Jason Glasser | Tuxedo Cake | John Ward | Sarabean
Jason Glasser’s “Mi Oh My” had our attention as soon as we hit the play button. The sweet sound of an upright bass is something we do not hear a lot of these days and we would have featured the song based on that alone, but then the vocals began. And what Glasser has done here is catered to another one of our weaknesses– male + female harmonies. The two vocals playfully harmonize with each other throughout this number and while “Mi Oh My” rests upon the outside edge of the folk genre, we are looking forward to whatever Glasser releases next, especially if it contains more of these glorious, authentic elements. -TM
Tuxedo Cake are here with “Sand on the Shore.” This one has got tons of modern indie rock with a bit of pop flavor. Loads of effects on the guitars and vocals spice things up nicely, providing a fresh bit of fun for my tired ears. There’s a bunch of shimmer in the airy mix and stereo guitars strum and swirl around a punchy rhythm section that bounces out an infectious mid-tempo groove. It’s a definite toe-tapper. Plus, there are some nice harmonies on the vocals at the end of the choruses and the overall vocal tone is quite pleasing. It’s hard to not sing along with ‘wuh ohhh ah ohhh uh ohh, we’re sand on the shores.’ -Mark Grider
John Ward has decided to woo us with the raw and heartfelt serenade of “Even When I’m Not Thinking About You.” This song uses all of our favorite indie folk tricks– and when we say “all,” we really only need two things: a gently placed, melancholic guitar performance and an honest and vulnerable vocal melody that relies more on emotion than effects plugins– especially those syllables that are so wrapped up in the moment they can barely form a whisper. This track is on the shorter side, at just over of two and a half minutes, but Ward uses every precious second to inform us of a bond so strong that “I see you everywhere I go, even when I’m not thinking about you.” -TM
Pacific Northwest-based singer-songwriter Sarah Holland, aka Sarabean, has been releasing tracks since 2019, after finding inspiration in a Music Technology and Production class that she was taking in high school. Drawing on the influences of Tom Rosenthal, Bleachers, and Portishead, today she brings us “Digging Holes,” a wonderful addition to the genre of indie folk. There are not many elements to this track– but those that are present are all nestled perfectly inside of their sweet spots. What Holland has done is relied on the aspect of songwriting more than the act of drowning a composition in multiple tracks, which is partly why we are drawn to this genre in the first place.
And if you like what you hear inside of “Digging Holes,” be sure to check out “Funny How We Change,” her previous release: