The debut album from Middle Part, Disruptor, intricately combines elements of distorted maximalism with an undercurrent of heartfelt sincerity. Exploring themes such as depression, self-acceptance, and the challenges of aging, the album creates an immersive sonic journey. Infusing post-grunge and new millennium tones with innovative twists, the LP captures a fresh sense of reinvention. Selkōw’s poignant label for the album as “a depiction of insanity” alludes to the persistent theme of the Sisyphean struggle against corporate-level productivity and the pervasive emotional deprivation we often face.
Much of the album was written and recorded between New York and a friend’s cabin in Maine near Sebago Lake, with Middle Part collaborating alongside long-time friend and producer Brian Zaremba, as well as producer Michael Andrews, Frank Corr of The Drums and Morning Silk as well as James McDermott of DBA James & Bayfaction.
Recognizing that music thrives within a community, Selkōw has discovered a sense of belonging within Brooklyn’s Bushwick music scene. Middle Part’s audacious sound and captivating stage presence have secured coveted opening slots for prominent acts such as Biig Piig, Arlie, and Yot Club. Their journey soared to new heights in the autumn of 2023 when they orchestrated an immersive festival experience in the heart of the neighborhood. This undertaking, coupled with their unforgettable performance, firmly cemented their status as an indispensable and dynamic force within the vibrant live music landscape of Brooklyn.
Beyond the music, Middle Part places a significant emphasis on the visual narrative that Disruptor inhabits. The album’s visual landscape pays homage to the golden era of MTV, subterranean societies, gritty bedrooms of troubled souls, and the squalor of downtown streets. The visual center piece of this album is a glass box; their most vulnerable and exasperated states on display, representing an exaggerated epitome of the “Tortured Artist”. Worn VHS tapes skitter and bend across screens, inhabiting liminal spaces, while mirrors reflect mirrors, casting a cascade of funhouse-like imagery, paying homage to some of their favorite directors like Greg Arraki, and David Lynch.
Middle Part – Andy Selkōw’s artist moniker – is hellbent on pouring his heart out and proving that earnest emotion and endless hooks can coexist within the distorted landscape of his nostalgic sound. Drawing inspiration from the late ‘90s and early 2000s, Selkōw’s unique brand of unconventional pop music pays homage to the era, resonating with the confessional lyrical prowess of artists like Alanis Morisette, Third Eye Blind, and Michelle Branch. Selkōw, confides, “I’m so sensitive and hate to show it, but it just bleeds through all of my music.”
With Disruptor, Middle Part aims to bring the darker, more profound aspects of life to the forefront of alternative pop music, setting out to disrupt the placid rhythm of the mainstream. The mission is clear: to shake up the musical landscape with a distinctive blend of heartfelt authenticity and innovative sound.
Are you adding this one to your rotation?
Catch Middle Part Live:
6/26 The Garage – MoCo, MD
6/27 Space Ballroom – Hamden, CT
6/28 O’Briens – Boston, MA
6/29 Pino’s – Highland Park, NJ
6/30 Union Pool – Brooklyn
