Comprising of singer and guitarist Maxime McGowan, bassist Saam Jafarzadeh, and drummer Ashwin Menon, Oya Paya‘s debut album, Slumped Up, is a twelve-track creation that adeptly encapsulates the atmosphere of both rainy, neon-lit nights and sunlit, glittering days.
On the album being made across various countries the band has said,
“All of Slumped Up’s 12 tracks miraculously recall the energy and mayhem of the Oya Paya live experience, relaying the band’s unshakeable belief that the band is bigger than borders.”
With their album traversing a spectrum of landscapes, from high-energy tracks like “Operator,” “Hesitated, So Complicated,” and “Call It” that elevate the volume, to groove-infused tunes such as “Manoeuvre,” “Don’t Ask,” and “Focus”. The album also features downtempo tracks like “Slow Slug,” “5th September,” “Second Best,” and “Help Me Understand,” embracing the hazy, daydreaming essence of shoegaze.
One standout, “Pretty Slick,” with its 8-bit synth vibe and infectious beats, conjures up nostalgia to that of an ’80s video game soundtrack.
With Oya Paya exploring diverse musical landscapes, Slumped Up masterfully blends the vigour of doom groove with the sweet, ethereal essence of shoegaze-infused pop.
MUST LISTEN TRACKS: “Operator”, “Hesitated, So Complicated”, “Second Best”, “Pretty Slick”
