Artist bio
Primer is the alias and creative project of vocalist/producer Alyssa Midcalf.
Alyssa Midcalf, who gained some attention as one half of the duo PARTS (Winspear Records), made her introduction as Primer with her debut album Novelty in 2019. Novelty was released on March 1st, 2019 under Young Heavy Souls and has had songs featured on abc’s How to Get Away with Murder and Hulu’s Harlots. Novelty showcased Midcalf’s ability to transmute trauma into something beautiful, detailing honest and sometimes harrowing stories against upbeat rhythms, lush melodies, and a modern take on ’80s-inspired synth.
Now, with her sophomore album Incubator, Midcalf has pushed the full weight of her musicality, angular songwriting, and ethereal vocals into 10 new wave tracks, creating a sound she describes as “abject pop” because the sonics are buoyant but the lyrics are anything but. Through songs like the socially aware “Just A Clown,” the slow-building, “Feel The Way I Do” and celebratory “Warning”, Incubator offers listeners a synth-pop lens to examine our relationship with ourselves, other people, and life itself.