THE NEW EP FROM STOUNSON, THE LAST SIP FOR MIDAS, IS OUT NOW!

Why Are You Not Satisfied, King Midas?

Insight into the making of 'The Last Sip for Midas'.

11/8/20243 min read

Projects are hard for me to see to fruition. Specifically with music, I've had a hard time seeing an album all the way to completion over the last few years. The reasons vary, and are probably all very boring, but it often comes down to the central thought: Is this idea strong enough? As an exercise to flesh out my ideas more quickly and ensure I'm actually putting out music, I returned to releasing EPs—the same approach I had when I began making music at 18. From here, Midas was born.

I started working on The Last Sip for Midas in tandem with The Lost Works of Pytheas. After sequencing Pytheas—a project where I spin my own mythos with both truth and self-aggrandizement—it became clear that I wanted to follow up with a complementary EP structured more as fable than myth. Pytheas ends on a high note with "Athens," a track where I pat myself on the back for putting in the "10 thousand hours" into my craft and presenting the listener with the result. Now what?

Midas opens with "Paper Route", where the MF DOOM influence is so heavy that my sleeves likely turned to metal when I made the beat. I wanted this opening to reflect "Teak Decking" from Pytheas, but with more ambiguity in its boastfulness. Considering how he lived, would anyone really want to be the "new Van Gogh"? Beyond that, the song lays out the central dilemma of Midas: What is the right way to pursue your dreams?

The thing I struggle to grapple with most in relation to my art is this: How can I keep this thing pure and also live off of it? I often ponder such important thoughts from my high horse while I scroll aimlessly on TikTok. One day, during this very important work, I stumbled upon an up-and-coming act promoting their music with a paid partnership from a fast-food chain. Their fans were sounding off in the comments like they’d won a Grammy: "Get that bag!" I felt the only appropriate response was to push this idea to its logical conclusion—making a song that is one long advertisement about absolutely nothing. "Brand New Brand Deals" is probably my funniest song but also maybe my best in concept. (Yeah! Subversive!)

Underground hip-hop has no shortage of this critique or perspective, so maybe it is a bit of a cliché. We all know hip-hop shouldn’t be about the money, blah, blah, blah, but we all need healthcare! Who am I to judge another artist for providing for their families via their expression and craft? This is why "Struck Gold" follows in the sequencing, to refocus on my love of the artform rather than wallowing in its faults. The Preemo-inspired beat I made with a ~~redacted~~ sample turned into a track that hopefully would fit in a playlist among PNW vets like Shabazz Palaces, Grynch, Knomads, Fresh Espresso, Sol, Blue Scholars, etc. AJ Suede provides that regional stamp of approval with a verse that, to me, is an instant classic.

The remaining songs on the project, "Midas" and "Pyrite (Dreams)," I'd like to leave up to your interpretation. I don’t know if what I'm laying out is too hard to spell, but it feels astute that I am writing this on November 6, 2024. If Midas can provide anything in this moment, I hope it can encourage you to protect your dreams and to remain optimistic for the future. No matter what, keep your heart intact and keep going.

"I know it ain't gold, it's just fool's gold, but it's kind of pretty."
—Stounson