GENRE; Rock
LABEL; Sub Pop
RATING; 3/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Stand on My Shoulders marks a bold and introspective second album from Ya Tseen, the musical project led by Tlingit/Unangax̂ artist Nicholas Galanin. Released on January 16, 2026 via Sub Pop, the record channels a deeply personal lineage while pushing into expansive sonic territory that blends dream pop, indietronica, rock, hip-hop, and moments of R&B and funk.
From the opening track “Ircenrraat,” featuring Ashley Young, listeners are enveloped in an atmosphere that feels both mystical and grounded in cultural memory. Galanin’s use of multiple languages and his whispered, almost dreamlike vocals give the album a distinct identity — one that mirrors the ambient, shifting texture of his visual art. In “Twilight,” with Pink Siifu and Sidibe, the record moves into minimal pop and lo-fi dance-rap territory, capturing tender emotional moments with a sense of fleeting beauty.
While some songs like “Taste on My Lips” (with Portugal. The Man and Meshell Ndegeocello) bring buoyant, disco-tinged energy, the album’s pace often favors sustained mood over rhythmic catharsis. Critics have noted this can at times feel like ambient backdrop rather than propulsion, but it also invites reflection rather than immediate reaction.
The centerpiece, “Dei Kee Tla Tin,” pays homage to Galanin’s late father, a blues guitarist who shaped his early musical life, and stands as one of the most affecting moments, tying the record’s themes of ancestry, resilience, and love into a profound emotional core.
Overall, Stand on My Shoulders is an evocative work that situates Ya Tseen’s genre-fluid explorations within a broader narrative of connection — to land, history, community, and each other.
