While his debut album ‘The Canyon’ was already released last December, many only found out about it when the single ‘Brush Me Like a Horse’ eventually made its way onto Spotify in January. Maybe some thought it was just a taste of what’s to come, only to find out later that his full album already existed on his website to purchase for twelve pounds. The fact that this release went completely under the radar can really make you rethink how we consume music overall. This album skipped press cycles, algorithms and every streaming platform entirely.
The choice feels almost confrontational in this day and age when we expect our music to be immediate, infinite, and always freely accessible. It makes the concept of paying for a record feel almost like a novelty and a truly special experience. In all honesty, the way this album almost feels like a little secret for fans just makes you want to really sit with it and savour it. However, you also can’t help but wonder whether Newman is onto something the rest of the industry might just be too afraid to try.
Fan responses online seem to confirm my sentiment, showing that ‘The Canyon’ is not just a sonic success, rooted in soul and Motown in the unique and quirky way that we know and love from the alt-J frontman. Nonetheless, the album’s distinct selling point to fans seems to be its exclusivity. It is literally inaccessible to casual listeners, and so it kind of becomes the ultimate flex for the gatekeeping music fan who likes to wear obscurity like a badge of honour.
The question that remains though is whether the choice is smart. The norm for any artist is chasing those streams and relying on the algorithm to do the work for you. ‘The Canyon’ on the other hand, lives by word of mouth, newsletter sign ups, and the loyalty of alt-J fans willing to seek it out. It’s curious how maybe the album would have stayed hidden to many without that one single release on Spotify. More than anything, though, it just raises the question of whether there could be other records like this that we are simply missing.
Our musical curiosity is dictated by recommendation engines. Gone are the days when we browsed record shops and follow artists in the way people once did. In the streaming era, we are promised infinite music and listen to music that seems to find us rather than seek it out deliberately. Newman’s refusal to play along with this system feels not only like a provocation but also like an invitation into a more personal side of his life.
So, whether it is despite or because of its exclusivity, the good news is that ‘The Canyon’ is worth every penny. Newman himself has described it as his “next creative leap forward” embodying the changes in his private life. While alt-J’s 2022 release ‘The Dream’ seemed heavily influenced by Americana and themes from LA culture, Newman’s solo project sonically explores these areas even further. It is intimate, emotional and yet unbelievably cool. Anyone who appreciates the strange angles of storytelling in alt-J’s records as well as a more experimental sound will appreciate ‘The Canyon’ just as much. The fact that you probably haven’t heard it yet might in some way be the whole point.
Christine Soloch
Image: ‘The Canyon’ Official Album Cover