Suicideyear

James Prudhomme, who records as Suicideyear, has drawn praise for a production aesthetic that takes trap in a more atmospheric and exploratory direction. Shoegaze and pop sensibilities shape his sound, which carries a reflective and melancholy tone in keeping with the alias yet ultimately conveys optimism instead of despair. After circulating early remixes and mixtapes such as the 2013 release Japan, he joined the Software roster and delivered the Remembrance EP in 2014. He later moved to LuckyMe Records, where Color the Weather appeared in 2018 as his most ambitious statement so far.

The Baton Rouge, Louisiana, native first attracted notice in the early 2010s with unofficial remixes for A$AP Rocky, Future, and Drake. Suicideyear’s self-titled debut mixtape surfaced in 2012 and included a rework of Three 6 Mafia’s “Late Night Tip.” Japan, a 2013 collection of melancholic instrumental hip-hop tracks, elevated his profile and led to production work for Yung Lean, Rome Fortune, Antwon, Main Attrakionz, and additional artists. A split 12" single with Kaytranada in 2013 preceded his first proper vinyl outing, the 2014 album Remembrance on Daniel Lopatin’s Software imprint. Software gave Japan its initial vinyl pressing the next year and paired the two projects on the CD compilation Dream 727.

Following a short break in 2016, Prudhomme teamed with fellow Louisiana producer Outthepound for the Brothers mixtape. Suicideyear returned in 2017 with the Hate Songs EP on LuckyMe Records, then issued the full-length Color the Weather the following year.