By: Sam Wills

The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights”, a song released in 2019 and a number one hit in 2020, is still in the top ten of the Billboard charts. Much of the chart stagnation is due to the pandemic, with mainstream artists seeking to record and release music when its effects have been tempered.

While mainstream music releases this year have gotten off to a predictably slow start, there have been no lack of indie tunes worth hearing. “Imposter” from Miss Grit’s second EP of the same name is one song that shouldn’t be swept under the rug in the 2020 hangover. From the first few seconds, the opening riff primes listeners for a virtuosic guitar performance before giving way to a sparser drum and bass combo for the verses. While a solo does eventually appear, it is immediately contrasted with the acoustic and serene outro. The loud-quiet-loud dynamic employed in the song may be whiplash inducing and a callback to grunge bands of the past, but it seems to share more of its DNA with the heavier dream pop atmospherics of the Smashing Pumpkins and Secret Machines. What sets “Imposter” apart from its influences though, are vocalist Margaret Sohn’s delivery and lyrics. Her voice floats like a feather over the crunchy guitars and airy synths as she describes her doubts about her own success. Sohn draws out each syllable in a singsong way that perfectly coalesces with the guitar, making her doubts feel that much more palpable. With many people’s personalities being presented through the lens of social media, it’s easy to connect with the identity crisis Sohn presents. Timely and relevant, “Imposter” is a surefire addition to 2021 playlists.