Yb. unveils ‘Bulletproof’: Indie-pop brilliance featuring, new tracks, and high-profile collaborations
Rising indie-pop star Yb. has released his “anti-concept” mixtape Bulletproof, which features previous singles “Tell Me What the Cost Is” and “Rollercoaster” – both radio favourites – as well as three new tracks.
Saturated with guitars and fluttering electronica, Bulletproof (released via GYROrecords) sees the young Brisbanite work with a number of collaborators.
The mixtape’s opening track “Abolish Unrest” was produced by multi-instrumentalist Tom Eggert and features burgeoning singer-songwriter Lora on its second verse.
“No One” was written alongside guitarist Lola Scott and OSWRLD, who also worked on production. The glittery “Rollercoaster” and the infectious “Tell Me What the Cost Is” were produced by Beso Palma and Thomas Porter, respectively.
The mixtape’s title (and final) track employs the dance production expertise of Peking Duk, who seamlessly meld Yb.’s bedroom-pop strumming and vocals with their thumping club rhythms and heavy-eighths bass.
Of the high-profile collaboration, Yb. has said that Peking Duk have “so much energy between the two of them”, which “made it easy to break past the initial anxiety of recording and singing in front of new people” in the studio.
Earlier this year, Yb. earned himself two Queensland Music Awards – one for the Folk category, and the other for Emerging Artist of the Year, presented by Triple J.
He performed at this year’s Groovin in the Moo (as part of Queensland’s Fresh Produce line-up) and at multiple BIGSOUND showcases.
Having previously supported Allday, Biig Piig, Golden Vessel, and San Cisco, Yb. will be playing a headline show at The Brightside in Brisbane on the first of December.
Online, he has placed at the top of such Spotify and Apple Music playlists as POLLEN, All New Indie, and New Music Friday America, and has even been the playlist cover for Front Left.
“I think there is something extremely beautiful about surrendering to the feeling of loving someone and declaring it proudly. ‘When I’m with you I feel bulletproof’ was the blueprint and we made it happen.”
Stream BULLETPROOF above.
Words By Harrison Jones
