Tag: indie
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Review: Samia: ‘Honey’
Samia’s introspective new album, Honey, opens with a delusional, searing confession delivered amidst a somber funeral organ. She parallels SZA’s recent hit, “Kill Bill,” and daydreams about killing an ex’s new lover. In recent interviews, she consistently describes her second LP as ‘pathologically confessional.’ True to her word, the album’s lead single and opening track, “Kill Her Freak Out,” feels like the emotional equivalent of a whimper from a wounded animal and it’s not even the most sorrowful track on the record.
In her next song, Samia flips the narrative on its head. In “Charm You,” she no longer cares to bend the truth for her partner. Instead, she’s cloaked in nonchalance, an evolution from her previous LP’s “Limbo Bitch.” In an interview with Atwood Magazine, she stated that each song builds on the next one, which is by no means a new or novel idea for songwriters, but the ability to reference older works and to build cohesive storylines (and to do it well) is an understated talent. Samia’s take on it is refreshing and revealing. Take for example, the three-song run “Pink Ballon,” “Mad At Me” and “Sea Lions,” which tells the story of a friendship gone awry.
“Breathing Song” is the clear standout from the bunch. It lacks the pop appeal of earlier singles like “Honey” and “Mad At Me” and will likely lag behind in streaming numbers. The unsubtle and brutal lyricism makes it hard to hear more than once in a row. It’s a moving and deeply painful account of what can only be interpreted as sexual assault. Perhaps the hardest part to bear is the song’s circular movement. She teeters between accepting her own reality and clinging to her abuser’s version of the story, denying what she knows to be true. There’s no resolution or solace to be found here.
“Breathing Song” was released as a companion to the title track (“Honey”), which tells the same story from a different perspective. The connection is faint and impalpable; it would be missed easily if we hadn’t been explicitly told so. Despite the dulcet tune of the song (pun intended), she describes this as ‘the saddest song [she’s] ever written.‘ Go figure.
But fear not, this story gets a happy ending. The final songs show Samia finding love and romanticizing the mundane (”Nanana”), serve as an ode to her friends (”Amelia”) and beckon forward an age of hope (“Dream Song”). With such a strong and charming second LP, Samia is set to become an indie darling.
Middle Kids are a Force to be Reckoned with on Debut Album “Lost Friends”
An eclectic combination of confidence, self-doubt, love, and lust ooze from “Lost Friends,” the debut album from Australian trio, Middle Kids. The vocals of singer/guitarist Hannah Joy radiate self-assurance, but the lyrics tell a story of uncertainty and woe. Combined with the powerful instrumentals of Tim Fitz and Harry Day, the fresh-faced band navigates rocky waters throughout 12 tracks, ultimately finding their footing and showing promise as a compelling force in indie rock.
The first two tracks radiate angst and frustration, with the opening track “Bought It” expressing immense, hopeless frustration. The words, “My friend, I need a little help / To fend the darkness at the end” serve as an introspective, foreshadowing nod to the tracks that follow. It marches on with an uptempo, catchy chorus reminiscent of an early aughts alt-pop sound. “Mistake” continues with a similar angst, exploding with sounds that somehow feel pleasantly nostalgic and strangely outdated all at the same time.The lyrics and composition seem like something that would have been written 10 years ago, yet Joy’s vocals thrust it into the contemporary. Despite the too-new-to-be-retro, too-old-to-be-cool feel it gives off upon first listen, it all still lands. The emboldened lyrics are refreshingly relatable, while the powerful, larger-than-life instrumentals are more than impressive coming from a band of three.
The fourth track, “Maryland,” serves as a refreshing break from the chaotic opening three tracks, and the band seems to be settling into their skin at this point in the album. As the tracks build, the album begins to find a new, more mature path that feels more self-assured than the upbeat, mystified jolts of energy found in the opening tracks. Lost Friends continues to build from here, with “On My Knees” expressing lost bewilderment that’s vague enough to be relatable, telling a heartfelt, compelling story of the ever-winding frictions of life and love.
Pieces of the album show great promise for the future of the band, although there are points where the trio’s maturity as a band falters. At parts, the lack of complex emotions exposes weaknesses in the lyrics. “Don’t Be Hiding” feels shallow and uniform in comparison to the labyrinth of emotions and sounds the band is so clearly capable of. But, while the listener is left wanting more off and on throughout the tracks, the complex scope of arrangements shows promise for the future of Middle Kids’ development.
The scatterbrained, diverse organization of the tracks in the album actually become a redeeming quality, conveying vulnerability, empathy, and accessibility. The title track is tear-jerking and exposing, showing a naked fearlessness that so many artists fall short of finding. Overall, the unwavering fortitude in the band’s musical tone, combined with the confessions of hopelessness and confusion found within the lyrics, establish Middle Kids as a force to be reckoned with for many albums to come.
Savannah Stopover Artists to Watch
Savannah Stopover is something of a hidden gem as far as music festivals go. Located in Savannah, Georgia, the three-day festival boasts a packed lineup of up-and-coming artists of all backgrounds and genres. Throughout the weekend, shows take place in small to mid-sized venues across Savannah’s historic district, establishing an intimacy that is rare among festivals today. This year will mark Savannah Stopover’s eighth year running, with no shortage of diverse talent. With March 8 just around the corner, here’s a list of the top 15 must-see artists at this year’s Savannah Stopover Music Festival.
15. Wild Moccasins
There’s something infectious about the unique, eclectic look and sound of Wild Moccasins. With a strong female lead vocalist and vintage beats, their sound is reminiscent of ‘80s pop. Known for their creative costume design and infectious stage presence, they’re sure to put on a good show.
14. John Stickley Trio
If you’re looking for good ol’ bluegrass music you can dance to, look no further than the John Stickley Trio. These extremely skilled musicians take their audience on a musical journey with their flawless technique and exploratory jams. Their sound should fit in perfectly with the rustic, coastal scene of Savannah, Georgia.
13. The Vegabonds
Part Americana, part rock ‘n roll, The Vegabonds seem to be gaining more and more momentum each day. The band has grown a great deal since their start in the college circuit back in 2009. Now with three European tours under their belt, The Vegabonds don’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon.
12. David Barbe & Inward Dream Ebb
College professor by day, punk-rock lead singer by night, David Barbe does it all. Rooted in Athens, Georgia, Barbe has successfully embedded himself deep within Athens’ vibrant music scene. His band’s sound is a product of the evolution of punk and rock throughout the years, bringing with it a sound that doesn’t quite conform to any one genre.
11. KOLARS
KOLARS is a two member band consisting of Rob Kolar and Lauren Brown. The combination of Kolar’s vocals (think David Bowie meets The Killers) and Brown’s innovative performance drumming makes for a strange and wonderful chemistry. KOLARS is a prime example of the extensive musical variety that can be found at Savannah Stopover.
10. Acid Dad
Acid Dad’s sound is reminiscent of something you might hear in an underground club twenty years ago, and don’t get me wrong, that’s a good thing. Their ‘we don’t give a damn’ attitude and punk meets hard-rock sound gives them an appearance of self assurance and decisiveness that is often hard to come by in new talent, putting them at number ten on my list of must-see artists.
9. Lola Marsh
Savannah Stopover’s lineup this year is seeing a plethora of strong female vocalists, and Lola Marsh is no exception. Since their impressive self-released EP in 2016, the duo has seen a quick rise in popularity with tours across the US and Europe. Consisting of singer Yael Shoshana Cohen and guitarist Gil Landau, the duo has developed a strong fanbase thanks to their unique, upbeat sound.
8. Stoop Kids
There’s nothing like the infectious energy of bands who look like they’re having a genuinely great time with each other on stage, and that’s exactly the kind of vibe Stoop Kids gives off. The New Orleans-born quintet delivers an updated version of classic sounds found in New Orleans’ rich culture, from hip-hop, to jazz, to rock.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIKe2aEnCp4
7. Future Generations
Indie pop band Future Generations has really taken off since their debut album in 2016. The album has seen millions of streams on Spotify and the group has been regularly touring across the US. Their music is reminiscent of bands like STRFKR, Moon Taxi and Portugal. The Man, with an alt-indie sound that is popular among most audiences today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-syx-QNrX0
6. The Bones of J.R. Jones
The Bones of J.R. Jones is the one-man blues and roots act of New York native Jonathon Linaberry. It’s hard not to admire Linaberry’s extensive skills as he does percussion, vocals and a combination of either guitar or banjo, with an occasional harmonica all at once. If not for his musical ability, it’s worth seeing The Bones of J.R. Jones just to witness the passion in his performance.
5. Larkin Poe
This sister duo is keeping the spirit of old school music alive with their soulful, gritty rock ‘n roll sound. Originally from Georgia and now living in Nashville, Rebecca and Megan Lovell draw inspiration from their southern roots, and after growing up in the same household, they’ve developed an undeniable chemistry in their music.
4. Nikki Lane
I just can’t get over how many great female artists are blessing Savannah Stopover this year! Americana wonder Nikki Lane is a bad**s southern woman with her own personal style and distinctive vocals. Her set is definitely worth making it to.
3. of Montreal
It’s hard to describe the art of Kevin Barnes, the mastermind behind of Montreal. With his extended club mix 80’s pop sound, drag looks and out-of-this world performances and music videos, Barnes is making a serious impression on today’s music scene. With a look similar to Andy Warhol and a self-proclaimed paranoia of big government, Barnes seems to have an artistic complexity within himself that is evident in his music.
2. Cicada Rhythm
These folk/americana Athens locals bring a soulful sound that’s largely uncommon today, along with sincere, impassioned performances. The chilling harmonies of Andrea DeMarcus and Dave Kirslis put them high on my list of must-see artists, and once you see them live, you’ll understand why their sound is so hypnotic.
1. Wild Child
What started as the brainchild of Kelsey Wilson and Alexander Biggins in Austin, Texas has blossomed into a seven-piece indie-pop band complete with ukelele, violin, cello, trumpet, harmonica, drums, guitar and keyboard. With four studio albums under their belt and multiple worldwide tours, the band has gained a solid, steady momentum and developed a devoted fanbase. Their newest album, ‘Expectations,’ exemplifies a mature, confident sound as the artists drew from inspirations all over the world while writing the music while on tour. It’s hard not to smile while watching the band’s undeniable chemistry unfold as they grin cheek-to-cheek while performing.
Deerhunter: Fading Frontier
While Deerhunter usually takes an upbeat, noise rock approach in their earlier albums, Fading Frontier exhibits a softer side. Deerhunter stays true to their experimental rock distortions but incorporates a dreamy 80’s synth-laced sound. The indie rock group recently released two singles from Fading Frontier, “Snakeskin” and “Breaker,” two of the more energetic tracks on the album. Check out Vinyl Mag’s review of the music video for “Snakeskin.”
Deerhunter’s previous album, Monomania, relied heavily on raw vocal distortions. While Monomania adhered to Deerhunter’s experimental style, Fading Frontier trails off towards a style of airy dysphoria. While “Snakeskin” initially portrayed a vibrant atmosphere, it is only one of the few upbeat tracks on the album. “Breaker,” another upbeat single, exudes a west coast, surfer vibe. Tracks like “Living my Life” and “Take Care” use a romantic echo effect, overlaid with simple melodies. High-pitched string instruments and twinkling piano sounds create an eerie effect, as heard in “Leather and Wood,” but the album still maintains Deerhunter’s cohesive rock sound.
The album ends with “Ad Astra” and “Carrion,” two tracks that purposely coincide, but why? “Ad Astra” is Latin for “to the stars.” The track ends with a vintage sound clip of a man singing in a Harry McClintlock style, “I wish I were a mole in the ground.” “Carrion” picks up where “Ad Astra” ends as front man Bradford Cox sings in an upbeat tone, “I will become a mole in the ground…It’s much too deep. What’s wrong with me? I can not see.”
In an interview with Stereogum, Cox explains, “There’s no difference in you telling me what you think the song is about and me telling you what I think the song is about, because neither of us are right or wrong.” The album comes together in its unified style. The concept of Fading Frontier coincides with the spacey, dream-like melodies of the album. Perhaps the album isn’t meant to be deeply analyzed but rather listened to as a whole; that is when the true talent of Deerhunter reveals itself.
5/5
Beach House: Depression Cherry
Beach House is best described as a dream. Hailing from Baltimore, Maryland, Alex Scally and Victoria Legrand form this indie duo. Since their first self-titled album in 2006, Beach House has become an obscure gem among the indie-rock scene, often likened to the sounds of My Bloody Valentine and Grizzly Bear, among others.
Beach House’s newest release, Depression Cherry, stays true to their ethereal style. You begin the album, and the notion of time seems to fade; before you know it, you’re sitting in a dark room, and the afternoon has turned into night. How appropriate that the album should embody the nighttime, but not at all depressing like the title implies. The tracks are dreamy and sensual. 80’s synthetic overlays give the album a dark-techno sound, but the album is not eerie. In fact, it is very sublime and relaxing with its languid melodies.
The album opens with “Levitation,” a dramatic first track with 80’s synthesizer tones and Legrand’s lofty vocals. A soft tambourine transitions to a rhythmic beat and subtle rock guitar riffs. “Sparks” follows with a raw guitar opening accompanied with a techno backdrop, giving the track an industrial style, softened by airy vocals. “Space Song” takes on a different sound with a surfer vibe, while “PPP,” one of the more popular tracks, takes on the style of a love song, reflecting a 50’s melody.
The album seems to be a combination of love songs and lullabies, all of which are enrapturing and comforting in their gentle vocals. Although the band name might imply a sound best suited for the west coast, Beach House captivates their listeners by taking the indie genre, which is normally associated to sounds similar to punk and rock, and combines it with a sound less harsh than the industrial genre and an 80’s techno style to create complex and beautiful melodies.
4/5
SXSW 2014: SomeKindaWonderful x Vinyl Mag
For Cleveland based grunge-soul group SomeKindaWonderful, songwriting comes naturally. “There’s always something holding you back. I think that’s the human condition. It keeps you playing for something,” says Jordy Towers, lead singer/songwriter for the group. Jordy’s powerful vocals combined with the band’s haunting melodies drive their first release Reverse beyond your average pop break-up ballad.
With lyrics like, “I told my story in REVERSE ’cause it hurts” and “Could I get a DO-OVER?!,” regret and second-guessing become songwriting avenues that lead the listener on a reverse chronology love story.
“One of my favorite movies is Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. They tell a love-story backwards. I’ve always wanted to do a song like that. The lyrics started coming out, and as they came out it, I started noticing that maybe I can just write this backwards,” says Jordy of his inspiration for the song.
“Reverse,” written the first night the three band members got together, provides an eerie soul-rock punch to the ears. On a soul-searching journey after leaving his LA rap career with [a major label], Jordy stumbled into a small-town Ohio bar where he met Matt Gibson and Ben Schigel. Matt (guitar) and Ben (drums) combined their Cleveland rock influences with Jordy’s LA hip-hop sensibilities to create a sound that doesn’t quite fit neatly into any genre. In addition to the three members that emerged from that fateful meeting in the Ohio bar, Sarah brings her gospel upbringing, with a love of neo-soul and rock to SomeKindaWonderful while Steve adds hip-hop, soul, and gospel elements to the sound.
The members of SomeKindaWonderful kindly took the time to sit down with Vinyl Mag during SXSW to talk about the evolution of the group, their inspiration and upcoming album.
Vinyl Mag: So, you guys are from Cleveland and LA?
Jordy Towers: I’m from LA, and these guys are from Cleveland.
Vinyl: And you left LA, and you found your way to Cleveland. Tell me about that.
Jordy: Dude, I got depressed [when my major label deal didn’t work out]…so, I had some family out in Ohio, and I was doing some soul searching.
Matt: We were in this bar just drinking right by this studio in Cleveland, and Jordy is in there for whatever reason on his soul-searching trip. We went back and started talking and wrote “Reverse” that night.
Jordy: We wrote “Reverse” that night, and we finished it the next day. It was pretty much demo-ed out that night with rough vocals.
Matt: Like 90 percent mixed that night.
Jordy: Ever since then, every little thing has felt like fate. Even timing things, like obstacles, we got over them at the right time…I’m not mad about anything, because everything led us up to this point.
Vinyl: Could you all talk about what each of you do in the group?
Jordy: I’m pretty much the tip of the band; I bring all the elements together. I used to be a rapper – an underground rapper. I toured with Lupe Fiasco. I’ve been in a freestyle battle with pretty much everyone in the game. I’ve moved on to something else. That’s where our music is. Our music is a mesh of hip-hop, reggae and rock. Cleveland is really known for rock.
Matt: I was thinking about that today, because Jordy brings the hip hop reggae vibe. You were always listening to Folky music, and I was always into the Genesis and Rush, high production stuff, and we interfused everything together.
Ben: It’s a songwriting vibe mixed with great production and sound.
Matt: Steve probably comes from the hip-hop world with a little bit of reggae, soul, gospel. Sarah brings her beautifulness of bringing it all together.
Matt: It’s a really cool mix.
Vinyl: Sarah, what about you?
Sarah: I had a heavy gospel influence in my upbringing. I grew up a huge hip-hop fan, a huge neo-soul fan, a huge rock fan, and it just works. That’s why, even though each of us has different backgrounds and upbringings, it works, and it’s very natural. You can hear my gospel element in the music. I balance out the testosterone.
Jordy: And she brings the perfect hair.
Matt: Stunning good looks.
Jordy: Perfect style.
Vinyl: And you guys bring the….stubble?
Ben: We almost called ourselves The Stubble Boys.
Matt: If we were going to play Irish music, we’d be The Stubblins. But like I said, I play guitar and ukulele and little bits of other stuff…harmonica at times.
Vinyl: Ukulele! That’s the instrument of peace.
Matt: It reminds me of Hawaii; that’s where I bought it. I had to take the island with me, musically.
Jordy: There’s something about when it comes to writing songs; there’s something about the way he plays that pulls songs out of me. I write the lyrics and most of the songs. Just something about Matt, and it’s not just the way he plays but something about him, he makes me really comfortable to just f*ck up if I have to. You know what I mean? If I sing a bad note, it doesn’t matter. He just wants to get it done with me.
Ben: The musical chemistry is crazy between all of us.
Sarah: You would think we’ve all been life-long friends.
Vinyl: How long have you been together as a group?
Matt: About a year; we’ve known each other longer.
Vinyl: Tell me more about the process of getting your songs out. It sounds like you have been hampered by legal and logistical difficulties.
Jordy: We have a song called “In Chains,” which is about how we’re all still locked down at some point in our lives regardless of how we have gotten our release…as far as we think we’re getting, there’s always something holding you back. I think that’s the human condition. It keeps you playing for something.
Sarah: Yeah it does.
Matt: Gotta have struggle.
Vinyl: It’s really impressive that your first song “Reverse” was not only written in one night but on the first night you guys met.
Jordy: One of my favorite movies is Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. They tell a love-story backwards. I’ve always wanted to do a song like that. The lyrics started coming out, and as they came out, I started noticing that maybe I can just write this backwards. I wasn’t sure if the guys were going to like it but…
Everyone: We really like it!
Jordy: I wasn’t sure; I was like f*ck it! I just tried it, and it f*cking worked.
Ben: Musically, we didn’t have any ideas for what we wanted it to sound like. We just ended up with this haunting eerie cowboy soul R&B song.
Jordy: Now it’s become our sound.
Vinyl: How would you define you your sound?
Jordy: We actually call it grunge soul.
Sarah: Regardless of the genre, that element of the soul is there, and it’s raw and powerful.
Ben: I think that stems from all of us having different things we like, different kinds of music; it’s not like I like what I like, and he likes folk music, and I’m like, ‘I don’t want to hear that sh*t.’ We’re all open to whatever.
Jordy: Subconsciously, we all want to please each other musically. Subconsciously, we all know that we are pleased musically. It’s a mixture of everything that we’re happy with.
Vinyl: Can you tell me more about your name. When I first googled you guys, this 1961 song “Some Kind of Wonderful” came up by Gerry Goffin and Carole King.
Jordy: That was us. We produced that.
Vinyl: Ha! But where did the name come from?
Jordy: I had a dream about the word wonderful. At first I was like, we hate to use the word wonderful, because our music is f*cking gorgeous. There’s wonder and then there’s wonderful, and I was like man, let’s just call it SomeKindaWonderful.
Ben: It’s how it makes us feel. We had about five or six different ideas of band names before that but [Jordy] actually still changes it everyday. Everybody who hears it loves it. That was the first one that we were like, ‘that’s it.’
Vinyl: So what other things inspire you?
Sarah: Inspiration in life. Life itself is inspiration.
Jordy: When people do good deeds out of their character. Anything that makes you feel super strong.
Ben: Any feeling you have could be inspiring.
Jordy: Being around my family, my band; that’s what inspires me. I love you guys, you know? And being around our fans; the people that are there for us.
Sarah: You know…there are also lot of things that make you feel pain when you see in the world, and our songs hope to empower people. Our inspiration comes from wanting to make the world better, from wanting to help, from living up to a sense of purpose in our being. Jordy and everyone likes to say, it’s about the message.
Vinyl: What’s the timeline for your upcoming album?
Jordy: We’re kind of wrestling with the name of the album. [It will be out this summer]…one more thing I want to say: I feel like music is in an intermission stage right now, and they’re waiting for something, and that’s where we’re going to give them something. I’m honest about that, too. Our record is f*cking ridiculous.
Matt: We have been so part of every genre that we try to put that in our music but make it have the artistry again. But we write such great songs that it still has a pop appeal but not to the point where that’s what our whole thing is about.
Sarah: Kind of like how Lorde was; I don’t think Lorde had the intention to make a pop song, but her song really thrives in that arena.
Matt: Here’s another thing I want to say: a lot of times the whole listening of an album from start to finish is lost. It was created with the intention of a certain experience. I want people to put it on the beginning and be taken on a journey. We want to release it on vinyl, really cool color with a bonus track.
Vinyl: What does the year have in store for you and what upcoming shows are you most excited about?
Ben: This is kind of our introductory show, us presenting what we have to the world and to SXSW and then LA next. We will continue after that, but we’re not exactly sure yet as of now.
Vinyl: Craziest moment?
Matt: Partying on the road, getting roofied in Chicago, showing up at the hotel at 9 a.m. with no shirt on – just a sports jacket. This is ON the record.
Jordy: This is on the album!
SXSW with PEACE
You’ve probably heard of PEACE by now. This British quartet are making serious waves in the music world, and we can’t get enough of them. They’ve been called the future of indie rock – although, as you’ll see in this interview, they don’t consider themselves to be “indie.” Either way, they are “the future of something.”
I was able to catch up with them for a few minutes after a morning showcase at South by Southwest to talk a little bit about what drives the music, their boredom, and who they enjoyed most at SXSW.
They are men of few words, but honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. They are the perfect caricatures of true rockstars- they give the impression that they genuinely don’t care, and it’s not a facade. They prefer to let their music speak for them. PEACE is a group of musicians, and they don’t feel the need to be anything else.
Their album, In Love, just dropped yesterday, and we’ve already run through it several times. Be sure to check it out right after you check out this interview.