I got home from work today and found another vinyl waiting at the door—but this one hit different. It’s a project I first downloaded years ago on DatPiff by one of my all-time favorite artists: Mac Miller.

When I heard the news that Mac had passed, I was devastated. He was someone I discovered back in middle school, an artist I grew up listening to, and my first concert ever. His music shaped a lot of my teenage years. To me, Mac wasn’t just a rapper—he was a musician in every sense of the word. He was fearless in experimenting with sound, blending genres, and evolving with every release.

One of those experiments is a project that holds a special place in my heart: You by Larry Lovestein & The Velvet Revival, released in 2012.

If you’re not familiar, this was Mac’s jazz project under the alias Larry Lovestein—and man, I loved this one. I remember when it dropped on DatPiff and I couldn’t wait to hit play. Not just because it was Mac, but because I was curious to see how he’d sound in a completely different lane. And honestly? It blew me away. The smooth, laid-back jazz vibe pulled me in and even sparked a deeper appreciation for the genre. I’d listened to jazz here and there before, but this project made me want to dive all the way in. Jazz is such a rich, relaxing genre—perfect for unwinding and relieving stress.

The EP features five tracks, and my personal favorite is “Suspicions.” The emotion in this song is what gets me every time. It feels like Larry is struggling to accept that he’s losing someone he loves. In verse two, he sings:

“I miss you, continue
To slowly lose you, I know.”

That line hits hard. You can feel the sadness and denial—something most of us have probably felt in our own lives. I know I have. That’s what makes Mac’s music (and in this case, Larry’s) so powerful. He could make you feel every emotion through his lyrics and delivery.

I’ve always had a soft spot for emotional songs, and “Suspicions” sits high on that list. Larry Lovestein & The Velvet Revival crafted something timeless with You. I’m beyond happy to have this project on vinyl now—adding another record to the collection is always a good feeling, but it’s even better when it’s tied to one of my favorite artists of all time.

Rest easy, Mac. Thanks for the music, the memories, and the art that still inspires.

– Jett Garden