Despite his assurances on social media, yesterday almost came and went without Wiley from Atlanta dropping his new mixtape. I kept hitting his SoundCloud page throughout the day, mostly because I wanted the cover art and tracklist for the August edition of Local Records to Listen For, but also because “Colors” has me so damn intrigued. The track, which we first featured back in May, has accidentally become one of my summer jams. I say accidentally because the SoundCloud stream has somehow become the default page whenever I visit the site, and I never bothered to try and fix it.

And why would I? Lyrically, “Colors” may be about the warmth love can provide and how romantic heat can repel the chill of winter. But musically, the track is coated in that perfect mix of hazy sunshine and torpid humidity that defines summers in the South. The organ melody and twinkle of piano that drives the song — a combination at once funky and deeply soulful — is the sort of simple yet irrepressible refrain that nestles into your subconscious and winds up soundtracking your dreams. And, damn, don’t even get me started on the hook.

The video, shot and edited by Ben Searles, does a fine job of accentuating the song’s early morning pastel hues and idyllic vibes. It features Wiley from Atlanta wandering through woods, bathed in golden light and rosy smoke, doing some soul-searching. For a moment, he sees the object of his affection, but she quickly fades, leaving him yearning for those quiet, intimate moments they shared together. As a metaphor for loss and regret, it may be a bit heavy-handed, but the track’s breezy glide helps smooth things over. After all, it’s hard to stay wistful with music this magnetic.

Sometime after 10 p.m. last night I finally got the alert that Don’t Talk to Me About Love had been uploaded. Curious, I clicked on the link and went to play the opening track. But then I stopped and clicked on “Colors” instead. I just couldn’t help myself.

Wiley from Atlanta will perform on Friday, August 5 at RowdyDowdy at Fort Pryor alongside Shac from da 3, Melody Reyne, Jaye Newton, TJ Pompous, Afro Pluto, and more. Doors open at 7 p.m. Admission is $5.

More Info
Bandcamp: newwavemvmnt.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @newwavemvmnt
Instagram: @wileyatl
SoundCloud: @wileyatl
Twitter: @wileyatl