By Malana VanTyler
The music industry is often obsessed with simple songs that can go viral. However, some listeners prefer complex tunes that don’t fit into a neat little box. Just ask singer and multi-instrumentalist Cole Lumpkin. With his genre-bending debut album, OTHERWORLDS, he’s crafted an alternate dimension for perfectionists, outsiders, and dreamers.
A Universe of Sound
There’s a bevy of music lovers who crave more than catchy hooks, cute gimmicks, and shallow lyrics. Additionally, some of them are overstimulated and tend to overthink. Lumpkin’s OTHERWORLDS was produced with them in mind. This “Progressive Pop” offering is a sonic treat for listeners who crave a sound that reflects their inner chaos with elegance.
Sony Music’s The Orchid and Suite 484 have released the full-length album. Each song unfolds like a biome or chapter. Listeners can enjoy rhythmic intricacy, nuanced chord work, and lush arrangements.
Isolation as Alchemy
New Yorker Lumpkin didn't grow up trying to blend in. He was into crafting piano compositions, obsessing over alien abductions, and sketching imaginary albums with a purple marker. “At school, it was hard to find kids at first who wanted to listen to that music,” he says.
The young artists began playing various instruments. In his early years, he had no band. “At school, it was hard to find kids at first who wanted to listen to that music,” he says. He had an internal drive to bring impossible ideas into the real world.
That creative solitude eventually bred OTHERWORLDS. Every note carries the intensity of someone navigating life through art. Even his challenges with anxiety and OCD add emotional depth to his music. “This album is a culmination of my past experience,” he says.
A History of Hustle
Lumpkin didn’t follow an industry-approved map. He was Frank Zappa's body double for a hologram tour in 2019. Later, he's racked up Spotify editorial placements. The producer and engineer has also collaborated with stars John Legend, Santana, and Fetty Wap.
He came up playing legendary venues like The Bitter End and The Viper Room. Often, the talented musician played with his funk-forward band, “Cool Company.” However, OTHERWORLDS is like a flag planted in uncharted territory.
Chaos and Catharsis
The album opens with “Faith,” a gospel-tinged track about believing in your best self, followed by “Feel,” a slick electronic disco tune in 17/8 about falling in love. “Furious” delivers punk rock rage over betrayal, while “Fool’s Blues” channels Jimi Hendrix with bluesy swagger. “Sinterlude” offers a classical breather before “Sinplify” drops heavy funk-meal chaos about a toxic ex.
“The Other Side” brings smooth Cali reggae and supernatural flirtation, followed by the soft piano of “Another Kind of Silence.” “Screenplay” is a raw acoustic reflection on depression. “Euphoria,” the lead single, lifts spirits with upbeat indie rock about accepting love, and the album ends with “Reflections,” a soulful, prog-tinged farewell to lost love.
Power of the Live Experience
Many artists treat live shows as a promotional necessity. However, Lumpkin sees the stage as a place to take his music to the next level. “I’d love to tour and give each audience a unique version of these songs,” he says.
Music with a Purpose
What makes Lumpkin stand out isn't just his talent. The artist’s mission matters as well. OTHERWORLDS isn’t a debut album in the traditional sense. Instead, it’s a sanctuary for anyone who feels out of place.
What’s his message? If the world you give and it doesn't fit, build your own. Through the new release, Cole Lumpkin invites listeners into his mind and permits them to stay a while.
The music industry is often obsessed with simple songs that can go viral. However, some listeners prefer complex tunes that don’t fit into a neat little box. Just ask singer and multi-instrumentalist Cole Lumpkin. With his genre-bending debut album, OTHERWORLDS, he’s crafted an alternate dimension for perfectionists, outsiders, and dreamers.
A Universe of Sound
There’s a bevy of music lovers who crave more than catchy hooks, cute gimmicks, and shallow lyrics. Additionally, some of them are overstimulated and tend to overthink. Lumpkin’s OTHERWORLDS was produced with them in mind. This “Progressive Pop” offering is a sonic treat for listeners who crave a sound that reflects their inner chaos with elegance.
Sony Music’s The Orchid and Suite 484 have released the full-length album. Each song unfolds like a biome or chapter. Listeners can enjoy rhythmic intricacy, nuanced chord work, and lush arrangements.
Isolation as Alchemy
New Yorker Lumpkin didn't grow up trying to blend in. He was into crafting piano compositions, obsessing over alien abductions, and sketching imaginary albums with a purple marker. “At school, it was hard to find kids at first who wanted to listen to that music,” he says.
The young artists began playing various instruments. In his early years, he had no band. “At school, it was hard to find kids at first who wanted to listen to that music,” he says. He had an internal drive to bring impossible ideas into the real world.
That creative solitude eventually bred OTHERWORLDS. Every note carries the intensity of someone navigating life through art. Even his challenges with anxiety and OCD add emotional depth to his music. “This album is a culmination of my past experience,” he says.
A History of Hustle
Lumpkin didn’t follow an industry-approved map. He was Frank Zappa's body double for a hologram tour in 2019. Later, he's racked up Spotify editorial placements. The producer and engineer has also collaborated with stars John Legend, Santana, and Fetty Wap.
He came up playing legendary venues like The Bitter End and The Viper Room. Often, the talented musician played with his funk-forward band, “Cool Company.” However, OTHERWORLDS is like a flag planted in uncharted territory.
Chaos and Catharsis
The album opens with “Faith,” a gospel-tinged track about believing in your best self, followed by “Feel,” a slick electronic disco tune in 17/8 about falling in love. “Furious” delivers punk rock rage over betrayal, while “Fool’s Blues” channels Jimi Hendrix with bluesy swagger. “Sinterlude” offers a classical breather before “Sinplify” drops heavy funk-meal chaos about a toxic ex.
“The Other Side” brings smooth Cali reggae and supernatural flirtation, followed by the soft piano of “Another Kind of Silence.” “Screenplay” is a raw acoustic reflection on depression. “Euphoria,” the lead single, lifts spirits with upbeat indie rock about accepting love, and the album ends with “Reflections,” a soulful, prog-tinged farewell to lost love.
Power of the Live Experience
Many artists treat live shows as a promotional necessity. However, Lumpkin sees the stage as a place to take his music to the next level. “I’d love to tour and give each audience a unique version of these songs,” he says.
Music with a Purpose
What makes Lumpkin stand out isn't just his talent. The artist’s mission matters as well. OTHERWORLDS isn’t a debut album in the traditional sense. Instead, it’s a sanctuary for anyone who feels out of place.
What’s his message? If the world you give and it doesn't fit, build your own. Through the new release, Cole Lumpkin invites listeners into his mind and permits them to stay a while.
