Indie artist After Ours has unveiled a captivating cover of MGMT’s “Congratulations,” breathing new life into the 2010 psychedelic pop song. It would be very easy to produce a similar vibe to the MGMT original. But this cover stands on its own unique twist by leaning into the nostalgic tones with a muted backing guitar and sleepy vocals. The music video visual of a summer rainstorm in a grassy field mirrors the wistful undertones of the cover and lyrics, while remaining close enough to the original to appease die-hard fans of the song.
After Ours is the project of singer-songwriter Kayla Janowitz. Her mother, classically trained in opera singing, performed across the U.S. and Hong Kong, and her brother she describes as a “wizard on guitar.” Music is in Janowitz’s blood. She practiced guitar as a teenager by performing covers by ear. This practised ease at building upon another musician’s song with her own spin is exemplified through “Congratulations.”
The cover was released ahead of the album Imaginary Friend, out now. Imaginary Friend includes a mix of older and newer songs, including this cover. It represents a collage of indie adolescence and coming-of-age tunes. Janowitz’s reinterpretation of “Congratulations” not only pays homage to MGMT’s original but also showcases her ability to infuse classic tracks with her unique artistic voice.
Check out another cover of “Congratulations” by Superorganism here.
