All this week, the Song of the Day spotlights artists playing Sound On Sound Fest, happening November 4-6.
Hearing Open Mike Eagle, you could imagine him venturing down a ton of different avenues: playwright, actor, maybe even stand-up comedian. The Chicago-born, L.A.-based rapper is simply really good with words (he also hosts a great podcast called Secret Skin). Earlier this year, Eagle teamed up with British producer Paul White for Hella Personal Film Festival, the title a good clue towards Eagle’s particular skills.
With Eagle, the mundane can be profound, like on “Check To Check.” He’s a conversational rapper; as he details his phone addiction, it feels like he’s actually talking to you on the phone, weary but funny and intimate. As the quick song tumbles forward, he sounds increasingly exhausted, and White matches it with a busy beat. It’s hard to get a grip on our tech-obsessed times. Open Mike Eagle doesn’t even try. He’s just speaking from his very-humanistic heart, and it shows.
“Check To Check” appears on Hella Personal Film Festival, out now via Mello Music. Open Mike Eagle plays Sound On Sound Fest on Sunday, November 6 at 5 p.m. on the Forest stage.
–Art Levy // host, Sunday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., producer, My KUTX
