Sometimes, we need moments where we take things slow and truly cater to what our well-being needs. It can be through savoring the day by doing activities we enjoy, or attending to details that we’ve neglected due to high stress situations. Point is, we’ve got a soundtrack for those certain moments: introducing “Sunday Morning Pancakes”, an EP that’s seemingly dedicated to self-care through gentle tunes.
Drawing Mazes is a Chicago, Illinois based brainchild of singer-songwriter and producer Chris Pusinelli. Preceded by EPs “Living with Friction” and self-titled, “Sunday Morning Pancakes” takes center stage, which according to Pusinelli, is about how no two days are alike, much like how the record sounds: “Since we can’t predict the future, we can at least look forward to sunday morning pancakes!”
“Memories of Our Youth” sounds exactly like a trip down memory lane, with the faint dialogue of what seems to be a child adding a nice touch to the track. But, once the bassline makes itself completely known, you not only get a nostalgic feel, but also an upbeat, feel-good outlook. It’s vaguely familiar with 2010s music, and suddenly you just remember specific elements of the good old days.
This EP also includes stripped down songs such as “A Night Out from 2010”, an acoustic song that only features a ukulele and vocals. It’s one of those niche yet endearing tracks, in a sense that it narrates a specific experience, being witty about it. Additionally, it’s somewhat a reminiscence of a Bo Burnham way of telling stories through music.
Moreover, “Help Me Get Through the Afternoon” shares almost the same sentiment, only it features a full arrangement, and an intimate take on how it’s sung as if it’s a whisper, or a silent plea for help, as the title suggests. Sound-wise, it’s immersive, and has a soul-searching vibe to it. Another laid-back catchy tune would be “Banana Beach”. It subtly resembles compositions by Jamal Green. Nevertheless, the song is cozy, the vocals are comforting, and all the other components wrapped around the ukulele now as opposed to the isolated second track works great, proving that no song sounds exactly the same.
“The Pursuit of Happiness” might just be therapy in music form, as the lines ‘nobody wants to live to die’ is short yet meaningful, and explains the intent of this song as is. And, if you think about it, it’s all pretty philosophical too. The overall vibe is vibrant, colorful, like the sun peaking out of the clouds alongside a rainbow after a drizzle.
Last but not the least, “Sweet Life” packs a lo-fi feel, the sound alone lets you reflect on memories that feel good and mean a lot to you. The lines “Pack up your bags, it’s time to go, we need to see your friends” is really sweet. It’s almost as if it’s made for children, and it certainly could be, but it also acts like a gentle reminder for adults, for all ages for that matter.
All in all, this record will make you turn to the bright side. It will make you look forward to things, to look forward to living. It’s an optimistic, whimsical group of songs that are almost sickeningly sweet. It doesn’t shut out negatively completely, but rather embraces it, and opts to hope for better days instead. A solid ten out of ten, an easy recommendation.
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About the Author
Kate Clarice Lee is a psychology major in Ateneo de Naga University with a knack for music and writing. She takes interest in playing guitar, poetry, creative writing, and lyrics that—subjectively—hit close to home. Kate mostly enjoys indie, alternative, pop & punk rock music.
