#Freshfind: We amp it enough and it is finally here. Snøw newest album I Smoke To Cope is out
Photo Credit: Kaytlyn Justo
Salem native Snøw has revealed his highly anticipated debut album I Smoke To Cope today via amuse. Along with the record, he has also unveiled the visualizer for the focus track “Misbehave.” Teaming up with his longtime collaborator Skinny Atlas, he offers vivid portraits of struggling with addiction, practicing tough love, grieving through loss, and exercising vulnerability through an extensive 10-track work. Every song invites his audience to indulge in the vivid and chromatic styles of his sound that attest to his versatility in taking the lo-fi genre to refreshing territories.
Regarding the influence behind the record, Snøw shares, “In the beginning, it looks like it's an album about love and heartbreak, but there’s more to it. The album talks a lot about using substances to go through life at a very young age and not being able to stop, despite knowing that it’s not the smartest choice. It’s largely based on my friends’ and my own personal experiences. We have all been through a lot even though we are still very young. In the end, the songs represent a silver lining to anyone listening to them, some of them are heartfelt and sad while some others just encourage you to keep going.”
Kicking off with the focus anthem “Misbehave,” the record immediately suspends its listeners into a minimalistic chest-pounding sphere where he channels the silent despair of dealing with a heartbreak amongst a cheery crowd. “This song is about being dumped by someone you were really invested in. What makes the situation worse is that you actually had reasons to leave them but you chose to stay and work it out just for them to leave anyway. Your friends try to cheer you up by taking you to parties, introducing you to new people, and taking you drinking, but you’re not enjoying yourself because your heart is broken.”
Since the beginning of this year, Snøw has been giving previews of his project by dropping “TOX!C,” “Demon Girl,” and latest single “Helpless,” which was featured on Consequence’s Rap Song Of The Week roundup. I Smoke To Cope also includes his widely-acclaimed 2021 releases including “Another Lie” and “Blaming Me For Us,” both of which were featured on Billboard’s Fresh Picks.
The album also includes his previously unreleased works that highlight his storytelling prowess while crafting head-nodding riffs. In “Underground,” he walks us through the stages of grief while exploring the different paths people take to move on from the loss of a loved one. In “Smoke Sesh,” he joins forces with Jomie alongside Skinny Atlas to address the pain that one’s substance dependency can cause on those around them. Once again, he recruits Jomie in “Down In The Dumps” where he captures the priceless value of giving emotional support. The last track “One Eye Open,” which features Kerri, finds him reflecting in the messy aftermath of a breakup with mature self-awareness.
For the month of April, Snøw will also be playing in Elsewhere Zone in Brooklyn and opening for Cozyboy and Thomas Reid in Chicago, with more tour dates to be announced soon.
ABOUT SNØW:
Hailing from Salem, MA, Snøw has become one of the fastest emerging artists among a new generation of musicians who are transforming the hip-hop/lo-fi landscape. His path into the industry dates back to his middle school days writing songs as a hobby. But it wasn’t until high school when he started fully immersing himself into honing his craft that would resonate his vision and style.
Since his debut three years ago, the self-taught artist has approached every production, songwriting, and collaboration with relentless pursuit of innovation. His knack of songsmithing viral-level hits has led to collaborations with lo-fi royalty including Powfu, Sad Boy Prolific, and Kina, where he was featured on his Platinum hit ‘Get You The Moon’.
Snøw’s previous singles “I’m Not Enough” and “I’m Sorry” have amassed more than 50 million streams whereas his latest one “Spilled My Coffee” has garnered over 2 million. The track has received praise from Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1, Annie Mac and Jack Saunders from BBC Radio 1, and many more. Aside from radio airplay, the single became an online sensation across the YouTube lo-fi community and was playlisted by popular channels including The Bootleg Boy (4.3 million subs) and Aurora Vibes (1.7 million subs).
His works have also infiltrated editorial playlists across all platforms. They have landed on more than 20 Spotify editorial playlists including New Music Friday in the US and Australia. In addition, they’ve also been listed on Apple Music’s NMD across five countries (UK, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Switzerland) and Amazon Music’s Fresh Indie and Breakthrough Alternative.
For him, music has always served as a coping mechanism to address some of the complex topics as well as to build personal narratives that help people connect regardless of who and where they are in life. With his debut album I Smoke To Cope, he continues to solidify his name in the lo-fi kingdom and beyond that deliver a dynamic journey filled with uplifting and oftentimes gut-wrenching narratives that offer solace to his listeners.