Dreamy bedroom-pop project Yot Club has more than a few songs that have garnered millions of streams, which makes their 2019 hit “YKWIM?” all the more impressive. In the same spirit, their latest single, “LAUREN,” follows a similarly introspective formula that has worked for Ryan Kaiser, the lead singer, so far.

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“LAUREN” finds Kaiser teaming up with Claire Chicha, better known by her alt-pop project spill tab, who has also accumulated an impressive number of streams across the singles and EPs she’s released in the past four years. Through a misty duet, Kaiser and Chicha play off each other’s languid dispositions over fittingly encompassing production.

From the beginning, “LAUREN” is much slower than most tracks, even for Kaiser and Chicha. It maintains that same speed throughout, never breaking down into a climactic ending. Chicha’s voice creeps in alongside the brooding bass, which pairs well with the effects filtered through her and Kaiser’s vocals.

The resulting effect makes it seem as though the guitar and surrounding instruments are drowning out Kaiser and Chicha. As for the lyrics, the two take turns singing about Lauren, trading stories that all make her sound like a mystifying figure. There’s never a clear image given of who Lauren exactly is, but that works in the song’s already dreamy feel.

spill tab and Yot Club are ending their 2023 after a considerable number of concert dates, with the former having completed a European tour this past September. Looking into the 2024 calendar shows no signs of stopping for either one, as Yot Club is already slated to perform at Salt Lake City’s Kilby Block Party in May.

But Kaiser has a lot planned for 2024, according to his Instagram. While there’s no word on whether or not “LAUREN” is meant to be part of an upcoming EP, album, or otherwise, it does indicate the music quality he’s aiming for. Even as a standalone single, “LAUREN” shows a natural combination of styles between Yot Club and spill tab.

Words: David Sosa

“LAUREN” by Yot Club and spill tab is out on all streaming services. For more on new music and live shows, follow Yot Club and spill tab on their Instagram accounts.