By Grant Kelly, Contributor

[Life’s Unreal; 2024]

Key Tracks: “Letter to My Future Self,” “Everyone Else,” “Serengeti”

Letter to My Future Self is the debut album from producer, singer/songwriter and Athens local Jonathan Heeg, A.K.A. Unreal. About the album, Heeg wrote on Instagram, “When I started it back in November, I remember feeling so much at once, both hopeful and fearful. Now I know I had nothing to worry about because this album has evolved into a world I love so much,” and that he had “[made] this world represent my perspectives on life.” Indeed, the album carries with it a profound sense of wonder that allows the listener to reflect on their place in the world on a wide, universal scale as well as on a personal level. 

It also has some exceptionally catchy songs. 

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Immediately, Letter to My Future Self calls to mind the naturalistic electropop stylings of Porter Robinson’s 2021 album Nurture – an influence which Unreal himself has acknowledged before. Following in this spirit, songs like the intro track “Dear Future Self” and the penultimate track “Serengeti” work real-world field recordings into atmospheric, electronic compositions, creating a sound palette that helps Unreal’s music draw beauty from everyday life. In between expansive soundscapes however are a number of bright, expertly written pop songs. 

Title track “Letter to My Future Self,” with a masterful acoustic guitar performance from Irish folk musician Finn Byrne, is undoubtedly the biggest earworm on the album. “Firefly” and “Everyone Else” also feature standout melodic hooks, with the latter progressing from an intimate reflection on self-doubt into an explosive declaration of ambition by its conclusion. 

In addition to its writing strengths, Letter to My Future Self showcases an exciting degree of creativity in its sound design and composition. Acoustic instrumentation on “Letter to My Future Self” and closing track “Song of Earth” bring a refreshing, down-to-earth contrast to the more heavily synthesized sections of the record. Shimmering synth leads evocative of 2010s EDM-pop also create a sense of nostalgia within the album’s more energetic moments, complementary to the introspective lyrical content. 

As the title alludes to, the theme of personal growth is at the core of Letter to My Future Self. Displayed in tracks like “Everyone Else,” “Dear Future Self” and many other tracks throughout the album, Unreal is able to capture a wide range of emotion by embracing opposing feelings of serenity, inner turmoil, childlike innocence and adult responsibility. In doing so, Unreal creates a nuanced emotional portrait that feels authentic to young adults at the same stage in life. This, coupled with the album’s attention to sonic detail and quality songwriting, make for an excellent debut album sure to leave you wanting more.  

Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/album/3SVdDSt7LPXSzkt5v7fVuG?si=eT_LoGR0RoWF7X-ILEllcw