Passenger

Passenger, a new album from Portland indie-pop duo Small Million, welds deeply affecting sonic production to smart lyrics about intuition and inhibition; losing control and ending up in unexpected places; being willing to fuck up; bodies hurt and bodies joyful. In the time since the band's last release, years of chronic pain have led lead vocalist and lyricist Malachi Graham to deep explorations of embodiment that have changed everything from her singing voice to her dance moves to her observation of human frailty. “There’s one side of chronic pain that leads you towards intuition, self-discovery, and listening closely to yourself. But it also means you end up sitting on the side of the room a lot, watching people and paying attention,” notes Graham. "Also, you’re pissed." Instrumentalist Ryan Linder centers these intense emotions in his rich textured cinematic production. The effect is both intimate and epic, delicate and fierce.