Days are getting shorter, and a crisp breeze is starting to bite as doors open to enter the outside world. Though it’s still fall, it’s getting into the latter portion. For many, this is a time to slow down, and it’s overall a time that can induce a reflective, somber state. Need music to fit that vibe? These 4 indie tracks are just the vibe with their slower pacing, poetic lyrics, and focus on introspection.
caveonbirch – dreams
At 1:24 in length, ‘dreams’ establishes such a specific vibe with its laid-back rhythm, low-fidelity production style, and dreamily washed-out vocals. Where a lot of similarly produced music fails, ‘dreams’ does it just right. Everything comes across as clear, and each different portion of the strings, percussion, and vocals finds the perfect space in the mix to complement each other. By using repetition of the same two lines intersected by instrumentals, this song builds an atmosphere that induces deep thought. Also, it still comes across with lots of poeticism, even with few words. To sum it up, it’s about escaping dreams and being stuck in one’s head to focus on reality and the moment.
caveonbirch – leave it in the basement
‘leave it in the basement’ follows that dreamy, washed-out production style, but it has just a bit more of a tempo drive and a little more clarity in the guitar and percussion. Though it has more of a drive forward, it still comes off as laid-back and introspective, which is benefited by the melancholic partial mumble of the vocals. The chorus utilizes the repetition of the phrase, “leave it in the basement,” which echoes the title in a poetic way and pulls listeners into a thoughtful headspace. Then, the verses seem to detail a moment of a connection between two close souls, one opening up about deep emotions and a want to be alone and together at the same time.
Eva Snyder – turkeys
‘turkeys’ is one of the single releases that came in preparation for Eva Snyder’s album, let the record show, i fell apart. This track has a somber vibe to it, the vocals have a lot of genuine emotion behind them, and the crisp production of the acoustic guitar lets its warmth truly shine. Like with ‘leave it in the basement,’ the laid-back pacing plays into an emotional vibe, but it has enough of a drive to hold listeners throughout. Lyrically, this track gets into ideas of overspent love, feeling like not being enough for another, and a push and pull in a relationship as one struggles with mental health. The way it’s written gives a deep personal feeling to things, and it provides a lot to think about.
Sarah Leanne – Wine And Grace
‘Wine And Grace’ has a held-back pacing at first, with gorgeous alto vocals that layer harmonies so cleanly. This fills things up with a really beautiful musical range in the vocals alone, and this is complemented by a beautiful acoustic guitar. As things move forward, a clacky percussion picks up the energy of the track, and bass and synths are added to give even more range. The way instruments build and fade gives some great dynamics, even though things are atmospheric and introspective. This track gets into late-night melancholy and a connective love where one can be trusted to a point of feeling safe. It paints a picture of an unsure future that’s contrasted by a love that prevails through struggles.
Written by Sage Plapp
Written by Chris Gonzalez
