GBMystical
Wannabe
Bee Side Cassettes [2025]
“A record that thrives on chaos and curiosity—Wannabe makes unpredictability sound addictive.””
Album Overview: GBMystical is the brainchild of Philly-based artist Terrin Munawet, who first cut his teeth crafting beats in Upstate New York. What started as a solo production experiment has morphed into a full-band venture, shaped by Munawet’s growing fascination with rhythm, structure, and melodic interplay. Since forming in 2022, the project has evolved into a dynamic outfit that balances electronic composition with live instrumentation, channeling both personal expression and the creative input of a close-knit crew from Philly and NYC. Wannabe is a restless, shape-shifting patchwork of ideas. It manages to feel both spontaneous and deliberate, full of sharp turns, layered textures, and abrupt tonal pivots. Rather than settling into loops or easy genre tags, GBMystical keeps things moving. It’s a record that resists repetition and thrives on unpredictability, yet still lands with a cohesive sonic identity. Controlled chaos? Maybe. But there’s a method to the madness.
Musical Style: Somewhere between fractured pop and off-kilter rock, Wannabe lives in a space of lo-fi haze, jazzy detours, and digital collage. Songs often shapeshift midstream—guitars shimmer, drums stumble and then snap into place, and airy sections get overtaken by dense, layered interplay. The sound feels tactile and elastic, pulling equally from analog warmth and digital weirdness without leaning too far in either direction.
Evolution of Sound: Munawet’s early material leaned heavily on looped beats, but Wannabe marks a major step forward. Full arrangements and live instrumentation open up the songs, giving them space to breathe and morph. The leap from solo beatmaker to bandleader is noticeable—there’s a looseness here that recalls improv ensembles and home-recording experimentation alike. The record feels intentionally unpolished, embracing its own logic and leaving room for surprise.
Artists with Similar Fire: If you’re into artists like Alex G, Spirit of the Beehive, Animal Collective, or Cindy Lee, you’ll probably vibe with GBMystical. There are also shades of Real Estate’s melodic ease, Tony Molina’s sharp songwriting, and the immersive textures of Palm, Ryley Walker, and ML Buch.
Pivotal Tracks: “Magic Gloove” starts with loose, almost off-kilter timing that gradually locks into one of the album’s catchiest grooves, anchored by a standout vocal. “Remember” throws curveballs with sudden tempo changes and unexpected melodic turns. The title track, “Wannabe,” floats in submerged rhythms and overlapping harmonies—arguably the record’s hypnotic centerpiece. Then there’s “Mist,” which drifts along before a sharp guitar line slices through the fog, creating a jolt of clarity. These songs showcase Munawet’s knack for tension, release, and keeping listeners on their toes.
Lyrical Strength: Munawet’s lyrics lean abstract, more impressionistic than narrative. His background in anthropology and visual art comes through in his vivid, snapshot-style phrasing. Instead of telling stories, his words act like textures—framing a mood or feeling without spelling things out. It’s less about clarity, more about atmosphere—and it works.
Final Groove: Wannabe is a record that opens a door rather than draws a line. It’s chaotic in the best way—an album that dodges easy labels and rewards your attention with each new listen. There’s craft beneath the tempo changes, hooks hiding in the haze, and a real sense of curiosity driving the whole thing. It doesn’t try to be perfect, and that’s exactly what makes it exciting. Whatever comes next for GBMystical, it’s going to be worth following.
GBMstical LINKS
Instagram | Bandcamp | Bee Side Cassettes
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