Brother Bird - “always”

Photo by Chris Bauer

Since this blog’s inception, Nashville-based singer-songwriter Caroline Glaser, aka Brother Bird, is fast becoming one of our favorite discoveries. From the indie pop glory of her previously released singles, “something better” and “state of mind,” to her reimagining of Nada Surf’s “inside of love” and “blonde on blonde,” we look forward to the days that her music arrives in our inbox– today is one of those days, as she has offered the world “always,” another tune from her forthcoming record, another year.

In comparison to her previous releases, “always” is a much more stripped-back and raw piece of music, providing a folksy glance into the intimate and vulnerable side of Brother Bird’s craft. The song is built around a skeletal structure of acoustic guitar with a resplendent skin of richly double-tracked vocals. And if you have ever read our blog, you’ll know that this sound instantly fills our niche for the singer-songwriter genre.

Glaser claims to have been going through something “really intense at the time and wanted the lyrics to lend themselves to that.” For this reason, it should come as no surprise when listeners encounter lines that deeply resonate within them, likely stirring the emotions that come along with having gone through something profound, whether it be trauma or grief or simply the process of aging– the agony of realizing that not all answers arrive with the passing of time.

The refrain invites the emergence of Glaser’s falsetto, creating an ebb and flow that echoes the psychological and emotional journey of our lives. This is followed by a warble-effected melodic synth that fantastically moves through the sparsely arranged “always.” Combined with the vocal harmony that surfaces around midpoint, listeners are provided with ample portions of ear candy that are bound to have them returning for multiple listens.  

Along with the release of “always,” Brother Bird has also served up a helping of tour dates, which you can peruse here:

-HD