motel void

My favorite feel-good music? Definitely Brooklyn’s Skinny Dippers, an indie project fronted by singer-songwriter Ryan Gross. Drawing from his roots growing up on the coast of Maine, his style moves fluidly across genres, blending guitar-driven indie rock arrangements with analog synthesizers and lush choral harmonies. You can hear influences from some of my favorites, like Hovvdy, Stephen Malkmus, and The Shins.

The new single Please Be Kind, Rewind opens with a lo-fi intro before fully unfolding into its main instrumentation – drums, acoustic guitar, lap steel/electric guitar – creating a warm, full-bodied, and inviting sound. For me, though, the real highlight is Gross’s voice. It’s incredibly soothing to listen to – few singers carry such natural ease and comfort in their tone. Skinny Dippers have a rare ability to create a truly beautiful and uplifting sonic landscape: gently melancholic, perhaps, but ultimately filled with warmth and good energy. I hope this single finds the same success as last year’s Breathe!