Summerland – The Woodlands (Free Download / Buy)
Swept up in the excitement of marital bliss and an adventurous backpacking trip through Europe, newlyweds Hannah and Samuel Robertson returned to the U.S. with a decision to found their new life together through music. Setting up shop in the beautiful western city of Portland, the lovebirds formed indie duo The Woodlands (@The__Woodlands), and together have created some pretty beautiful indie folk-pop.
Presented as a digital book of poems, their Bandcamp site allows you to read along with the idyllic lyrics as you become enamored with Hannah’s breathy, dreamlike vocals. On “King and Queen,” she could be a forest spirit beckoning you with lullabies into a world of enchantment, whispering sweetly, “Won’t you lie here on the moon / Sparkle in the silvery dunes / Cradled in a bright white cocoon.” Samuel’s accompanying acoustic melodies, the magical hint of bells and quiet instrumentation heightens the intimacy of each song even more. This lovely husband/wife team has created a ten-song compilation that is not only deep and personal, but also personable for the listener, where we can feel it’s emotion without feeling too invasive.
A very intriguing characteristic I often notice about artists with a propensity for quiet, gentler music is their alter ego’s ability to craft some amazing remixes, which generally involve a lot more sonic fanfare than their main body of work (Aislyn first comes to mind in this regard!). The Woodlands recently posted their “In The Dark On Monday (Heavy Hands Remix)” single in conjunction with the preorder of their upcoming Heavy Hands Remix EP. The title is a bit ironic, considering how subtly the techno beats are layered with the originally acoustic track, but we can’t wait for it regardless! Apparently neither can the folks at the Independent Music Awards, for which this remixed single stands as a top five contender in the dance/electronica category…well done!
