Clattermouuuth’s Music of The Week: ‘Slugger’ By DERBY 

By Andrew Kohler

Welcome back to Clattermouuuth’s Music of the Week, curating Rockaway’s music taste one week at a time.

This week I wanted to talk about an album that I discovered last week and have been bumping ever since: “Slugger” by DERBY. There’s no genre that can define this album because it fuses and draws inspiration from a variety of genres—indie pop, alternative rock, even some hyperpop. Because the album draws from so many different genres, I really think that anyone can find at least one song on here that they like.

My favorite song on the album is the opener, “Deer in the Belly of the Snake.” I love this song because, out of all the songs, this song feels the most original. The melody is ridiculously catchy, and the pitched-up, auto-tuned vocals add a unique texture that makes it all the more addictive.

I do think it is important to address the originality of this album; It’s clear DERBY is pulling inspiration from artists like Mk.Gee and Dijon—two musicians who’ve been collaborating recently and carving out a muddy, atmospheric, and experimental sound. A few tracks on “Slugger” sound like they could be Song Write B-sides, which might make parts of the album feel derivative.

But what really elevates this project is the vocal treatment. In every song, something captivating is being done with the vocals—whether it’s pitch shifts, reverb washes, or scrappy, lo-fi auto-tune. These creative choices give the project its own personality.

I love Mk.Gee and Dijon’s sound lately, but that’s not why I listen to this album. This album wears its influences openly, but it still has its own charm—through strong melodies and inventive vocal production—to make it worth your time. So I really recommend you check it out.

Welcome back to Clattermouuuth’s Music of the Week, curating Rockaway’s music taste one week at a time.

This week I wanted to talk about an album that I discovered last week and have been bumping ever since: “Slugger” by DERBY. There’s no genre that can define this album because it fuses and draws inspiration from a variety of genres—indie pop, alternative rock, even some hyperpop. Because the album draws from so many different genres, I really think that anyone can find at least one song on here that they like.

My favorite song on the album is the opener, “Deer in the Belly of the Snake.” I love this song because, out of all the songs, this song feels the most original. The melody is ridiculously catchy, and the pitched-up, auto-tuned vocals add a unique texture that makes it all the more addictive.

I do think it is important to address the originality of this album; It’s clear DERBY is pulling inspiration from artists like Mk.Gee and Dijon—two musicians who’ve been collaborating recently and carving out a muddy, atmospheric, and experimental sound. A few tracks on “Slugger” sound like they could be Song Write B-sides, which might make parts of the album feel derivative.

But what really elevates this project is the vocal treatment. In every song, something captivating is being done with the vocals—whether it’s pitch shifts, reverb washes, or scrappy, lo-fi auto-tune. These creative choices give the project its own personality.

I love Mk.Gee and Dijon’s sound lately, but that’s not why I listen to this album. This album wears its influences openly, but it still has its own charm—through strong melodies and inventive vocal production—to make it worth your time. So I really recommend you check it out.