Byland - “Monstera”

Photo by Rachel Bennet

Albuquerque-raised, Seattle-based indie-rock artist Alie Renee Byland, aka Byland, has just released the gritty and alluring new single, “Monstera.”

Byland does not waste your time with some long and drawn-out intro; instead, the song begins all at once, with a spirited, lo-fi sounding arrangement that consists of drums, bass, and fuzzy guitar. Byland’s vulnerable vocal effortlessly meanders through the path that the instruments have carved, exploring the emotional and physical journey of leaving one’s past behind. The mood within “Monstera” is quite dark– precisely the reason it resonates so deeply within us.

Additional layers of vocals arrive and at around thirty seconds into the tune, you will witness the exact moment when we knew that we had to feature it. Byland’s harmonies are angelic, yet do not lose their melancholic character, nor do they do anything but enhance the overall ethereal listening experience. The instruments are relentless throughout the song’s duration– they have to be, lest Byland would not be able to successfully purge this flood of raw emotion.

Pressing play on “Monstera” will expose listeners to the inner workings of Byland’s intense and passionate craft. She has dedicated the song to a close friend and former bandmate, offering that it “isn’t quite a love letter, but it is not an apology.” We suggest getting this one into your ears ASAP. And if you’re located somewhere along the path of her tour, here are the remaining live shows:

-HD