Little Oil and the woozy magical hypnagogia of "What's Become of Me"

 

"Don't tabulate, it's too late, I'm aware of my fate / Oh lord / Only the lonely would choose such a holy escape / Oh lord..."

The woozy magical hypnagogia of "What's Become of Me" by Little Oil, the curious moniker of Mexico City born San Francisco Bay Area songwriter / multi-instrumentalist Victor Mitrani, is a whimsical folk pop song sprinkled with warm embraces and errant mysteries. Mitrani though a swaying cadence, musical organica, his and other sweetly drawn vocal faces that smile with wondrous eyes uttering poetry that feels both vague and comfortably compelling, thoughtful and all knowing while we, as the listener float in a cryptic pool but that's ok. I have never needed to know the backstory of songs, no, I just want to be entranced by them and Little Oil seems to do that each and every time.

I am loving the vibes here, the subtle musical cue, like the rumbly bass, the organ drones, the sleepy cadence, the dreamy chill rhythms and the fiery downbeats, the very cool acoustic lead work and. of course. Little Oil's uniquely vocal performance that is sweetly sweet and equal part whispers and full voice at the same time (somehow). I wrote this about another Little Oil song but I think it bears repeating here, now:

"I have always loved distinct voices like Neil Young, like Thom Yorke, like Dylan, like Gordon Gano (Violent Femmes), like Billy Corgan and Mitrani's vocal countenance is perfectly grown for the sounds and stories that he cultivates and allows to blossom."

LINER NOTES (about this track from Little Oil):

[It's a song born out of resignation at the situation we find ourselves in. We see our past failures catching up with us and influencing the situations we are in today and there's nothing we can really do about it. We are tired of "breathing fire" As in tired of being in the line of fire but we are also tired of having to put up a tough exterior and being the ones that are "breathing fire" on others. Having the big campfire chorus at least gives it a Greek tragedy feel in that we are in the same boat. Like "oh you were feeling that way too? I thought I was the only one." And with that, we at least find some relief.]

Oh lord, Victor, so cool and artfully impactful. "What's Become of Me" is from Little Oil's third album entitled "Spells", expected to drop later this year (2026).

-Robb Donker Curtius

LYRICS:

Don't tabulate, it's too late, I'm aware of my fate
Oh lord
Only the lonely would choose such a holy escape
Oh lord

And I'm so tired
Of breathing fire
That in the dead of night
You can plainly see...
What's become of me

What'd you expect when you came to collect the debt?
Oh lord
Some welcome mat that I'd probably come to regret
Oh lord

And I'm so tired
Of breathing fire
That in the dead of night
You can plainly see...
What's become of me

Oh lord
Oh lord
Oh lord
Oh lord

THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM 

https://open.spotify.com/artist/0a2h3dXSuN7CDadI0woWXH

https://www.instagram.com/little_oil_music/

https://littleoil.bandcamp.com/album/twelve-songs

A San Francisco Bay Area songwriter musician that finally fulfilled his creative urge to be the totalitarian dictator of his musical world and go solo with his self titled debut album. A lover of punk, classic rock, indie, & old time country & blues, his music is a voodoo brew that sounds both familiar but fresh and original. His second album, "Twelve Songs" dropped on March 28, 2024 on the Fountain Tapes Label and his third album entitled "Spells" is expected to drop later this year (2026).

 busker punk, dark folk, folk, folk blues, folk indie, Little Oil, San Francisco Bay area, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, "What's Become of Me", third album entitled "Spells", singer songwriter Victor Mitrani,