Semler is a Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter and content creator who has a certain cheery and laidback feeling that prevails across their work. Their work traverses fairly interesting intersections, being a queer artist who sings about faith. Their February 2021 EP Preacher’s Kid broke barriers when it rocketed to the #1 spot on the iTunes Christian music charts—making Semler the first openly queer artist to hold that position. Their latest record, ‘Stages OF A Breakdown, illustrates the emotions and the entire journey of a relationship capitulating. Each song on the five track EP highlights the various emotions that Semler went through while dealing with their own relationship falling apart.
Opening with ‘You’re Not My Friend’, Semler kickstarts the album with a slightly more light-hearted piece that’s got a rather tongue-in-cheek approach and playful tone to it while describing how the entire relationship is about to breakdown. It’s kind of like a f*ck you song but not done so as much with passionate disdain as it is with lackadaisical dismissiveness. The second piece is perhaps Semler at their best. The infectiously melodic dance bop of a tune written from the perspective of their ex-friend. It’s beautifully atmospheric, carrying with a sense of nostalgia and euphoria all over. As the song hits its mid section and the drums kick in, it starts to move into overdrive, becoming an exciting tune to completely release yourself to it. Here, Semler’s vocals are at their most focused and melodic. Definitively, one of my favourite pop tunes of the year so far. The slightly robotic ‘Don’t tell anyone’ just adds to the track’s flair.
“Twenties” then provides Semler’s response to its predecessor’s judgment and loss of love. It’s more folksy, with a simple acoustic melody and vocal harmonies to set you in a state of bliss. The final pieces, “Raise Up” and “Outro,” see Semler drawing up a resolution to this pain while simultaneously in search for faith amidst the chaos.
Coming from someone who tends to view faith based music slightly unsure, ‘Stages Of A Breakdown’ is simply magical from back to front. There’s a difference in genre from track to track, there’s a mood change in each, and there’s a cohesive narrative to match. In particular, ‘Don’t Tell Anyone’ ranks among the best pop tunes I’ve come across.
A special one, undoubtedly.