Saint Mesa is the musical outlet for young Californian multi-instrumentalist Danny McCook, who, prior to the release of his debut single, “Jungle”, faced more than his fair share of hardship (you can read more about that in that review). When we say musical outlet, however, we mean it in a more figurative sense, as McCook used the downtime that was imposed on him to create the foundations of the EP we have before us now. Life threw Danny a curve, and he took that opportunity to swing for the fences, ultimately giving us Jungle as a whole. As far as introductions go, it is hard to surpass the bold and unique sounds of lead single “Jungle”; however, Saint Mesa has managed to populate his debut EP with an impressive lineup of material that proves he is deserving of his early praise. The energetic beats on offer (especially on “Imagination”) are downright infectious, yet, if you scratch the surface, there is a definite depth with the exploration of themes darker than the exterior would suggest. Second track “Roses” is the perfect example of this with its examination of loss and the personal mantra of clearing your mind of somber thoughts. The final track, “Head Clouds”, sees Saint Mesa at his most candid about his personal setbacks, capturing the journey and formative shift in mindset that has brought him to where he is today. Opening with “This year has been a hard one, to say the least”, the remaining runtime is a rallying cry to the power of perspective and to “think of all the good that lies ahead". And with the Jungle EP now in the bag, there's plenty of good to be had.
Saint Mesa