Prom King (Bonus Tracks) [Colored Vinyl] [Deluxe] (Ylw) (Aniv), Skylar Spence, Vinyl

When Ryan DeRobertis changed his project name from Saint Pepsi to Skylar Spence, it marked not only a rebrand but also a shift toward faster tempos and cleaner production. While Saint Pepsi was rooted in sample-heavy reinterpretations of boogie, disco, and new wave, Skylar Spence sees DeRobertis embracing those aesthetics through his own production and vocals. Prom King, his debut under the new name, is a focused, danceable record tailored for a full-band live setup.Working with Carpark Records encouraged DeRobertis to "go big" and write pop songs with universal appeal. "A few songs are about specific events in my life," he says, "but I tried not to be too autobiographical. I'm much more interested in connecting with the listener than mystifying my personality."Unlike his previous beat tape-style releases, Prom King is tight and cohesive. It's range of influences-new wave, UK garage, boogie-are unified by bright guitar lines and intricate vocal sampling. On lead single "Can't You See," he playfully reflects, "I slowed some music down and called myself an artist," signaling a new, refined approach. Tracks like "Ridiculous!" and "Bounce Is Back" lean into euphoric grooves and Balearic textures, while the title track blends unintelligible vocal samples with his own singing in a satisfying interplay. Slower, contemplative tracks like "Fall Harder" and "Affairs" lend the album emotional range, pairing introspection with dancefloor rhythms.Prom King is DeRobertis making peace with the past-his high school never had a prom king, so he crowns himself with an album that's both personal and communal, playful and sincere.