New York based multi-instrumentalist Conrad Hsiang creates chill, lo-fi influenced soundscapes under the project name Public Library Commute, drawing from both Japanese hip-hop and contemporary alternative RnB to craft something novel. Last year’s sienna 1999 encapsulates these diverse genre influences in perfect form, with tracks like “fake hawaii” employing sticatto vibraphone-like noodling over Hsiang’s detached auto-tuned vocals. Hsiang’s lyricism and vocal performance in particular breathe new life into a genre of music that’s frequently criticized for its repetitive nature, elevating lo-fi from its stream-heavy, easy-listening reputation to something that is engaging—but still relaxed. Listen to it below, preferably while basking in the warm summer sun. -Connor Beckett McInerney
