Evelyn - “I’m A Dog”
Photo by Bridget Badore
California-born, New York-based singer-songwriter Dani Lencioni, aka Evelyn, arrives on our blog with the heart-swelling sounds of “I’m A Dog,” a folksy track that examines attachment theory.
The subdued sounds of a shimmering organ bring “I’m A Dog” to life, soon joined by a full-band arrangement with a touch of vintage flair. The soft strums of an acoustic guitar are supported by the barebones rhythm from a drum kit, with swelling, reverberating layers of electric guitar that shall immediately enchant the listener.
Lencioni’s vocal performance soon breaks the surface, bringing with it all of the raw and heartfelt charm of artists such as Waxahatchee and Julia Jacklin, with a delightful reserve akin to Hope Sandoval. The ghostly sounds of a slide guitar rise and fall in the distance, adding a palpable sense of dimension to the song’s production.
The soundscape richly populates as the “I’m A Dog” progresses, embarking on a natural and glorious crescendo. Additional layers of vocals find their place in the arrangement, as well as a melodic bass line and a climax that includes a variety of confident “oooh” vocals, which we can never seem to resist, especially within these emotionally-charged performances.
Lencioni adds that “I’m A Dog” “…explores a series of dissonances: the way present reality can be eclipsed by past experience; the way love can feel so sweeping and hopeful while also feeling so mortifyingly vulnerable; the way even the most secure relationship doesn’t cure a predisposition for loneliness—especially if you spend all your time in your own head instead of seeing the connection and care right in front of you.”
“I’m A Dog” was produced by Nick Kinsey at his Hudson Valley studio. Kinsey also provided drums, with Jared Samuel on bass and slide guitar. This track is the first to arrive from Evelyn’s forthcoming LP, Someday We Will Eat A Feast of Light, due for release on July 26.