Author Archives: Andrew LaVogue

ALBUM REVIEW: With ‘A Small Notion,’ High Tea Showcases a Knack for Big Hooks

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Based in the beautiful state of Massachusetts, High Tea consists of Isabella DeHerdt and Issac Eliot. Combining thoughtful songwriting with world class musicianship, Isabella and Issac have gone above and beyond with their new album, A Small Notion. The album provides songs that are gentle, alongside selections that bring a noticeable rebellious punk energy filtered through folkier sensibilities. 

A Small Notion has emotional weight drawn from their personal experiences of loss and change, with stories created to guide the listener through the journey. Starting with the title track – a folk rock offering with pop hooks – we are led into “A Stray in Lee County,” which is a true bluesy romp rock song, complete with strings and excellent vocals. 

“Paper Mache” is lighter and sweet, showing a softer side of the band, while “Ouch, Oh Shit” highlights the band’s ability to write a big chorus. I loved the layers of vocals on “Bittersweet Evenings,” a song which also includes a feature from Corey Latiman. 

“Heartbreak Kid” and “The Metaphysical and Technicolor End” both highlight the band’s musicianship, while “Scuba Diving” – a full band version of High Tea’s 2023 single – fits the album well. 

With another big chorus on “There Goes My Old Soul” – and, truthfully, nearly every song on A Small Notion – High Tea solidifies its knack for writing a hook. Then, to close out the album with a bang, we have “Poor Wayfaring Stranger” (featuring Chris Freeman) and “Shadows and Shadows” (featuring Heather Maloney). 
A Small Notion is a polished album created by experienced musicians. High Tea has successfully blended folk music with rock and punk, and made an album unlike any I’ve heard before. When listening, it’s impossible not to be impressed with the band’s songwriting abilities. Each song has its own distinct hook and identity.

Keeping Tabs: Electric Lemonade Releases ‘You’re Watching Me’

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Electric Lemonade fascinates me. Based in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada, the trio made of Sarah Murphy, Hannah Mazurek, and Rob Jones prove the fact you don’t need to be in large, oversaturated music markets like New York or L.A. to be worthy of coverage. Electric Lemonade proves that musicians who focus on their own communities and stories tend to be among the most authentic, interesting artists. 

From the very first drum beat, their song “You’re Watching Me” pulls you into this organic spacious jam which highlights the band’s excellent musicianship – while reminding us that rock is far from dead. Lyrically, “You’re Watching Me” is the story of the end of a relationship, and the decision to move forward through the pain, choose yourself, and embrace who you are.

“You’re watching me, I see you in the list of viewers
On my Instagram story, you know that I can see you.
I believe that mistakes lead us to places that we’re bound for.
Can you let me go? Can you let me go?”

Those are my favorite lyrics from this song, as they highlight an absolutely modern phenomenon of the online interactions and algorithms we share with people. Personally, I haven’t had the experience of breaking up with someone and have them still watch my Instagram stories. How awkward that must be… 

On the song, the band states: “We wrote this one in the studio when we were working on our upcoming EP. It started out with a version of the lyrics and some musical ideas we had floating around for a while. We came up with a rough version to play for our producer (Jordy Walker) and tweaked it a bunch, but really, the bulk of the song was written over one jam session.”

I hope to find myself walking the streets of Whitehorse one day. It’s an amazing city nestled in brilliant mountain wilderness, and judging from what I’ve heard from Electric Lemonade, I bet its music scene is mature. I imagine hiking around the area, getting some food, and then heading to a show. Hopefully, that would mean I would be lucky enough to catch Electric Lemonade play their music. For now, I’ll be listening on repeat moving forward.

LISTEN: Bri Aspen Delivers on ‘Wearing White’

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Heartbreak, as painful as it is to experience, oftentimes allows us to evolve and grow into a newer, fuller version of ourselves. There are people among us in this world that experience heartbreak while also being gifted artists. These people can channel their heartbreak into something of substance for the rest of us to rely on when we are eventually met with our own heartbreak.

Bri Aspen is one of those gifted artists. 

“Wearing White” is a song where Aspen explores that heartbreak of watching the person you love be in love with someone else. This song is an impressive showcase of Aspen’s voice, which is accompanied by a piano and a string section. 

“Sometimes, you introduce your soulmate to someone else – and then stand beside them on their wedding day,” Aspen said.

That’s a feeling no one should have to go through, but oh my, if you do… at least you have “Wearing White” for emotional support. 

“I wrote this song with Alex Lomartire and Jaan Harrison Kohm — (it’s) our third project together, and just the beginning of what I know will be a great creative partnership. I came into the session with the line, “I’m standing by your side, but I’m not wearing white,” and within a few hours, the full story had unfolded. Once we shaped the narrative, built out the characters, and found the right words to bring it all together, we knew we had something special. Jaan took it from there and produced the track in a way that truly brought the emotion and storyline to life.”

She explains further, “I learned throughout this writing process that sometimes, love means setting aside your own emotions, so that those you care about can find the happiness they deserve—even if that journey doesn’t include you.”

I am now a fan of Bri Aspen, who’s got more music coming out this year, and who you can catch playing all around Nashville. You’ll be a fan, too, once you check out “Wearing White” below!

LISTEN: On ‘NNYC,’ Haley Ganis Finds Her Way Through the Big Apple Post-Breakup

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So many times in my life, I have sat on a New York City subway, off to a show or a restaurant. I’ve often sat back and wondered what it would be like to have a lived experience in New York, with all the love, joy, and heartbreak.

Haley Ganis is an artist who has lived and performed in New York City, and has experienced the city’s culture. Her single, “NNYC,” is the perfect kind of tasteful pop song that only someone who had a life in New York could write.

“Don’t wanna take the 6 train home
Window reflections swear I see your ghost
I can’t avoid our inside jokes
Eight million people and I’m still alone.”

With those lyrics, Ganis perfectly sets the tone, illustrating all of those routines you develop with another person — the car and train rides, always going to the same destinations. In an instant, these memories can be tainted by a breakup. You can hear that pain in Ganis’ vocals, over the backdrop of synths and a strummed guitar before the band comes in. 

On the song, Ganis says “The day I wrote this, I was really missing New York City, but was also reminded of a major breakup I went through while living there. During the writing process, I loved sorting through my feelings and having New York as the backdrop of it all. My co-writer and producer, Dylan Maloney, helped finish the song with me, and I hope listeners enjoy what we did.”

Music this good doesn’t just happen. Ganis is a skilled songwriter, and has such musical capacity that you can hear the years of work she has spent on her craft. This might best be exemplified when the song is just her and a piano, which I will let the listener experience for themselves. 

“‘Cause you got to keep the good things
East side, Goodnight Sonny
Apartment and the grocery store
But New York isn’t yours.”

(Perhaps, in another timeline, I too am walking around New York City post-breakup, dodging bright city lights while walking past bodegas, trying to find a path to my new home in a new side of town…)

Haley Ganis wrote a stellar piece of music with “NNYC,” and I will be playing it on repeat. The tune is a part of a number of singles she will release before dropping her album in October. Keep an eye out for it!