SOTW: Arto Vaun – “Stuck Inside a Map”

August 6th, 2024 by Liz Kosik

by Liz Kosik ’25

Song of The Week: Arto Vaun – “Stuck Inside a Map”

Released: August 1, 2024

Rate: 9/10

RIYL: The Smashing Pumpkins, The Offspring, Counting Crows

Arto Vaun is a Boston-born musician and poet known for his engaging performances and creative background. Previously performing under the name Mishima USA, he has performed with artists like Rufus Wainwright and Daniel Johnston.

In addition to his music, Vaun is the author of the book-length poem “Capillarity,” published by Carcanet in 2009, and his poetry and essays have been featured in various literary journals. Once a creative writing and literature professor, he has since left academia behind, having lived in diverse cities such as Glasgow, Berlin, Los Angeles, Beirut, and Yerevan, with part of his childhood spent in Virginia. When he’s not crafting songs and poems, he serves as the executive director of Project Save Photograph Archive in Boston. He continues his creative pursuits in his upcoming album, “Stuck Inside a Map,” to which features WLOY’s Song of the Week: “Stuck Inside a Map.”

“Stuck Inside a Map” sounds like it was written by a creative writing teacher who decided to leave his 9-5 behind and chase his dreams– in the best way possible. I genuinely enjoyed this EP and would easily place it amongst my favorite “dad rock hits.” The melody is smooth and soothing but includes the right about of bass and intensity. Easily the best song I listened to for this week’s Weekly Adds.