um seinen absolut einzigartigen, völlig ungehemmten Ansatz zusammenzufassen: „Das Leben ist chaotisch, ich habe dieses Kaleidoskop, durch das ich es sehe.“

      Hört jetzt Rook Monroe „Brrrt“…

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