Most of us were well aware that music doesn’t necessarily make for the most secure livelihood long before the pandemic ceased the existence of live shows. Still, the year following Peaer’s 2019 album A Healthy Earth marked some of the first moments in Peter Katz’s adult life where touring and making music weren’t at the forefront of his mind. In 2023, he took up a full-time office job, a change to which he’s still adapting: “Time to pretend I’m a normal human being,” he sings on Peaer’s new single “Button,” a dynamic spin on classic slowcore that weighs the pros and cons of being a cog in the machine, particularly in times where most machines feel at least somewhat precarious. “Go to work and make something more than a shrine to your ego,” the song advises in its final moments, suggesting that maybe the best career advice is doing whatever makes you feel the most fulfilled in the moments you’re off the clock. —Abby
