Meltt (16 and Over)

Meltt’s upcoming third album is the culmination of everything the Vancouver indie-pop quartet have accomplished so far, all the while pushing their sound in new and exciting directions. True to its title, Pathways finds Chris Smith [lead vocals, guitar, bass, keys], Jamie Turner [drums, percussion], James Porter [guitar, keys, bass, vocals], and Ian Winkler [bass, keys, guitar] at multiple forks in the road and deciding to take all of them, submerging their sound in new rippling textures while still retaining the warm, textured glow that their music’s contained since their debut EP Visions in 2017. Thematically, Pathways approaches what Winkler refers to as “four men approaching their 30s and figuring out their paths and lives.” Big topics abound, from relationships and the aftermath of loss to the strange and uneasy feeling that accompanies navigating the modern world at large. “Our tone is usually pretty optimistic and hopeful, but this time we let some darkness in,” Porter says. “There are so many things we experience individually, but when we get in the studio, it’s clear that we’re on a journey together.” Whether you’ve been with them since the beginning or are joining them at this very juncture, Pathways will make you thankful that you’re along for the journey.