Midsummer Motel brings emotional catharsis in debut album, "Beat the Horse"

Midsummer Motel releases “Beat the Horse,” their debut album, that brings a new world to the listener, exploring the feelings of uncomfort, frustration, and confusion that comes alongside entering adulthood.

Midsummer Motel is made up of Ethan Intveld and John Hatch, who grew up in Atlanta. The birth of Midsummer Motel came about in 2022 with the launch of their first single “where do all the good people go?” First experimenting with dreamy indie soundscapes, Midsummer Motel built their sound upon staying true to their artistic identity, as they describe. 

With their latest single, “Heavy Tripp,” released in October of last year, it signified a turn to a bit of a darker sound than their listeners were used to. They brought in post-punk and shoegaze roots but stayed true to their experimentation with sound and that dreaminess that flows through their music.

“Beat the Horse” is an introduction to an experience that the band presents to their listeners. Through this album, the band creates a unique form of connection to their listeners - a space where they can feel like they belong and know they aren’t alone in their confusions.

They've always been able to hold onto that indie sound that revolved around the feeling of nostalgia for something you can't quite remember experiencing. like in “where do all the good people go?” “Turning into Mercury” utilizes those same feelings.

As does the rest of the album. Built around the ideas of someone’s shift into early adulthood and the uncertainty that growing up brings, “Beat the Horse” explains the crushing weight of self-discovery and how harsh it can be to realize the weight of reality versus living in the moment.

The entire album is a cathartic experience and brings the listener through a journey of emotional numbness and also acceptance and freedom, dipping in and out of all of these feelings. In songs like “Helmoth County Search Party” and “The Hiraeth,” you’re brought back to those feelings of dread and confusion. The frustration of not knowing all of the answers to problems coming at you in times of growing up and becoming an adult.

But most of the rest of the songs, like in “Turning into Mercury” and “Plastic Wings,” you’re brought back to some form of comfort. Knowing that while you may not have the answers to everything, life will take its course and everything will turn out okay in the end. There’s some form of acceptance and freedom for those who let nature take its course and be unafraid in being who they truly are.

The album uses post-punk and shoegaze roots to bring the listener their gripes and thoughts and feelings about life and what growing up means and looks like to them. 

It lends a great experience in a secluded environment for the listener, per the band’s intention, but can also serve an amazing connected live show, meant to create togetherness and bring together people during a time in their life that usually brings loneliness and uncertainty.

The album ends with the lyric “nothing even hurts anymore,” signifying the release from confusion and frustration and instead turning to the empowering feeling of being who you unapologetically are.

If you feel lost, confused, and frustrated, and have all these questions that remain unanswered, then this album is the one for you, to slip into comfort knowing that you are really not alone and there is freedom in existing unafraid.