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Photo: Jason Nocito

2024 has been a monumental year for Vancouver-based artist EKKSTACY. From the release of his self-titled album to supporting $uicideboy$ on tour, he’s stepping forward as an artist now more than ever. The world around him is shifting. What started on the bedroom pop back burner has drawn him out of the shadows and into the limelight. It’s a transition he’s made look easy and something detectable in the chords of the music of his current iteration.

His latest release “mr. mole” highlights EKKSTACY’s shift in perspective. It turns a new leaf from the signature bedroom-style production that’s fueled him to this point and experiments with writing alongside his band. EKKSTACY’s expanding his horizons in search of a hard-hitting, cathartic sound, which “mr. mole” knocks out of the park. That’s not to say this new style of songwriting loses the spirit of EKKSTACY we’ve come to know and love. We still get those diluted darkwave sonics and effervescent vocals, which add contrast to the stark riffs and percussion he’s now mixing in.

“mr. mole” is a deeply personal track for EKKSTACY and somewhat of an alter-ego. He writes about feeling isolated, living underground, and getting stuck in a hole of your own making. Just like an animal that always knows its way back, EKKSTACY unearths a persistent desire within himself to return home. There’s clear tenderness and nostalgia for the life he used to live, heightened by the fear of being forgotten by his loved ones. “mr. mole,” while sparing in lyrical matter, is direct, focused, and successful in its attempt to say a lot in a few words.

Watch the "mr. mole" video below: