Sophie (Chanko) Dare

FOR FANS OF: Ben Rector, Taylor Swift, Audrey Assad

LISTEN HERE:

https://open.spotify.com/album/6b1YZh8ulWhEPD7IdBZ4Ob?si=i4UfgGR_TVye792O7lPNlg

This four-track debut from 19 year old singer-songwriter and Michigan native Simonne Bruck does not sound like a newcomer's first DIY release; far from it. The simple, soothing instrumentation lets her effortless vocals shine throughout the EP, and her honest, emotional lyrics are reminiscent of the Taylor Swift we knew and loved in the early 2010's.

Back To Land opens the EP with an echoing, melancholy call out to someone stuck to someone else in a tumultuous love story. For an acoustic song, it has a very anthemic ring to it, and almost sounds like a stripped-down version of a song meant to be played powerfully, with a full band behind it.

More Time is a piano ballad of unrequited love, the painful kind where the two of you are so close, and everything seems to be there except the right time to say something.

“A feeling like a melody I'll never forget,
but you've got yours and I've got mine,
all I wanted was just a little more time.”

Every Road is truly a standout song, my personal favorite on the EP, and, dare I say, wedding-worthy. A simple, ukulele-led tune, the lyrics tell a wonderfully happy love story, and the melody feels straight out of a Disney tune or a number from a romantic musical.

“So how can I write something that I can't describe?...”
“Is it too good to be true that I'm with someone like you?
I don't know but I'll take you, with everything that makes you,
cause every road's led me to you.”

in my dreams... is more of an interlude to close the record, with bedroom-pop drum pads, vocals that sound like they're coming from an AM radio, and the sound of a crackling bonfire behind a strumming guitar. It's a soothing, dreamy track that belongs on a late night drive playlist.

Simonne makes one of my favorite types of music to listen to- slow, relaxing, emotional, and well-written, not to mention well-sung. She fits perfectly into my playlists alongside cute Ben Rector love songs and stripped down, acoustic covers. I hope that many, many more people get to hear her wonderful voice in these songs, and in future releases.

...

FOLLOW SIMONNE:

https://www.instagram.com/simonnebruckmusic/

Mean It – Lauv and LANY

https://open.spotify.com/track/3GRSqlALWISqLeNncZMbpX?si=6py6nc6QTnqho1dtJLCI2w

This collaboration makes a lot of sense – Lauv and Paul Klein of LANY have very similar vocal styles, as well as an affinity for synth-filled chill pop with melancholy lyrics. This single is incredibly catchy, as are most of LANY's melodies, and it's been in rotation on my playlist ever since it was released.

Kissing Other People – Lennon Stella

https://open.spotify.com/track/2x3HyOx0Jd9MnlnAQRtIL3?si=ie4rNlnHRyiCHhgaqSyY2A

I finally got around to listening to Lennon Stella, as it seems that every other twenty-something girl loves her, and I am happy to join the ranks as another one of those fans. She occupies the same vein as Fletcher or Alessia Cara: alternative pop music with honest lyrics and a distinctive vocal style. She shows off her vocal range with easygoing melody lines and some nice background harmonies to round out the song.

Cut My Lip (Brooklyn) (Location Sessions) – Twenty One Pilots

https://open.spotify.com/track/45fUF3bnIRO5mrg7FSYQ1P?si=EzN178WxS06IgpPlRkUlXA

This alternate version of a song off of TOP's latest album, Trench, is arguably better than the original, and I can't get enough of it. It's got a great DIY, one-man-show vibe to it, since it is just a live session. Tyler Joseph really makes good use of the synth and vocal effects he has in front of him, and I'm always a sucker for the layering of the harmonies during the bridge.

Original Material – Colony House

https://open.spotify.com/track/6EoY35YW52CNMtqBNccfoE?si=o8A6LthNSsm3wqQ8oOerTg

I have to say, I didn't quite expect this musical style as Colony House's next move, but they are able to pull it off. Groovy pop-rock, reminiscent of COIN or MisterWives, accompanies a more lighthearted vibe than the majority of their older songs, which are usually focused on making it through life's struggles and inspiring hope and perseverance. This is more of a fun, dancing single about individuality, plus a pretty nice bass line.

Sad Songs In The Summer – Olivia O'Brien

https://open.spotify.com/track/1MijKOgtIl3uK70qYrZnoy?si=skIS2KqMSu-EHAKO27LCMA

There's something about Olivia O'Brien that I just love- probably the fact that she writes her songs herself, and it shows. They all have the feeling of being written in her room at night, when she was finally alone with her thoughts. This single has the usual ambient electronic pop elements, but it really picks up on the choruses, with double time and a frantic list of the things that remind her of a past lover.

One Too Many – Fletcher

https://open.spotify.com/track/0zhGp6rH3Em8VTS44hTOmT?si=_OusNOZiTE2wHKFMAw4faA

Can you tell I'm enjoying moody, female pop singers lately?? Fletcher has quickly shot to the top of my favorites in that genre, with her tongue-in-cheek storytelling and impressive vocal abilities. She seamlessly goes back and forth in her lyrics, between being honest about heartbreak and partying the nights away.

everything i wanted – Billie Eilish

https://open.spotify.com/track/3ZCTVFBt2Brf31RLEnCkWJ?si=z_zM_mL3RPykfUshkHevVw

I really like this latest release from Billie because I think that it stands well on its own to bridge the gap in style between her old and new music (the don't smile at me EP versus her first LP release, when we all fall asleep, where do we go?). This single leans mostly on a piano as its primary backing instrument, but still has deep bass as its undercurrent, the pulse of a heartbeat driving the song forward. It reminds me a lot of ilomilo, a song off of when we all fall asleep.

Drops of Jupiter – With Confidence (Cover)

https://open.spotify.com/track/4sLflKbSXbWqjOeho1AzzN?si=x1k7ViNaQKSrdWZuKNYZPA

First of all, I'm still a sucker for this song, even though it's been around for almost as long as I've been alive. There's something grand and romantic and wonderful about its quirky, simple lyricism, and this cover is no exception. I enjoy the beginning of it the most, where the whole first verse and chorus are stripped down to just a midi drum pad and some guitar. A lo-fi cover of a Train song is apparently the next thing the world needs.

It's Nice To Have A Friend – Taylor Swift

https://open.spotify.com/track/1SmiQ65iSAbPto6gPFlBYm?si=J-pLo6aQTcSOzaQMiGdWag

Taylor is short, simple, and sweet on this track, telling snippets of a story of young friendship, young love, and a quaint picture of being at home with the one you'll love forever. It's just plain cute and lovely.

Slip The Noose – The Maine

https://open.spotify.com/track/1486QFD9f09RdHaFGIbwp5?si=9g4blGmOQXuLsSfS21lHeA

Finally, I have a newfound love for this song after seeing The Maine in concert recently and them playing this live. Stacked harmonies, meaningful lyrics you can sing along to (more like shout along to), and large dynamic shifts from quiet interludes to driving rock sections make this song a great way to open a show.

Live music has been a part of my life since my early teen years. It has brought me so many amazing experiences and some wonderful friendships.

When my best friend from growing up started playing drums in a local band towards the end of high school, I showed up at almost every single show they played- who wouldn't? I quickly realized that my favorite job was being my friends' biggest fan- listening to and giving my opinions of their music, promoting them on social media, and supporting them by coming out to their shows.

Fast forward to now: the venue where I saw my best friend play their very first show is now my home- my internship home, that is. In The Band Studio in Plymouth, Michigan was founded as a safe, easy place for high schoolers and young adults to hone their musical skills, and to give them a performance space to book shows and gain experience playing to a live crowd. Metro Detroit and its surrounding suburbs are bursting with talented, young musicians with big dreams, and this studio gives them an outlet for their creativity.

ITB is an awesome place filled with so many promising artists, and this is the one place I don't mind at all to work for free. I have so much fun helping to plan, promote, and run live shows, as well as making new friends within the local scene and supporting my favorite musicians.

Check out this video recap that I put together of our last show over Halloween weekend, celebrating the release of our 7” vinyl featuring local artists Read The Sun and Soul Eyes!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QS-e7XWsizY

https://www.cinnamon.video/sophieac/watch?v=187692339282576750

You can follow ITB here to stay updated:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InTheBandStudio/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inthebandstudio/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Nqj3efvS54nrp8K3IXZrg

FOR FANS OF: Colony House, Paramore, MisterWives

The latest six-song release from Detroit locals The Timbre of Cedar sounds like something you would hear playing at your favorite weekend breakfast spot. Sitting at a diner counter or in a cafe armchair, sipping on a mug of coffee or eating a plate of pancakes and over-easy eggs, you are accompanied by uplifting indie rock with a throwback flavor and catchy melodies. As the name suggests, Sunny Side State of Mind encourages a carefree, peaceful, Sunday brunch way of looking at life.

Let’s Go opens the record with Beach Boy-esque harmonies and a grooving summer beat, perfect for its initial release as the leading single in August 2018. Vocalist Marrissa Parham sings about spontaneous road trips, hitting the beach, and embracing the fun times of being young without letting the clouds of life’s troubles get in the way. A mid-song tempo change gives the song an unexpected twist, and solidifies its status as a punchy, upbeat opener.

(left to right) Andrew Grzyb, Sam Parham, Marrissa Parham, Alex Rahill, Eric Grzyb

Grow Your Roots brings Sam Parham’s prominent bass lines to the forefront of the verses, and soft synths and catchy melodies color the choruses. The lyrics continue to give the message and focus of Timbre’s mission as musicians: to bring joy and hope to anyone listening. This song gives a reminder that the grass is always greener on the other side, but to bloom where we are planted and “grow where your roots are”.

Sunny Side Up takes on its own kind of style, from the simple and sweet lyricism to the synth accents that sound straight out of Stranger Things. Timbre has a penchant for really opening up the throttle late into their songs, whether it’s a tempo change in the bridge, a switch to a double-time drum beat, or a sudden change to power chords and crashing cymbals, and this track takes the last route mentioned. With its easy sing-along ability and positive message, this song encapsulates the feel of the EP and lends itself perfectly to the title.

Gold is the one song that wastes no time in rocking out, with a driving guitar riff and a powerful vocal performance. The lyrics employ an extended metaphor of gold being refined in fire, just as enduring love (presumably a marriage) is tested and made stronger through life’s trials.

If you wanted a roadmap on how to truly live out a call to love to the fullest, What If Love spells it out pretty darn well:

Love takes itself to the back of the line
Stops counting the crimes, and lays down its life
So come on now, drop your weapons and the hate in your eyes, the fear that divides”

This track gives a powerful reminder that we could gain the whole world, but if we do not love, what is it all for? According to Timbre, love is “a currency that I should spend”, “a treasure we’re all after”, and “the measure of a lifetime.” Love is at the heart of all of the positivity and joy promoted by their music, and this song brings that point home.

Closing out the EP is *Flowers at Midnight*, a soothing lullaby of a track that is tear-jerking in its vulnerability and unwavering hope. Parham compares being shown love, thoughtfulness, and care in the midst of a dark struggle to being surprised with a bright bouquet in the middle of the night. This song hearkens back to the haunting honesty of ballads from Timbre’s 2017 full-length LP, Restoring the Light, and conveys both a deep struggle and a profound hope that joy will prevail.

My personal favorite part of the entire EP comes at the very end, when Flowers at Midnight closes with the same sweeping harmonies that Let’s Go began with. The record rounds out as a cohesive experience, and the listener is left with a peaceful, sunnier outlook.

Thanks for reading, and subscribe to Coil for access to even more music reviews and my personal playlists!

Listen to the EP here!

https://open.spotify.com/album/1xpidTziEDlnfKH0TXv7np?si=wrbSD-M-SEGymIE19HUDQA

Check out the music video for “Sunny Side Up” here!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJMhS8OyfrA