Southern California has a pedigree for sun-soaked, melodic indie rock, and Ehson Hashemian, a founding voice behind The Jakes (later Young the Giant), has spent his solo career refining that sound. Having co-written the generational hit ‘Cough Syrup’, track that solidified his knack for crafting emotional hooks, Ehson has since embarked on a remarkably prolific independent journey, releasing four albums between 2023 and early 2025.
His latest offering, the sprawling 14-track ‘Me Then You’, arrives as his most ambitious and cohesive project to date, swapping out the more fragmented focus of past works for a single, expansive narrative. This is not just a collection of songs; it’s an atmospheric, dreamlike odyssey that uses indie-rock as a vehicle for profound emotional exploration. The album is framed as a concept piece, drawing inspiration from fundamental stories of existence, which lends it a rich, cinematic scope. Yet, the themes remain universally grounded: love, friendship, and hope amidst global turmoil.
Ehson was kind enough to explain the framework when speaking with us, sharing, it was a “concept album exploring love, friendship, and hope through a melodic indie-rock lens.” It’s a theme and idea that shines through the indie rock sensibilities, adding weight that buoys the wistful, guitar-driven sounds.
Musically, ‘Me Then You’ is pure melodic nourishment. The opening track, ‘Back Home’, introduces us to jangling guitars and an undeniable groove, immediately recalling the blissful, nostalgic sound of the early 2000s indie scene. Ehson’s earnest, grounded vocals effortlessly settle amongst the richly layered arrangements, delivering a gorgeous sense of musical nostalgia on fan favourites like the title track and the restlessly twisting 'When It’s Over'. Elsewhere, the inclusion of tracks like ‘I Wish’ and ‘Looking’ injects a welcomed dose of dreamy surf-rock textures, diversifying the sound palate and showcasing the singer’s multi-instrumentalist dexterity.
Crucially, the album refuses to mellow out as it reaches its conclusion. Instead, it builds to a fantastic, dance-driven crescendo. Tracks like 'Work It Out' embrace a math-rock precision before blending into the album’s only single, the electronic-infused ‘You Got It’. This track is a purposeful shift in colour and tempo, intended to provide a necessary release.
This ambitious project solidifies Ehson’s evolution, and as he concludes, “This album has shown me that sticking to one concept can really help improve the ability to get a message across.” It’s a compelling statement that leaves us keen to hear what his future music holds.
You can stream the new album above, and for more, be sure to connect with Ehson on Instagram, or head on over to his website.
