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LOWERTOWN
‘The Gaping Mouth’
EP Review

(26th September 2021)

Review by Kiran Redden

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PHOTO: SHAMSHAWAN SCOTT

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Praise for LOWERTOWN

“[The Gaping Mouth] is their most ambitious project to date. The titular single is a sprawling confessional that blends soft-spoken lyricism bordering on avant-garde poetry and experimental indie rock instrumentation. [It] feels like a daring call to arms, a single firework shot in the dark, impossible to ignore and indistinguishable. Most notably of all, it feels like a noted maturation for the duo, a step forward into new, uncharted territory.” – Ones To Watch

“A musically eloquent slice of teen angst from this Atlanta duo, freshly signed by the 1975’s label, Dirty Hit” – The Observer

“This striking stream-of-consciousness from the Atlanta high school graduates scrambles the songwriterly elegance of Elliott Smith with cathartic dirgey digressions.” – The Guardian

“The modern-day duo offer an exciting DIY sound of electronic and lo-fi instrumentation that complements candid, melancholy and authentic lyrics.” – Notion

“They’re well on the way to carving themselves out a pretty special spot in the ‘stuff to get excited about’ list everyone obviously has pinned to their noticeboard.” – Dork

“It’s the attention to minor details that make Lowertown stand out from a crowded indie/bedroom pop scene.” – Far Out Magazine

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The refreshing and talented duo of Olivia Osby and Avsha Weinberg returns as the brilliant Lowertown with their new EP titled ‘The Gaping Mouth’. The two met in high school, bonding over their similar music taste in DIY and indie musicians such as (Sandy) Alex G, Aphex Twin and Radiohead. They started out recording songs in their basement, beginning their musical journey as the act now known as Lowertown.

Lowertown’s distinctive sound is a mix of the range of samples, ambient noises, lush fingerpicked strings and carefully placed synths blend perfectly with the moody yet sweet lyrics delivered by the talented Olivia Osby. Olivia, the self-taught singer-songwriter, and Avsha, the classically trained multi-instrumentalist, work in unison as they figure out the transition to being young adults and the uncomfortable era in time.

Their 2019 Debut LP Friends has hit millions of streams on Spotify, and their cult following grows larger with each new release. They have become known for their unique brand of folky lo-fi indie music. While often experimenting with the use of instruments, melodies and vocal deliveries Lowertown still manages to find balance and comfort between nostalgic and futuristic indie sounds.

‘The Gaping Mouth’ showcases Lowertown’s growth as artists and as young adults. The EP as a whole is sonically and lyrically the most mature project they’ve ever done. The duo explores themes of solitude and maturing in dark times, made all the more relatable in the midst of a COVID-19 impacted environment.

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The EP immediately reminds you that this is indeed a Lowertown project with the opening track ‘Clown Car’ opening with the warm plucking of a guitar dancing with Olivia’s raspy voice that climbs high and low throughout the song, capturing their textbook sound. The track introduces the EP with lush strings and a lighter tone than we are used to hearing from the duo but we are reminded of the darker and angrier undertones of the EP yet to come as a muddy and crunchy guitar awakes in the background of the track towards the end. Osby explores the idea of being alone and finding comfort and identity in it as she repeatedly echoes “I’m alone that’s what scares me the most” and “forgetting what I said I’d be”.

Identity and freedom from uncomfortable spaces are themes that carry over to ‘Seaface’. Osby sings about the judgement they have faced and the inner strength that is needed to overcome it. Osby metaphorically uses crows depicting those out to harm her and “peck” at her in an attempt to own her. The track begins with a calm and intricate layering of guitars as Olivia works her soft voice juxtaposing the beautiful darkness planted in the lyrics. ‘Seaface’ breaks out into a lively and catchy melody as soon as the rest of the drums join the euphoric party midway through the first verse while Olivia explains that she is stronger than the ‘crows’.

The title track ‘The Gaping Mouth’ opens with an electric organ softly humming in the background as the iconic sound of Avsha’s swirling fingerpicking guitar style pairs with little synth sounds scattered around the track. The track picks up from the melodic fast-paced plucks and turns into aggressive strums as the crunchy guitar makes a return for the chorus. Another return is Osby’s unique style of structuring her moody vocals into a hybrid of spoken word and traditional singing as she slots in lyrics in slightly unorthodox moments of the song adding to the refreshing and experimental nature of Lowertown.

Sonically, Lowertown continues to push boundaries with their ambitious songwriting showcased on ‘Burn On My Own’. The track starts off with a chopped together melody of vocals from Weinberg’s deep voice as a synth builds the track with a mysterious and lonely mood before the bright cymbals arrive alongside the strings as emotions run high. The track feels like it was written specifically for a lonesome slow dance; the smooth and relaxed guitar as Olivia brings the song to its conclusion, leaving “being alone” hanging in the air in the song’s final moments.

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The mood immediately switches with the high energy indie surf rock track ‘Debris’. The high-intensity bass line, fast-paced percussion and fiery guitar create a track for Olivia and Avsha to be even more aggressive and expressive. This track is an omen to how experienced and mature Lowertown is in their songwriting ability as the storytelling aspect runs harmoniously parallel with the song structure. Olivia begins singing about bottling up emotions as the track builds to the chorus where it explodes into a colourful and catchy hook whilst the lyrics delve into pouring out emotions creating debris that could harm others.

In the early seconds of ‘Grass Stains’ the (Sandy) Alex G influence makes a great impact. This should not take away from the fact that the duo has added their own twist to the chord progression that could be found on an Alex G record by stripping up the moody strumming guitars for the pre-chorus to let other layers of the track shine. ‘Grass Stains’ acts as an ode to fond childhood memories while acknowledging the irony of reminiscing these years while still being moderately young. Lowertown has made a track for people to find comfort in while also singing about personal experiences as turning the pages back and reminiscing on better times is a common act for everyone dealing with being stuck indoors during COVID.

As the album grows more aggressive and emotional in the final three tracks, ‘Sunburnt’ is the cherry on top of a fiery sundae. The track is an on-your-feet indie-rock anthem to its core. The electric guitar acts as the song’s spine as they strip back other instruments briefly in bridge’s that draws you into every chord as it teases the vibrant and energetic hook. ‘Sunburnt’ leaves a sweet taste on the tongue considering the dark undertones of the track and EP as a whole.

Lowertown has outdone themselves in creating an EP that is both lyrically and sonically nostalgic and experimental, personal yet accessible, wise though youthful. ‘The Gaping Mouth’ may only be a seven-track EP but is still an accolade to the level of storytelling that the duo have been able to reach at such early points in their careers. Following the path of Lowertown as they venture through the music landscape will not be time wasted as they are truly one’s to keep an eye on in the future.

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LOWERTOWN ‘SEAFACE’  Out Now
VIA DIRTY HIT
BUY / STREAM / WATCH

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Follow LOWERTOWN
INSTAGRAM – OLIVIA – AVSHA

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AMNPLIFY – DB

Press Release 6th SEPTEMBER 2021 (below)

LOWERTOWN
releases new single
‘SEAFACE’

NEW EP
THE GAPING MOUTH
Arriving Sept 16

VIA DIRTY HIT

LISTEN TO ‘SEAFACE’

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“Delivered with a nod and a wink, the band’s devilish sense of humor shining as bright as their scrappy melodies and enticing as the pretty finger picking.” – The FADER

Buzzy Atlanta-based duo Lowertown have just released their latest single, ‘Seaface’, from their highly anticipated forthcoming EP, The Gaping Mouth (the band teamed up with revered producer Catherine Marks – Foals, St. Vincent, Manchester Orchestra, Wolf Alice – in London), due out September 16 on Dirty Hit.

Late last month, Lowertown released the EP’s title track and its coinciding video to critical acclaim from The Guardian, and the band was named a best new artist by Pigeons & Planesand an artist to watch by Ones to Watch simultaneously. The song also landed a coveted spot on Pitchfork’s ‘Pitchfork Selects’ Playlist upon release.

About LOWERTOWN

Lowertown is comprised of 19-year-old bandmates and best friends Olivia Osby and Avsha Weinberg, who have quietly built a cult following while garnering praise for their moody riffs and lyrics about the trials and tribulations of becoming a young adult. From ad hoc, folky lo-fi soundscapes to more lacquered offerings, Lowertown’s unique brand of indie music is at once nostalgic and futuristic, chaotic and orderly, wise and young. Olivia, the self-taught singer-songwriter, and Avsha, the classically trained multi-instrumentalist, achieve success in their music through their symbiotic collaboration style, imbued with joy and respect.

Olivia and Avsha first met in math class in high school after discovering their shared love for DIY music, and began recording, producing and mastering all of their tracks from their basement studio. Their music mixes lush instrumentation, samples, synthesizers and homemade ambiance paired with moody vocals and lyrics. Their debut LP Friends, released in 2019, garnered millions of streams on Spotify.

After a recording stint in London, the duo is back with their first new music together since they released Honeycomb, Bedbug last year. The Gaping Mouth EP thematically revolves around living in a void, influenced by the isolation experienced by Olivia and Avsha during the pandemic.

“It’s our most honest and interesting work to date,” says Avsha of the new EP, who challenged himself to experiment more than on previous projects, “Most of our songs in the past have been sad songs, but this is our most mature work.”

Influenced by the likes of Aphex Twin, Modest Mouse, Radiohead, Alex G, and Animal Collective, Lowertown has already made waves in the US and UK, having drawn acclaim from Pigeons & Planes, The FADER, Ones To Watch, The Guardian, Far Out, Notion, The Forty Five, DIY, Dork, BBC Radio 1 and more.  

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AMNPLIFY – DB