ALOHA! Is Both a Warm, Dreamy Goodbye and a Brand New Start for Wotts

In February this year, I had the privilege of reviewing one of my favourite acts' new tunes. The act in question was Wotts, and the tune - a lush and dreamy gem called little bug. Now, cards on the table, I've loved Wotts for years, so it was a surprise to hear that Ricky 100 had recently left the Canadian duo. 

I suppose all good things come to an end, but that's not to say the Wotts story is over. In fact, far from it! Jayem is now stepping forward on his own - and just delivered the final piece of the COPE EP. Say hello to ALOHA!.

Built on warm acoustic drums and dreamy reverb-soaked guitars, ALOHA! sits firmly within the hazy and washed-out sonic world that Wotts spent years refining. Is it dream-pop, psych-pop, bedroom-pop? A combination? To be honest, I couldn't care less what label you want to slap on it. It's Wotts, pure and simple.

"I can't say it's not weird doing this solo," admits Jayem. "But at the end of the day, I still get a rush making music, and I still have songs to write."

A tune that ties the COPE project's emotional arc together, ALOHA! feels like both a farewell and a new beginning. I just hope this new era doesn't stray too far, because I've got a soft spot for this sound that will never fade!

Follow Wotts on Instagram