THE INTERNET. photo credit: https://clture.org/event/the-internet-hive-mind-tour/
My mom always warned me never to meet strangers or make friends off the internet. However, she never warned me not to meet strangers at The Internet, which makes me feel like I can say with complete confidence that I will have no trouble making friends in the audience at The Internet’s tour stop in Seattle.
Or, maybe I will have trouble (perhaps the crowd around me will just be too engaged with their excitement for the upcoming show), but, either way, I’m excited to at least have the option. The Internet is LA-Based alternative R&B group that’s been producing albums since 2011, although they’ve been around since the days of Odd Future. They produce a sound that is distinctly funky, while also being highly emotive and and melancholy. Their 2016 album, Ego Death, was Grammy nominated for Best Urban Contemporary Album, and The Internet’s cult following both on and off the (literal) internet only goes to show how many people love their distinctive, stellar music.
The Internet and their album for Hive Mind.
Image Credit: https://www.thecurrent.org/events/2018/10/17/4221/the-internet
The Internet is helmed by the powerful vocals of Sydney Bennett, otherwise known by her musicalm alias of just Syd. Her vocal poweress would be enough to carry the band (and it very easily pushes her along in her successful solo career, in which she creates such soulful and sexy music about everything from falling in love with girls to her own identity), but the band is also strongly supported by the musical talents Steve Lacy on guitar and vocals, Matthew Martin on keyboards and vocals, Patrick Paige II on bass, and Christopher Smith on drums. They are a powerful group, with songs that demand your attention not just the first time you hear them, but songs that you feel in your whole body when you hear them for every time after that.
The video for Come Over, my favorite song off The Internet’s new album, Hive Mind.
Their most-streamed song, Girl, is a track that I know I’ve found myself crying to on more than one occasion, for more than one different reason. The song is a beautiful ballad and a love story for modern times, narrated by the angelic voice of Syd. With the background of a jazzy, ethereal beat, the song tells the story of a new couple, where they slowly and chaotically fall into love and fall into eachother’s lives- with the label of girlfriend attached. Like many of The Internet’s songs, the song itself is dreamy and melodic, with a vibe that seems to pick me up in my darkest moments and lift me higher in my best ones. If I had to pick one song out of the millions I adore to listen to for the rest of my life, just one, my choice would be Girl without a moment’s hesitation.
The Internet is coming to the Showbox Sodo on a stop for their Hive Mind tour. Tickets are still available for purchase. They’ll be here on Friday, October 27th in what’s surely gonna be a phenomenal show. And if you see me in the audience, say hey! Like I said, I can’t wait to meet strangers from the internet at The Internet on Friday.
AMELIA ZEVE | Marry me, Syd Bennett | KXSU Arts Reporter