Consuming in its inventive soundscapes and dreamy vocal evolutions, Future Republican President is the debut EP from fogchild, the project of Jae Grumulaitis. Drawing from experiences growing up in an evangelical environment as a Trans Woman, the release navigates seamlessly across a mix of ambient textures, guitar, and vocal infusions — spanning from lush leads to intriguing samples. The memorable production leans into enjoyably dynamic tonal and aesthetical experimentation, balancing gentle, meditative moments with more delectably jarring and unsettling tones.
A gorgeously dreamy entrancement commences the album with “Water to Wine.” The production emanates mystique and atmosphere, propelled by lush synth pads and ghostly vocal immersion. Glimpses of light guitar twangs bolster the production, playing like a flickering night in a dark forest — and casting a cinematic, Lynchian-type feeling overall. “Endless Entropy” follows with a more ominous undercurrent; lingering guitar distortion consumes within a storm-like backing ambience, embracing an lovably unsettling noise aesthetic. The opening one-two punch, showcasing both dreamy chills and jarringly industrial darkness, is exemplary of fogchild’s enjoyably eclectic tonal grasp.
Another standout, “Blood of the Lamb” captivates in its expanse from serenely understated vocal-laden balladry into a whirring array of beautifully buzzing textures that accompany alongside. Nina Fitzgerald’s vocals emit an enthralling ethereality throughout. The haunting “White as Snow” also compels, intertwining eerie vocal samples — pleading to Jesus to make them pure — alongside simmering throbs of rhythm and metallic-like swooshing. The ensuing “As the Deer” intrigues in both moments of minimalist noise and pulsing rhythmic foreboding, while the hypnotic dreaminess of “The Constituent Hum of a Thing That Fades” concludes this impressively atmospheric EP in satiating form.
Future Republican President releases on May 22nd. Pre-save it here.
