POC Music Trio White Ppl Celebrate Platonic and Romantic Intimacy in Debut EP

By Rivka Yeker

Making music for Chicago-based contemporary hip-hop, soul influenced POC trio White Ppl is entirely collaborative, a communal melting of sorts. The trio, which consists of Elly Tier, Cado San and Mylo Reyes, is something of an anomaly; there is no one way to describe their style and music. What is exceptionally clear about White Ppl and their debut self-titled EP is their consistent devotion to celebrating love and friendship.

Each member brings something unique to the collective project, though they are modest when talking about what these attributes are. While they all came from a range of musical backgrounds, whether it is Elly’s classical cello training, Cado San’s Lupe Fiasco, Kanye West, Michael Jackson and Jimi Hendrix influences or Mylo’s emo college band, each of them is able to take these different styles and experiences to build something so naturally cohesive.

When asked what they think brings them together, Elly explains, “We’re really emotional. Mylo makes a beat, and Cado starts singing some fucked up good hook. It usually starts out about feelings or love or relationships. Whether or not Cado is just improvising, or I add something, it usually ends up being about the same thing.” This comes out in their self-titled record, as each song is an equal combination of the three members, a balanced reflection of their individual styles yet still maintaining one another’s overlapping feelings.

Mylo says, “We’re all different people in how we express ourselves. The closest I feel to Elly and Cado is when we’re making music. There’s a lot of shared vulnerability, and it is when I understand my friends best.” This vulnerability comes through with an earnest sensibility -- it is baked into the lyrics and the beats, making them flow with such ease that it is almost like the trio can read one another’s minds, when really, they just trust each other.

This comes up again when asked if they are bringing anything new to music, genre or a scene. The group isn’t intentionally setting out to bend genre, but rather, they just make music that is naturally refreshing. Cado jokes, “Mylo makes a beat and we go *insert Zoidberg sound/hand gestures*.” Having fun and presenting their honest selves through their music is the most important part of having a band/artistic project, in White Ppl’s eyes. There is no reason to try to mimic or replicate a sound when they can create their own.

My favorite tracks on the record are “Open Door Policy” and “Joy, a Waltz.” Both songs are exciting and electrifying in different ways, yet with similar messages. There is a sensual undertone in all of their songs yet the sexiness isn’t meant to distract the listener from appreciating the platonic and romantic intimacy that seeps from these loverboys’ hearts.

What makes these songs so inherently about friendship is how the trio supports one another. Elly reflects on “Open Door Policy”, “I was drunk on Mylo’s floor, and was writing so quickly because I was so inspired by my bandmates.” Mylo agrees and picks up where Elly left off, “The first time we all got together, we were all hanging out and drinking and I played them a beat for “ilovemybb” and they wrote that song in 30 minutes. We have an organic chemistry, it came out in one night.”

The answer to making music that feels so alive, triumphant and full of love is to find a group of people that you sincerely connect with, realize that you all love friendship and love, learn to trust one another, and let it pour out. As Elly says, “If you love music enough and have a passionate collective of friends, putting out creative projects and having it done well is easier than you think. Creating good art with people you love is necessary and worthy of being heard.”

With a salute to Elly’s sentiment, White Ppl and their debut self-titled EP is a celebration of romantic and platonic intimacy and is a record worthy of being heard.