lisa/liza, barn coat

lisa/liza, barn coat

Portland-based Lisa/Liza is the indie psych-folk project of singer-songwriter and guitarist Liza Victoria, joined by Jonathan Downs and Devin Ivy. Having previously released several limited edition cassettes and CDs, as well as a debut 2016 LP Deserts of Youth, Lisa/Liza has now released a brand new EP in late February called Barn Coat.

The five-track EP highlights Lisa/Liza’s ability to capture deep emotion within ethereal, floating vocals and the carefully plucked acoustic guitar.

The track list for Barn Coat is:

  1. “Vanity Plate”: Liza starts off her EP with a gentle folk song, easing the listener into her style and soft, all-encompassing soundscape.
  2. “Encounters”: Next up on Barn Coat is a track that takes a more angsty spin on Liza’s sound, utilizing staccato and deeper guitar moments to carry the thematics of the song.
  3. “The Robins Song”: Capturing the throaty repetition of a bird’s call, Liza matches her guitar pace to the this idea. A track full of longing and wishes, “The Robins Song” is sure to capture your heart.
  4. “Windows Up”: If you’re needing a new song to roll your hand up and down out the window pretending you’re in a music video, look no further. With mellow guitar and emotional vocals, Liza makes the most of this track, highlighted with some unexpected twists.
  5. “BC”: Closing out Barn Coat is “BC”, a short (and by short we mean 1:36) track that carries the EP home and wraps it up nicely. Throughout this track, Liza utilizes her clear vocals to pair with her guitar in a combination that was just meant to be.

If you’re a fan of acoustic guitar and minimalist records, this is the EP for you. Be sure to check it out today.

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stíne norse, the whale

stíne norse, the whale

Recently, Bergen-based folk artist Stíne Norse released four track stunner The Whale. Stine Norse’s vocals leave their mark on each track, soft and full, taking the listener into a trance, mesmerized with each new tune. If we’re being honest, the entire album is a delight to listen to. One of the songs on the album is titled “Blue Ridge”. “Blue Ridge” is a song about traveling but not knowing where to go. The singer is singing going places but not wanting to go to the direct route she wants to go.

A personal favorite from the album is “Don’t Fall” which takes your heart in mind. The song teaches you to love yourself first before you love anyone else. The other songs from the EP are titled “November 9th” and “Glittering Gold on Boundary Road”. Four songs are simply not enough from Stine Norse. The EP is well worth the listen and will leave you desiring more from her.

Keep up with Stíne Norse here.

kayls, modern savages

kayls, modern savages

LA-based electro-pop KAYLS inspires with her latest EP Modern Savages. The EP explores a variety of struggles Kayls has faced spanning from relationship woes to her past industry struggles. Her goal with the album is to encourage listeners and invoke strength within them.

Modern Savages perfectly demonstrates Kayls’ new-found confidence after years of feeling underestimated and mistreated throughout her career, specifically by music industry men. The EP’s second track, “Porcelain,” depicts the hardships Kayls faced. Her honesty and authenticity shine in this track as she expresses the trials and tribulations faced early in her career.

“Champagne” explores Kayls’ distaste for the expensive things in life. The soft yet intense piano ballad superbly showcases her raw yet powerful voice. The following track, “Modern Savages,” continues with a similar theme. Kayls flawlessly expresses her concern for human connection through the lyrics “what can you give me that money can’t buy.”

Both “Carousel” and “Summer” explore past relationships making the album relatable and showing listeners yet another side of such a multi-faceted and complex artist.

Kayls’ Modern Savages EP is supremely cohesive work of art that sends a musically pleasing and powerful message. With its haunting indie pop vocals and electronic, futuristic mix of musical elements, this album creates the perfect indie-pop atmosphere.

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Keep up with Kayls here.