Have you fallen in love with JUAN WAUTERS yet? Since taking a break from leading THE BEETS, this proud but humble resident of Queens has won a lot of hearts playing solo acoustic and speaking wise about being true to yourself. ‘GOO,’ a highlight off his excellent North American Poetry (Captured Tracks), perfectly encapsulates Wauters’ unpretentious attitude and artistic approach. The lead line says it all – ‘I am playing the guitar/just cuz I’m good at it’ – he’s not bragging, he’s just pursuing what he loves in life: sharing his poetry with all of us. The flush of guitar strumming bubbles and buoys at an easy cadence, like a steady rolling stream.

The video for the track – shot by best bud/aesthetic director Matt Volz – is a humourous celebration of New York from Wauters eyes framed as part of a some (fictionalized) grainy 90’s hip-hop show, complete with bonus call outs from Pete Rock, Das EFX and others. It’s that off-beat, quirky humor and easy intimacy of his zen-like lyrics that makes his music resonate with personal authenticity. Sidestepping clichés by recognizing the real, Wauter’s refreshing perspective reminds us that we’re all the same gushy stuff underneath the epidermis.