Roy Blair – “Panavision”

By Ben Copas

After five years in hibernation, Roy Blair, an indie artist who spent the end of the 2010s on the precipice of fame, has returned with a new track and a new sound altogether. While he may not be a household name, Blair is inseparably intertwined with a specific era of internet subcultures. Listeners may recognize him from

Roy Blair – Panavision

his collaborations and affiliation with the alumni of BROCKHAMPTON during their prime or from his public relationship with now ex-girlfriend Enya Umanzor of Emergency Intercom fame.

In his new track, “Panavision,” Blair demonstrates a measured evolution of his sound, flowing over a lush jungle beat. Lyrically, he laments a loss in direction propelled by a precarious relationship with fame, the music industry, and the transactional limitation of his art. The bones of his indie pop-rap, post-Odd Future sound are still present, but its modular production, elevated songwriting, and relative modernity have permitted an escape from the age of the Fjällräven Kånken.

Having taken his time to hone his craft, this lead single to his upcoming album, “Chasing Moving Trains,” just feels like a glimpse of the new, fully formed artist he has become. 

“Chasing Moving Trains” releases November 1st, 2024.