After introducing himself to the teeming masses last year with the dopamine factory known as “Winona”, Democratic of Congo-born and Minneapolis-raised artist Miloe has just released a remix of the track which aims to up the euphoria to almost intolerable levels. By including the mercurially talented Jamila Woods and Vagabon on this glorious extension to the track, Miloe has all but guaranteed to raise bliss levels to an all-time high and possibly end world sadness if given the right push.
The beat is melancholy and uplifting at the same time, understated yet anthemic, taking in indie pop and afrobeat on its way to its ultimate destination of Congolese Rumba. The three vocalists each add a different but equally shiny texture to the tune, which aches with longing and a need to expel it somehow. All three singers repeat the irresistibly simple yet vaguely prophetic refrain of “We go where we go”, which I’m sure anti-immigration weirdos would take issue with. Miloe’s voice is overwhelmingly easy to listen to, his buttery tone calling out dispassionately for his Winona Ryder, presumably Dracula-era. At nineteen years old, his song-writing talent is frankly unreasonable.
Jamila Woods and Vagabon, based in Chicago and New York respectively, instinctively understand the track’s dynamics and add soaring layers to the original composition without anyone fighting for a central position. Any collaboration should ultimately have the aim of creating a great piece of work rather than ten-minute guitar solos, and the guests on “Winona” inherently adhere to this. They interweave with each other and the original vocals to create something which inspires an involuntary wry smile even in the most sombre circumstances. This is a skill humanity has been forced to learn in recent years, and will eventually become essential for survival. The original version of “Winona” is from Miloe’s 2020 EP Greenhouse and is precisely on the right side of saccharine, hopefully ensuring some radio play and a Fallon appearance, in an ideal world. Miloe takes it past being a ‘one to watch’. I’ve turned on all Google notifications about him so I don’t miss a thing.
