Reliable Child - “Little Conversations”
Photo by Becca Smith
Out of Pittsburgh, PA, Reliable Child has found his way onto our blog with “Little Conversations,” a delightfully upbeat indie folk ditty about talk therapy.
“Little Conversations” fades into our ears with some synth before an acoustic guitar joins, accompanied by some playful percussion, including congas and a shaker. Reliable Child’s vocal promptly appears and it sounds very comforting and familiar, though we cannot draw any immediate comparisons to other artists. The lyrics are delivered to us very clearly and it is immediately clear that this is either a larger studio production or it has been fashioned by someone who knows exactly what they’re doing at home with a DAW.
The elevation that comes with the refrain is quite magnificent and though the bass was present for the first verse, it really moves the song forward at this point. The rhythm is steady and gentle, but what keeps us listening are the sweet vocals as they deliver a healthy dose of contemplative lyrics about the disdain for responsibilities and simply ‘hanging out’ in order to lighten the burdens of existence. Our takeaway here is that the time spent with good humans can, more often than not, be just as beneficial as seeing a therapist. In any case, “Little Conversations” is a true exemplar of modern folk music, from the instrumentation to the mix and master. And trust us when we say that you’ll be doing yourself a favor by pressing play.
And if you’re keen on the music of Reliable Child, you’ll likely find yourself drawn to digging through his past releases. Relax. We’ve already picked out a couple for you. Towards the end of 2022, he gave the world “Perfume on the Page,” a splendid folksy number that gently glides along the feelings of missing someone. And you don’t have to take our word for it– this one even ended up being featured upon the often coveted playlists of alexrainbirdMusic, a staple in the realm of curators. And of course, we would be remiss not to mention Reliable Child’s cover of Mazzy Star’s “Fade Into You,” a song that always reaches directly into you “and then smiles cover your heart…” A gorgeous rendition indeed.
Additionally, “Little Conversations” is the A-side of a two-song single. Side B is entitled “Wanna Be Love” and features Arizona indie rock band Lydia. Check it out:
-TM