I can’t say you will be missed by me. My list consists of a few new artists that I discovered earlier this year (Freedom Fry, Yoke Lore, Fruit Bats) and some old favorites (The Head and The Heart, Blind Pilot, Father John Misty).
All of these songs feel optimistic to my jaded soul and serve as a reminder that better times lie ahead.
Enjoy!
After the jump, listen to Taylor’s Farewell to 2016 playlist and read her words about each of its 16 songs.
1. JOSEPH // “SOS (Overboard)”
I discovered this band in 2015 when they didn’t have much music online. At first listen, I was jolted by the amazing harmonies these ladies effortlessly layered upon a simple acoustic guitar. A few months later, during a trip to NYC for the CMJ festival, I accidentally (and happily) realized they were performing at the ATO Records showcase. I had the opportunity to chat with them and express how much I loved their music – they were as sweet in person as the music they make. I’ve since had the pleasure of seeing them perform to a sold-out crowd in Nashville. This was the first band I thought of when this project arrived in my inbox, and I am an avid fan of the new album.
2. Freedom Fry // “Shaky Ground”
When I think of Los Angeles, I think of a lot of things. I think of the smog, animal style fries, my favorite book store/coffee shop on Sunset Blvd, some stranger stealing my bike at Venice Beach... the one thing I don’t think of when I think of L.A. is the indie pop/folk band, Freedom Fry. This song is placed on my “When You Finally Have A f%$#ing Day Off” playlist because when I have a day off at home, all I want is fun, and fun for me consists of upbeat, danceable music.
3. Yoke Lore // “Hold Me Down”
I spend a lot of time online, especially to book shows for my band. I found Yoke Lore via TheDeliNYC website while scouting local bands to fill a bill in Brooklyn. This guy is a charmer. The song I chose layers banjo, electronic beats, and drums. In my book, ANYONE who can layer a banjo with a dashing electronic palette is A+. My dream bill to play would be: AVIS, Yoke Lore and Lady Lamb @ The Basement East in Nashville.
4. Matt Simons // “Catch & Release (Deepend Remix)”
Two versions of this song were released this year: the original acoustic version and the awesome remix by Deepend (A Dutch DJ / Producer duo). I would suggest listening to both versions and keeping them on separate playlists for when you’re feeling sad, with a faint sliver of optimism (acoustic version), or the other one for when you’re driving around late at night and are motivated to be productive & creative (remix version).
5. Kate Kelly // “Falling Down Again”
Picture yourself on a late summer night, sitting cross-legged in your neighbor’s backyard with Christmas tree lights strung everywhere. About twenty music students are sitting beside you, watching a beautiful, petite girl attentively. She’s singing songs about trips away from home and people she has encountered in her young life. This was my introduction to a friend of a friend, Kate Kelly. Her EP was produced by my old neighbor and dear friend, Patrick Sewalk. Her songs are presented lightly with wispy vocals that curl around your head in a way that not many singer-songwriters can do. It is ear candy and I recommend her music to anyone who is in need of a deep-down warm feeling.
6. Father John Misty // “Real Love Baby”
This one requires no explanation other than: Father John, you got me singing this song all the time. Although this is eerily similar to the vibe from “I Love You, Honey Bear,” I’ll let it slide and keep grooving to you, boo.
7. The Growlers // “The Daisy Chain”
It’s nearly impossible to really pinpoint where this band lies within the realms of style. Their 2016 release, “City Club” is a fusion of their signature punk vocals with some fashionable guitar rifts reminiscent of the early eighties English rock (e.g., The Smiths). I chose the track “The Daisy Chain” because I am a sucker for lyrical content that insinuates heavy alcohol consumption backed by a electric organ hook. But that’s just me… and now I’m thirsty.
8. Maggie Rogers // “Alaska”
If you haven’t heard the buzz surrounding Maggie Rogers then allow me to be the first to introduce you to a new artist that was recently launched into the internet’s “Favorite Musician” category. Her debut track, “Alaska” was reviewed with high acclaim by Pharrell Williams, which prompted the internet to go crazy (or crazier than it is — Reddit is nuts). This track is undoubtedly rooted in folk, which makes sense, considering Ms. Roger’s background in music began with harp, guitar, piano, and banjo. This song makes quite an impression on me in terms of breaking boundaries to create something natural and true to one’s identity.
9. Margaret Glaspy // “Emotions And Math”
Another supremely talented member of the ATO roster. While Margaret’s music is definitely more on the alt-rock side of things, there is no denying her beautiful, deep, monotone singing voice. I love this song because of the imagery she lends through her account of loneliness in the absence of a partner.
10. Lucius // “Dusty Trails (Demo)”
I saw this band play almost four years ago and knew they were headed toward national fame. Their new album, Good Grief, has a sugary sweet vibe, with more electronics than harmonies compared to Wildewoman, but I am still a fan of the two frontwomen, Jess Wolfe and Holly Laesing. I chose the demo version of “Dusty Trails,” since I prefer stripped-down renditions. These ladies’ voices with minimal instrumentation is a dream in a dream.
11. The Head And The Heart // “Oh My Dear”
This group never ceases to amaze me with their pronounced songwriting skills, full band harmonies, and flair for sharing the spotlight as lead singer. I sense these guys are slowly moving away from their heyday of “Rivers And Roads” and on to bigger territory. This song entices me with that new territory, while showcasing all of the reasons I love this band. My favorite part of this track is the background vocals that sound so distant and tunnel-like, that you wouldn’t necessarily hear them.
12. Blind Pilot // “Packed Powder”
I will NEVER outgrow Blind Pilot! The soothing lead vocals of Israel Nebeker are a big reason why. “Packed Powder” is a wonderful outline of trying to do the right thing even if it’s not what you came here for. Nebeker’s songs are metaphors for a bigger message, and his soulfulness combined with a consistent formula for each song is what makes him a unique singer/songwriter.
13. Fruit Bats // “None of Us”
“You oughta be careful when putting your heart out there, cause some people are bound to be mean.” This is the opening line to “None Of Us” by Fruit Bats. I relate to this sentiment all too well. This year has been a mean one for me in terms of friendship. I’ve had minor misunderstandings turn friendships upside down, but it’s self expression that can help you out of any rut. This song is a reminder to me to keep writing and conveying my feelings in dark times.
14. The Shins // “Dead Alive”
The intro to “Dead Alive” sounds like an alien robot trying to make contact for the first time. If you were to make me guess who the artist of this song was based on the first 12 seconds, I would never guess The Shins (I’d probably guess Dr. Dog). But that’s the brilliance behind the instrumental aspect of this new tune. It does not have much familiarity in the structure compared to other songs by The Shins, and you realize who the band is once James Mercers’ electrifying voice kicks off in the first verse. Job well done, folks.
15. The Lumineers // “Ophelia”
What would this list be without The Lumineers? I don’t believe I can adequately describe how much I love this band. “Ophelia” is my favorite track off the new album, thanks to the hauntingly beautiful piano hook and reverb heavy vocals.
16. Whitney // “Golden Days”
I chose to include this as the final song of my playlist because it makes me feel like I am driving off into the sunset, flipping the bird to this past year, and heading toward my golden days.
Avis to release debut EP, The Reference on September 1
A couple of months ago, we featured AVIS – the 5-piece, Nashville-based band fronted by Taylor Bogner.
Since then, the band recorded a live studio EP (at The Toy Box Studio in East Nashville), which they’ll release on September 1, 2016 via Spotify, iTunes and Soundcloud.
Check out the promo video, have another listen to “Goodbye George” and get as excited as we are.
“If you like music that is created from the soul, then you will like AVIS.”
Originally intended to be a solo project, the now five-piece, Nashville-based band AVIS is comprised of Charlie Garcia (banjo), Johan Ordziniak (guitar/keys), Brendan Devlin (bass), Daniel Pratt (drums) and frontwoman Taylor Ann Avis Bogner on ukulele and lead vocals.
After a string of nomadic, cross-country gigging years, Taylor set down roots in Nashville, where she found her bandmates and solidified her sound: a bluesy, soulful brand of folk that is reminiscent of early Amy Winehouse. Her husky voice lilts through playful lyrics and oscillates between spare sweetness and full-bodied power. Complemented by the band, Taylor’s sultry vocals are juxtaposed with upbeat, Nashville-tinged instrumentation – creating a unique and complex harmony.
The band has been active for a little over a year, during which time they’ve recorded a demo, submitted an entry to NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest and have experimented with new songwriting collaborations amongst the quintet.
Keep your eye on AVIS as they continue to develop and expand outside of the Nashville scene. I, for one, am looking forward to hearing much more from these folks.
Goodbye George (I Miss The West More) by AVIS
Listen to AVIS on Facebook and Bandcamp, and follow the group on Instagram.
Interview with AVIS frontwoman, Taylor Bogner, after the jump.
Folk It All: How recently did you land in Nashville? What brought you there?
Taylor Bogner: I moved to Nashville from Rochester, NY a year ago. It was a dream of mine to develop a place where I could eventually form a band and have a rehearsal space. I have lived in a lot of different cities, but my family had relocated to Tennessee about 10 years ago, so when I was deciding on a new city, it just made sense to move to Nashville and reconnect with family in the area. Also the music scene here is undeniable.
FIA: Tell me about your musical journey thus far – When did you start playing/singing/writing/gigging?
TB: If you want to start from the beginning, this is going to be a pretty long answer, but I will try to do a long-story-short kind of thing. I was gifted my first guitar in 4th grade. I learned the basic chords pretty quickly and always fiddled around with the guitar. I didn't write a song until I was around 14-15, and the inspiration was having my heart broken for the first time (dramatic, I know). I performed that song in front of my entire high school for our end-of-the-year talent show and received 2nd place.
After that my life was never the same. I went from being this kid in a closet with her acoustic guitar, to this young woman with so many emotions I needed to convey, and I had finally discovered my tool of expression. Next, I joined a band, dropped out of high school, worked as a waitress, saved a shit ton of money, bought a conversion band, took my girlfriend with me and traveled the country on a independent "open mic" tour. I ended up living in that van until almost 18. I can't say those times were tough, though. I had planned the entire route, did research on coffee shops, and just lived very modestly. The best place that I went to throughout that year was NYC. I ended up staying there for a month and lived with my brother, who is a writer there. I really saw what it took to deliver a riveting performance.
When all was said and done, I moved to Portland, OR and formed my first band, Kozy Soul. From then on I brought the group on another cross-country tour. This time around it was based on busking and house shows. This is the period of time where I learned new instruments: banjo, bass, ukulele, etc. But the uke was what stuck with me, and I am very happy that it did. Next stop was Austin, TX, but at this point Kozy Soul went from a full band to a duo. We lived in Austin for a year and had some success during SXSW with our busking performance, but ultimately we moved to Rochester, NY after a year. During my two years in Rochester, I released my first EP and really delved into the local music scene. I remember the first time I was booked a paid gig and discovered that being a professional musician was something I really wanted to aim for. Kozy Soul broke up once I moved to Nashville in 2014, but ultimately I am very proud of everything that has happened up until this point.
FIA: How has your sound evolved with the formation of AVIS?
TB: Prior to AVIS, I relied heavily on my bandmates to write the songs instrumentally, whilst I was responsible for melody and lyrics. When I first started playing with the members of AVIS, it was an exciting time for us all because I had written very basic 4-chord songs with my ukulele and gave them total creative freedom over piecing it together and transforming it into a fuller sound. This was the first time I had ever written an entire set of songs and presented them to a full band that I had never worked with before. If you were to listen to my solo acoustic demos of AVIS songs, you'd feel a little melancholy, but with the band it turns into a new energetic version with more components.
FIA: People tend to find comfort in “If you like ____, then you will like _____” comparisons for new music discovery. That said, how would you describe your sound/genre/”musical fingerprint”?
TB: I personally have always said folk/soul. Everyone else in the band would prefer one genre such as rock, or maybe even Americana. It's kind of an inside joke when you live in Nashville to combine as many different genres if someone were to ask this question. When people come to a show our top five comparisons from the audience are Mazzy Star, Amy Winehouse, Dawes, The Head And The Heart, and Cat Power. So basically, my answer is: if you like music that is created from the soul, then you will like AVIS.
FIA: Who do you consider to be your biggest musical influences?
TB: This is definitely the hardest question for me to answer, simply because I don't listen to music on a regular basis that influences me. I know a lot of musicians who get really into a particular album and then write songs that sound eerily similar. I've never really been that way, and honestly it's not a negative way to be – It's just not who I am. All of my music comes from my perspective on life and love. It comes from the sadness that I feel at times. It's influenced by my mind and the places my thoughts go to. I am more inspired by my friends who also write music. But I try to stay true to my own unique sound and never really allow anything to distract me from my writing process.
FIA: Your dad moonlights as a musician – do you feel like this had an influence on your creative pursuits?
TB: Absolutely. I was raised on David Bowie, Morrissey/The Smiths, Rush, and a couple other pretty eccentric bands from the UK. He definitely did me a huge favor by introducing me to his favorite musicians. The most influential memory of my dad was when he decided to record a solo album and did everything himself. At the time I didn't really realize the magnitude of that project, but looking back now, I realize how amazing it was, and it encourages me to stick to my DIY mindset. He also bought me my first guitar, showed me how it worked, and to this day he always gives me advice about my band/musical endeavors. He really believes in me, and it's very heartwarming. He always says, "If I didn't do it, you will."
FIA: How did you connect with your bandmates?
TB: Other than the bassist, Brendan Devlin, I met every single one of them at a bar. I had just purchased a drum set and had fully set up my practice room, so I would go out almost every night with one sole intention: Meet a new friend – and if that new friend plays music, invite them over to jam. Once AVIS was established, it was an insane rush of energy because we all really grooved with one another as friends, and we realized our group had a genuine/pure energy behind it because of that connection. When we aren't playing shows, we hang out regularly. We support each other as people first and foremost, and want to see each other succeed in any other musical pursuits we may choose.
This city is overflowing with bands and there are no rules to AVIS. Each member is entitled to fulfill themselves in whichever way they please. Our drummer, Daniel Pratt, is actually a professional drummer who moved from Chicago, so we've even gone to some of his other shows he plays with other bands. It's really cool to know he believes in AVIS and wants to be a part of this project despite all of his other offers. I couldn't have asked for better people to take part in my dreams of playing music professionally.
FIA: You mentioned [last time we spoke] that you were demoing your EP for a major label. What’s the process been like, trying to get a bite?
TB: We have a few contacts at this point in time. It's a long way from reality, but the possibility is bigger than ever when you are based in Nashville. We are still working on the demo because our main guitarist Johan Ordziniak is based in Berlin, Germany. We really want him to be a part of this process because he helped develop the songs. The process for communicating with labels is one big dinner party in a sense – You just have to network nonstop and believe that you can create a product that will sell. More importantly you need to showcase your work ethic (booking shows, playing shows, having a website, recording your own material, merch, logo, etc).
It can be daunting when you're a brand new band with no manager, but I believe that could work in our favor. I always hope that a label will listen to our sound and be impressed with how unique and different it is from most music on the radio. I want them to see us as a blank slate that has grand potential to come into the music industry and make people feel intrigued. I want people to listen to AVIS and feel like they've never heard anything quite like it before.
FIA: What’s your favorite song of the moment?
TB: My boyfriend Andrew Vilar has recently started writing and recording his own music for the first time, so I'd have to say all of his songs are the ones I have stuck in my head every day. I wake up singing “Little Mama Rockin” by Vilar. Check him out! He's gonna release an EP soon and you'll get what I'm saying.
FIA: How do you discover new music?
TB: Going to shows mostly. I really try to support the locals here. I started using Spotify a year ago, which was funny since I never used anything quite like it before. I usually listened to cassettes prior to that, so my world opened up when I started exploring on there.
FIA: Favorite Spotify or Nashville discovery?
TB: From Spotify, The Growlers. From Nashville, Thunderbitch.
FIA: What inspires you?
TB: Life in general. The amazing correlation between the past, the present and the future. The potential of the human mind, and more importantly the power of manifestation. Nothing is a coincidence.
FIA: Avis is one of your middle names – what made you decide to go with the AVIS moniker?
TB: Initially AVIS was intended to be a solo project. I planned for AVIS to be my stage name, but when I met the other members, I quickly realized that we all wanted to be identified as AVIS. That's the most beautiful part of this entire project – Every member feels ownership over the music. I started to sign as Taylor Ann A. Bogner because I didn't want people to identify me personally as AVIS. I definitely want people to know that this is a band and I'm just the frontperson. It takes a lot to make this possible, and I am very grateful for everyone involved.
FIA: Are you the sole songwriter for the band?
TB: At this point I am. I think that will change pretty soon, though. The banjo/guitarist, Charlie Garcia, is an amazing songwriter. We spent a few days this past summer writing together, and we plan to do so [this year]. The never-ending challenge of a band is to keep writing. You should always focus on the next step.
FIA: On that note – what’s next on the horizon for AVIS?
TB: We submitted an entry for NPR's Tiny Desk Contest, and we’re shopping the completed demo around, booking more shows, writing new songs, and taking every new opportunity that is presented.
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By Ashlyn St. Ours for folkitall.com
Cover illustration by Beau Sims (of Butter on Toast).
