Brotherkenzie gets personal with third EP NATHAN
By Mackenzie Wagner
In a balance of angst and pop, Nathan Stocker releases his third full-length album as Brotherkenzie, titled NATHAN. The album was written shortly following the release of BIG WHAT in 2020, and was recorded and produced with Caleb Hinz, Stocker’s long-time friend and Baby Boys collaborator. The Minnesota-based songwriter and producer has always been self-observant and reflective in his work, but NATHAN brings that to a new level of awareness.
“GET ON IT” was the first single released upon the announcement of NATHAN. The self-critical tune was the perfect release to celebrate the album’s announcement as the presence of self-criticism in the song is reflected throughout the whole project. The “big black box” referred to in the song is represented in the album art and serves as a physical representation of how Stocker explores narcissism lyrically. With an upbeat tone to contrast the ideas of criticism and narcissism present in the lyrics, “GET ON IT” was the perfect introduction to NATHAN.
”DIE BROKE” and “DADDY” reflect on relationships while undoubtedly recognizing how messy they can be. “DIE BROKE” reflects on the habit of looking for the wrong things in relationships, with lyrics, “I only want the bossy, bad, and shallow type”. “DADDY” has more upbeat pop vibes, though lyrics like “Roses are red and bruises are yellow / I like to be so fucking blue” are quite opposite of upbeat pop. The two tracks are examples of how Stocker perfectly balances angst and pop throughout his album.
“MOMMA” is surely a stand-out song on the album. The sound is a familiar one, with guitar strums and vocals true to original Brotherkenzie sounds. With lyrics reflecting feelings of being inadequate, falling short, and not living up to expectations paired with a reminiscent sound, “MOMMA” is a perfect example of how Stocker continually reflects deeper to write lyrics while staying true to who he is as an artist.
The album ends with “STARS ABOVE”, which finalizes NATHAN in a way that makes it feel truly complete. The soft piano draws attention at first listen, as it is more present than ever before in Stocker’s music. It’s very different from the twangy, usual sounds heard in previous albums. After exploring self-loathing, existential dread, and narcissism through the album, “STARS ABOVE” looks ahead to what’s next. The song seems to make peace with past observations and reflections in order to keep moving forward.
NATHAN presents everything Brotherkenzie is known for, but in his most raw, honest and unapologetic form yet.
The album shows new growth and honesty without straying from who Brotherkenzie is as an artist. Stocker proves he is not afraid to dig deeper in his reflections. He presents his collection of thoughts with vulnerability, grit, and incredible sound. Following the success of NATHAN, Stocker will play his songs live this fall, marking his first tour as Brotherkenzie.