Subway Rat is an experimental artist who is based in Queens, New York City. he started writing songs right after a rough, prolonged breakup with his college sweetheart and a life-altering late diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder Level 1 and released his first song Rendezvous. He currently works with indie guitarist and producer Paco Lee, alongside the folks at Lounge Studios in Times Square. His latest effort is titled Captain of The Football Team, and its a conceptual project that deals with his breakup and the aftermath.
Captain of The Football Team starts with the playful and upbeat track “Outta Town” which taps into 90s alternative pop sounds. Armed with his distinct vocal style and impassioned melodic approach, he talks about heartbreak in his twisted manner. The project is quite rich in terms of sound and his extensive use of electrifying guitar arrangement, and punchy and varied drums is impressive but the most important part is his vocals. They are gruff, playful and somewhat unassuming as one can hear on “Hope!” where he uses extensive refrains to accentuate his message of one-sided love. "Queens Kids" is a reflective tune that goes back in time when Subway rat was a young kid doing what kids do in the early 2000s. The track is a blend of off-center guitar licks, and dark sound designs all underpinned by his off-beat single and vivid lyrics like "We line up in the cold
For a lemon ice/My best friend Frankie/Got into another fight/We could have had our kids/Grow up New York City/They would have been real tough Like their daddy oh”“. he also employs some hip-hop rhythms into the mix and a lot of playful storytelling.
Tracks like “Moon” and “Corner café “ are edgy and explore the singer’s emotional trauma and radical approach to songmaking. The former is littered with a simple phrasal tone and most of it is extensive guitar riffs that rise to a plateau in the chorus section while the latter sees him looking back at the good old days from a rueful mindset. "Nostalgia" is another testament to Subway Rat’s versatility, he makes use of a bright pop-synth bedding and fuses it with edgy rock drums and moody electric guitar riffs. Here, he talks about the good times he had with the homecoming queen and the many shenanigans he got up to as a kid. This is followed by "Summertime”, an aptly titled track that explores the life of a single man with a broken heart. He shares his experiences with the listeners and how he is coping with the realization that she won’t be by his side anymore. The fun continues with the retro-tinged and nostalgia pop/rock-infused track "Lost Without U" which is peppered with lyrics like "Fell down the rabbit hole/And found a bear/I’m wise like the turtle/But I’m fast like the hare/I’m lost Yeah I’m lost without you/I lost/Yeah I lost you/ I’m lost/Yeah I’m lost without you” which captures Subway rat’s whimsical songwriting. This hits a crescendo in the chorus where he sends an impassioned outcry for his lost love.
The final track "Modern Lovers" is a vibrant alternative pop rock/hip hop fusion track made up of punchy drums, and rich guitars with sombre aesthetics. Once again, Subway’s vocals remain the star of the show with its ruggedness and grittiness but filled with passion. Here he directs his thoughts on his ex and how she still lingers on in his mind. It seems the artist has been through a lot of emotional pain lately and he uses this track to cleanse himself.
Connect with Subway Rat: Apple Music | Spotify | TikTok | Instagram
