“Mika’s Laundry” - Matt Champion Album Review

Former Brockhampton member Matt Champion has released his first-ever studio album, titled “Mika’s Laundry,” and it was nothing short of amazing.

Despite “Mika’s Laundry” being Champion’s debut album, it is not his first rodeo in the music industry. Prior to this album, he had released multiple singles on his own, and more famously was a member of the boy band Brockhampton.

Fans know from Brockhampton projects that Champion is an extremely well-rounded artist, but “Mika’s Laundry” really allowed his sound to shine.

It’s truly amazing how many aesthetics and lyrical choices Champion included into one album and still managed for it to be cohesive.

“Aphid” (feat. Dijon) was the first single released for this album, followed by “Slug” and "Slow Motion,” which features Blackpink’s JENNIE.

“Aphid” was a perfect choice for the lead single. Its musicality and instrumentals set the stage for what fans were to expect for the remainder of the album.

The 13-track album opens with “Green,” an atmospheric song setting the tone and creating a picturesque world for fans to dive into.

Alongside the album, Champion produced an entire visual component, collaborating with director Anna Pollack. The rapper explored his solo capabilities, experimenting with color and imagery which allows “Mika’s Laundry” to be more than just a collection of songs.

“Mika’s Laundry” is an album that corroborated Champion’s lyrical, vocal abilities. After mostly showcasing his rapping through Brockhampton, it is a pleasant surprise to be gifted an album that focuses on sung vocals.

As a fan of Brockhampton, hearing Champion’s raw vocals every once in a while through their music was always a treat. “Mika’s Laundry” is the entire ice cream truck.

The fourth track on the album is called “Gbiv,” assumed to stand for the last four colors of the rainbow: green, blue, indigo and violet. Champion seems to have taken a page out of Taylor Swift’s book, having his debut album take on a teal-green color scheme.

“Gbiv” is the most trap-influenced track of the 13. It gives fans of Brockhampton some nostalgia, having a similar sound to some of the boy band’s previous releases. The music shifts from dark pop-synths to a lighter feeling, with piano keys playing the outro.

“Aren’t You Excited” and “Purify” are two other strong, distinctive players to come from “Mika’s Laundry.”

“Purify” has a soft, indie sound to it. The album was produced with Henry Kwapis, who has previously worked with Dominic Fike and Dijon. The chill and lowkey feel of the song is what makes it so great.

“Mika’s Laundry” is a collection of songs about love. “Purify” adds to this theme with the repeated lyric “‘Cause I trust you, I do,” and “Aren’t You Excited” seems to play on the butterflies you get amidst trying for a relationship.

Champion follows his creative gut through this project, sticking to interesting, never-been-heard-before sounds that prove his talent. Another standout song is “Project,” which has acoustic, country-esque backing instrumentals.

The sounds produced in “Project” came from out of the blue. This sort of style from Champion was the last expectation fans had, but it is one of the strongest of the bunch.

Overall, Champion was able to create an album that might just be the best post-Brockhampton release from any of the former members. “Mika’s Laundry” hit every mark, and was such an enrapturing surprise for fans everywhere.

Champion is certainly an artist to look out for. Fans of Brockhampton know his potential as a solo artist in the music industry, and having a similar production sound to artists like Fike and Dijon could definitely propel him to the top.

Overall, “Mika’s Laundry” was amazing, and left listeners wanting even more.

Rating: 9/10

Reviewer’s favorite songs: “Project”, “Aren’t You Excited,” “Slow Motion”

Reviewer’s least favorite songs: “Green”

Sarah Gavlak is a second-year majoring in telecommunications. To contact her, please email sng5393@psu.edu.