California native Billy Kim has spent the last five years as a touring sideman with the Grammy-nominated Tycho, but his debut EP, IMAGO (under the moniker of Karaboudjan), sees him move center stage amongst a whirlpool of propulsive psychedelic indie rock.
Named after a ship referenced in The Adventures of Tintin comics, Karaboudjan is Kim’s own brand of dreamy skyscraping rock, and new track “Falling Forwards” further cements the multi-instrumentalist’s growing reputation for crafting soaring, nostalgia-soaked music.
The track concerns itself with the all-consuming frustration of tackling a creative endeavor and Kim’s desire to throw himself into this extremely personal project despite any possible trepidation. “Falling Forwards” marries euphoric washes of synths alongside sharp blasts of delay-drenched guitars that cascade and swirl around Kim’s impassioned and heartfelt vocal performance.
Vocally, Kim’s delivery is reminiscent of Ben Bridwell of Band of Horses, if he was fronting Merriweather Post Pavilion-era Animal Collective, and his intonation evokes a real sense of wholehearted desperation.
With Karaboudjan referencing the treasured literature of his childhood, Kim describes IMAGO as something of a tribute to his youth, saying:
“There are two definitions, and I’m using both. The first definition is quite literal as I’ve reached adulthood while completing my first solo endeavor. It’s like I’ve finally reached a stage in my life where I am comfortable enough to finally release my own music that relates to personal topics for me. The second definition is an homage to my father, who definitely influences my behavior, especially after his death.”
Possessing emotional depth in both sound and content, Karaboudjan has the potential to really connect with ardent fans of the ever-growing crowd of top-rate modern indie psychedelia, and position Kim as an artist to follow very closely.
Stream the track below.
Tom is a musician and writer based in Durham, UK. When he’s not touring with his band or writing, he’s spending his time indulging in his guilty pleasure of watching the trashiest TV available and denying he enjoys it.
