Description
#mosessumney #vinyl #vinylrecords
Moses Sumney’s 2014 EP Mid-City Island, a self-recorded and deeply personal project, marks the beginning of his journey as one of today’s most innovative and genre-defying artists. Now, a decade later, Sumney reintroduces this formative work with a long-awaited vinyl release, a testament to his artistic evolution. The EP, originally recorded on a four-track cassette recorder lent to him by Dave Sitek of TV on the Radio, captures a raw and experimental side of Sumney, reflecting both the uncertainty and ambition of his early career. His reflections on Mid-City, Los Angeles—a place he describes as both visible and invisible, much like his status as an emerging artist at the time—are encapsulated in tracks like “Plastic,” a haunting piece that would later define his unique sonic identity.
Sumney’s journey from Mid-City Island to his more expansive works like Græ demonstrates his refusal to be confined to any single genre or label. His music seamlessly blends elements of art rock, soul, and electronic experimentation, while his collaborations span a wide range of artists, including James Blake, Solange Knowles, and Sufjan Stevens. This adaptability reflects Sumney’s commitment to living in the undefinable spaces of artistic expression, an ethos that has resonated throughout his career. Like other boundary-pushing artists such as FKA Twigs and Dev Hynes (Blood Orange), Sumney’s work transcends music and enters the realms of fashion and film, where his presence is equally striking.
The 2014 release of Mid-City Island is a snapshot of an artist on the brink of transformation. At the time, Sumney chose to bypass early record label offers, instead focusing on discovering his true artistic self. This period of exploration and resistance to industry pressure is deeply ingrained in the minimalist soundscapes and experimental structures of Mid-City Island. Even then, his songs carried an emotional depth and vulnerability that set him apart from many of his contemporaries. The EP’s improvisational quality, described by Pitchfork as “purposefully incomplete,” was a precursor to the refined yet emotionally raw albums that followed, such as his critically acclaimed Aromanticism and Græ.
Now, with Mid-City Island reaching its 10th anniversary, the reissue is more than just a nod to the past—it’s a celebration of how far Sumney has come. This record serves as a reminder of his early days in Los Angeles, crafting songs in his bedroom, yet still holding the ambition of transcending geographic and genre boundaries. Much like his contemporaries, including Solange, who also blends music with visual artistry, and James Blake, who combines electronic and soulful elements, Sumney’s work continues to challenge the conventions of what an artist can be. The reissue of Mid-City Island offers both longtime fans and new listeners a chance to revisit the raw beginnings of an artist who has always embraced the liminal spaces between genres, creating music that is as undefinable as it is essential.
