Song of the Day: Hoops - Cool 2

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Today’s song, featured on the Afternoon Show with Kevin Cole, is "Cool 2" by Hoops, from their self-titled 2016 EP on Fat Possum Records.

Hoops - Cool 2 (MP3)Hoops was born out of an especially sweltering summer in 2014. Initially started as an ambient solo project of lead singer Drew Auscherman to evade the heat, Hoops was a reference to the hoop houses he saw almost every day while working at a greenhouse in Bloomington, Indiana. Now acting as a full band with Auscherman on vocals, Keagan Beresford on guitar, Kevin Krauter on bass, and James Allen on drums, Hoops are putting out lo-fi jams with very particular production.

The quartet released three separate sets of songs earlier in the year, each respectively named Tape #1, Tape #2 and Tape #3, but today's featured song comes from their official debut EP, Hoops. “Cool 2” comes and goes in waves, riff-heavy at times, while at others the guitars seem to drift away. Auscherman’s nonchalant vocals follow suit one phrase at a time, effortlessly creating a melodic charm of beachy dream-pop. The track itself clocks in at less than two minutes long, but “Cool 2” is a track that’s tough to turn off.

There are no tour plans for Hoops in the Pacific Northwest as of right now, but it’s only a matter of time before they make their way to the upper left USA. Follow their website and Facebook page for updates and, for now, watch the video for “Feelin' Fine”, off of Tape #2, below.