Will Weisenfeld is the sole mind behind the musical project known as Baths. Weisenfeld was born and raised in the Los Angeles area, he credits the origin of his name to his childhood habit of enjoying music and art while in the bath. With backing from Anticon Records, Baths released their debut album, Cerulean, in 2010. In the fifteen years proceeding they have garnered both critical and commercial success, even scoring the Netflix animated series Bee and PuppyCat in 2023.

February 21st marked the newest release for Baths, with an eleven-track album entitled Gut. This album is fairly straightforward in hinting at what its main themes are. Homosexuality, self-acceptance and religion are at the forefront of what the artist is trying to unpack. The scars of self-doubt and shame from a religious upbringing, as well as trying to move past it.

The album is varied sonically; however, there seemed to be a consistent theme of upbeat, whimsical sound juxtaposed with harsh, introspective lyrics. The album’s first track “Eyewall” is the perfect example of this range. This track’s spoken word vocals allow the listener to be caught off-guard when screams are applied to the chorus. This short burst of rage fills the first syllable of “patience” and is a welcome surprise to the happiness felt in the backing soundscape. The track also features intriguing drums, giving a swinging, human feel to a mechanical part. This is until the 2:30 mark, when everything falls away instantly, leaving a simplistic drum beat and entrancing running bass line. Vocals then continue to layer upon one another, giving the last couple minutes a heavenly feeling.

While the first track offers the highest level of musical range, the last track of the album “The Sound of A Blooming Flower” provides the most precise insight into the artist’s vision for the project. If the project wasn’t thematically clear to the listener by this last track, it undoubtedly lays its claims out in the open. “A childhood structured by god. Now past it, I grasp him, all talons and wingspan” a line that directly states the artist’s relationship with god and their overcoming damaging religious hang-ups. They are not a sinner, they are a human filled with love to offer, and even so, the past still knocks on the door to remind them of what they have gone through.

Baths has a multitude of shows across North America this March and April. They will kick off their spring tour at the Soda Bar in San Diego, CA on March 6th.