The dynamic Dutch artist known as Young & Sick wears many hats. Nick van Hofwegen is a prolific visual artist and ringleader of a kaleidoscopic world of iconography which has graced festivals from BUKU Music + Art Project to Outside Lands, the largest mural on the west coast for Foster The People, a Maroon 5 album cover, and a Pringles can.
He can also make a damn good song. He co-wrote and produced Charli XCX's "Caught In The Middle," fronted a synthpop project called SHARER with JD Samson (of former Le Tigre fame), and creates superb retro house alongside London producers Mustafa and James as Mr Sanka. "Ojai" – the latest auditory brainchild of Young & Sick – is a bright yet melancholy homage to a small town in Nick's adopted Southern California. His (own) angelic vocals cascade across a golden vintage haze, soulful and dancey, tugging at certain heartstrings with lines like "I feel everything, and it's all too much."
It's a near-perfect pop song. And in true Y&S style, it comes with some delicious visual bells and whistles. The bright, zany, beautiful universe of this unique creator beckons. Will you dive in?
Connect with Young & Sick: Facebook | SoundCloud | Instagram