On Wednesday, Kevin Abstract called in to Beats 1 Radio and told host Zane Lowe, “We just wanted to make some Vanessa Carlton type stuff, some early 2000s pop music," before playing his new American Boyfriend single "Yellow." A day later, he's shared another pop-inflected album cut, "Miserable America."
Mixing guitars and soaring melodies on the charmingly addictive singles, Abstract is clearly heading away from the hip-hop heavy sound that lay at the core of early projects like MTV1987—but the music is as fearless and inventive as ever. Following the release of one of the most bold and courageous music videos in recent memory, Abstract builds on the momentum with "Miserable America" and "Yellow" as he prepares to release American Boyfriend on November 18.
Anyone worried about a loss of creativity with the new pop direction only needs to listen to the first few lines in "Miserable America" to be reassured: "My boyfriend saved me, my mother's homophobic / I'm stuck in the closet, I'm so claustrophobic / I just want help if, my best friend's racist / My mother's homophobic, I'm stuck in the closet / I'm still claustrophobic, I just wanna know shit / Well we all love Young Thug."
With songwriting like that, American Boyfriend is shaping up to be a very special album. Listen to the two new singles below and pre-order the album here.
