Julia Mendes - “Plastic on the Loveseat”

New Jersey-based singer-songwriter Julia Mendes has a knack for writing emotionally-charged tunes, most of which are lo-fi compositions recorded in her bedroom. And once we heard heard brief yet cinematic “Plastic on the Loveseat,” we could not keep ourselves from listening to it, over and over again.

Even though the track is void of many modern production tactics, their absence is actually one of its most endearing qualities. It’s raw, unapologetic, and not pretending to be something it’s not– we got a similar sensation the first time we heard Julien Baker’s “Sprained Ankle.” The slight room noise at the beginning of the song lets you know that you’re about to hear the truth, which is easily one of our favorite treasures to find within music, especially among recent releases.

Mendes’ musicianship is on point, and although she utilizes an electric guitar, the vibe is just as cinematically folksy as an acoustic number. The highlight here, for us, is the use of multiple layers of vocals, which again is reminiscent to Baker’s style, but also the reason we fell in love with artists such as Elliott Smith, John Lennon, Tegan and Sara, Bon Iver, etc. And while it is is difficult to draw any sonic comparisons to “Plastic on the Loveseat,” it is proof that Mendes is cooking with the proper ingredients.

With just over a two-minute runtime, Mendes takes the listener on an introspective, emotional journey, complete with a crescendo that will likely leave you repeatedly returning to the play button, just as it has done for us.

-HD