Rubber Encourages Artistic Self-Indulgence with Silky Single, "Cloudy"

Rubber, photo by Isabel Zapata

Rubber, the self-described Neo-Soul and funk duo consisting of Andrew Loper and John Della Franco, has used the pandemic’s forced downtime to redefine their sound and tighten their songwriting and technicality. Still trailing on the widespread success of their early spring EP entitled Buggy Bumpers, this latest release, “Cloudy,” showcases a near-180 in both sound and form. Rubber is a project that completely took me by surprise. Their show at The Barbary in February was one of my last shows before the pandemic, and I’d intended to go see Taylor Kelly, but I left with a complete fascination for Rubber’s infectiously smooth sound and aesthetic. Though it’s been months since that gig, “Cloudy” reinforces why I initially fell in love with Rubber and feels like an encouraging push into more fully-realized listening territory. This is a band with a very well-developed and purposeful image, which makes them so easy to latch on to.

“Cloudy” takes control of the listening space that it fills, and I need to draw immediate attention to Loper’s vocals. His tone and style are intensely gripping and smooth in a way that I promise I haven’t heard from an artist in such a long time. Especially not a local artist. The ease that drips from their lyrics is completely hypnotic despite the fact that, during the writing process, the words weren’t meant to be taken seriously. Rooted in the theme of over-indulging in self-confidence as an artist, the hook says “I could be my only boss, you could be your only boss too.” There’s something about that message though that’s completely honest, especially in a DIY sense. Take ownership of your own success and don’t let anyone make you feel bad about your confidence. It’s a lesson that you can learn in any facet of artistry and the way that message is delivered through Loper’s silky and synthetic vocals paired with unironic metaphor after metaphor, falsetto backing riffs, a pressing high-hat beat, and enigmatic key trills fill the song with a laidback sense of urgency. “Cloudy” is in the running for my favorite song to end the year with. It takes all of the severity out of feeling self-indulgent, which is something that a lot of artists certainly grapple with. What’s the line between self-confidence and outright vanity? This song draws it.

You can stream “Cloudy” below or anywhere you find music.