One of our favorite bands since their (and our) earliest days, eclectic local outfit Waterfall Wash are a group we’ve watched grow and evolve into one of the local rock scene best and most dependable staples. Always open to genre experimentation, the group’s early years and first EP, 2015’s (now largely unavailable) Foreign Chords, took on a folkier bent, albeit with unique instrumentation and persistent pop accessibility. By 2016 mixtape Married to the Sound and their last EP, 2017’s Become What You See, however, the band, whose lineup has evolved as well, had taken on a fuzzy, lo-fi, synth infused indie pop sound, incorporating big hooks, layered melody, and even pulling from elements of math rock and pop punk to hone a unique and experimental, yet pleasantly approachable style. We know that the band have been working on new material, even running a successful crowdfunding campaign to help with the recording on their debut LP, but aside from 2018’s “Chris” and last year’s “Colors,” an inspired reimagining of the band’s very first song which we premiered on the site, we’ve been left eagerly anticipating what’s next.
Which brings us to some good news- while we don’t know the exact release date just yet, we’re thrilled to announce that the band’s forthcoming album will be called Mutable, and ahead of its release, we’re exclusively premiering a brand new Waterfall Wash single called “Stars”!
Apparently a reference to the album’s title (“the 4 mutable signs in astrology, associated with adaptability, flexibility and sympathy”), “Stars” was “inspired by those neon glow-in-the-dark stars that kids in the 90’s would stick to their walls, ceilings, Trapper Keepers, etc. But more than pieces of plastic, it’s about how repetition can be both a source of comfort and confusion.” As frontman Michael Roddy elaborates, “When I was in elementary school, I’d order bulk star / planet packs and use putty to place them around my bedroom. It got pretty nerdy… I would use my ceiling fan as ‘the sun’ in the configuration, spacing the planets around it proportionately. And I created constellations like Orion’s Belt and Cassiopeia.”
Engineered, produced and mixed by Nick Bullock at Awake Studios in South Nashville and mastered by Alan Douches (Beach Slang, Saves the Day, The Octopus Project) at West West Side Music in New York, “Stars” is a further showcase of the band’s pop accessibility, channeling a fuzzy, driving, and insanely catchy riffs and harmonic prowess. Another phenomenal leap forward for a band who continue to impress us more with each release, if the rest of Mutable is anything like “Stars,” it’s sure to be one of the year’s best local records!
As we previously announced, Waterfall Wash are set to support reunited alt/emo favorites Piebald this Saturday, Feb. 1 at The Basement East, along with Through the Motions (read all about the show and enter to win tickets here).
More from Waterfall Wash | Site | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
