After gathering momentum with his 2012 debut album I’m Sure and its certified-gold single “Swing Lynn,” leading to tours with Wavves and Vacations, Nacho Cano’s Harmless project went dark for a decade as the songwriter recovered from a biking incident where he was struck by a drunk driver, leaving him to relearn how to walk and, for lack of a better phrase, lay chillin’ for some time as his body mended. Keeping in touch with his fanbase in the meantime, he’s revived the project since the pandemic, unveiling two EPs—Condiciones and Mr. Baby—in the past three years, in addition to putting out new versions of his hit single.
And there’s plenty more new music on the way, the first taste of which arrives today with “As I Lay Chillin.” While the title makes light of the situation that had him on bedrest for a spell, the subject matter is a sobering look at prejudice in the music industry and how any form of success can seem less likely every day. “With this track, I’m trying to communicate with my younger self that in the last 10 years, the fight against the barriers around us has gotten harder,” he shares. “Despite doing everything we can, as immigrants, we still don’t feel good enough for this country or the music industry at large. I talk about our bodies and how we’ve been physically disabled by a horrible crime. I’m angry that it has made the climb toward our dreams feel impossible.”
Contrary to all this, the instrumental is ecstatic, breath-of-fresh-air bedroom-pop recalling the sounds of a peer like BOYO. Check out a visualizer for the track below, and anticipate more from Harmless soon.
