In an age where a plethora of bands, musicians and genres are at our fingertips, it can be hard to uncover new music with an unfiltered sound and honest lyrics. Fortunately, with their latest album “Honeycomb, Bedbug,” the band Lowertown delivers on both fronts.
Duo Olivia Osby and Avshalom Winberg started Lowertown when the two met in high school in their hometown of Atlanta, Georgia, and bonded over their shared interest in music. “Honeycomb, Bedbug” is their first EP, but the sound crafted within the album feels fully formed and packed with musical talent.
The instrumentation present on the EP is well balanced, and certain staples produce a unique sound specific to the band’s work. The acoustic guitar is always present whether in the form of bold riffs or folk-inspired melodies. The harmony of the two styles flows with emotion evident in the songs.
The percussion adds to the feeling, shifting the pace of the songs and elevating the vocals. The EP plays with various bridges and interludes that create space allowing for immersion into the music and contemplation on the ideas present in the lyrics.
The instrumentation alone could carry this EP, but what truly makes it stand out are the lyrics and vocals that bring the music to life. Lowertown’s songwriting develops narratives that delve into contemplations of love and loneliness.
“Get your pride out of my face, you tell me it’ll be okay, the words that you say don’t make you any more of a man, miss seeing things being done with your hands.” Lines such as this one from the song “The Best Person You Know” come across as a conversation between two people or even the inner monologue of the songwriter.
Other lyrics are simply observations from different aspects of life. “Hello to the old man, sitting on the porch, I like how you enjoy the early morning,” Osby sings in the song “Alone Again My Friend.” The lyrics are simple in structure, yet their honest content conveys raw emotion that calls on the connectivity and empathy of the audience. When paired with authentic and forthright lyrics, the songs become undeniably relatable and build upon the stories subtly constructed throughout the EP.
The vocals and harmonies are packed with technique and emotion. Osby employs a melodic yet simple style that parallels spoken word, emphasizing the sentiments that the lyrics touch upon.
Although Osby isn’t forward with the presentation of her vocal talents, she doesn’t stay confined to one specific style either. Throughout the EP, she fluctuates in volume and pitch. Osby and Winberg create echoic melodies where there is a pleasant juxtaposition between vocal registers, adding an extra layer to songs that elevate their sound and complexity.
All of these elements—instrumentation, lyrical voice and vocals—blend to create a product that extends beyond a handful of beautiful-sounding songs. Lowertown establishes a platform for connectivity with “Honeycomb, Bedbug.” The album blends frank lyrics with an emotion-packed sound that allows listeners to connect with the music on an introspective level. With this being only the first EP from the duo, the music scene should begin bracing itself for what’s next to come from Lowertown.
