Countless hours of conversation between best friends, two weeks at a “ghostlike” desert ranch a stone’s throw from the Mexican border, and dozens of personal “firsts” after 18 months on the road inform, impact, and incite the songs on MISSIO’s 2019 opus, The Darker The Weather, The Better The Man [RCA Records].

Across the album, the bearded Austin, TX duo of Matthew Brue and David Butler siphon soulful alternative from an off-kilter symphony of analog synths, glitchy beats, and sinewy pop dissonance. Among many highlights, “I See You” represents a gateway into the album by way of the group’s artful composition, rich production, and undeniable vocal delivery. A personal favorite of Matthew and David, the first official single transmits an empowering message in its chorus, “I hope that you will see yourself the way that I see you.”

In the end, The Darker The Weather, The Better The Man is meant to be shared just like those conversations between Matthew and David. “My biggest goal is for people to be able to relate,” Matthew leaves off. “I’d love for them to feel what we’re singing and go back to it again and again.” David concludes, “As artists, we’re constantly trying to reflect where we are in the world. When I listen to this, it feels exactly like us right now. It’s on the edge, but there’s a thread of hope that runs through it and a light at the end of the tunnel.”