Former Local Native Kelcey Ayer is back with a new single called “Different Planets,” featuring additional vocals from Jordana and some nifty acoustic guitar flourishes from Alejandro Aranda. The lush, knotty, and hypnotic track blends those layers of guitars with stunning harmonies and the click-clack of found percussion. The track builds and builds, slowly revealing more sonic elements before quietly fading into the oblivion from which all things come and to which all things go.
“I wrote ‘Different Planets’ on a baby blue ukulele that was gifted to my newborn son,” Ayer explains. “I’d never written anything on a ukulele before or even owned one, so if it weren’t for him, this song would certainly not exist. It started as a challenge to myself to write something on an instrument I’d never used before, then something I’d play to soothe him. Eventually it became a song about teaching my son his first life-lessons. I focused on how all of the differences we see in ourselves or the world are actually so much more connective than they are divisive.
“I self-produced and self-engineered the song in my home studio here in Los Angeles, and even used other toys that were gifted to him in the recording (a toy wooden block is heavily used in the percussion). I performed everything myself, except for Jordana and Alejandro Aranda, lending backing vocals and added-acoustic guitar respectively, for which I could not be more grateful. I’ve felt as of late so thrilled at getting my friends, old and new, on this new music I’ve been making. I’ve always wanted more artists getting involved in my music because it changes things in such unforeseen magical ways. Excited to say there’s much more to come.”
The video, which defies my ability to describe things, is also very much worth checking out. Watch it below.
This Friday, March 7, Ayer will also be DJing during Levi’s “The 5th Pocket,” a special fire relief benefit that FLOOD is partnering with the brand for. The two-day event (night two is on Saturday) will feature exclusive merch, customizations, and pool tables in addition to DJ sets, all while benefitting the California Community Foundation’s Wildfire Recovery Fund.
