By Keith Walsh
Something cool and new from Oakland, California crossed my desk this week. I’m excited about the debut album from the team of Othered, coming April 15. Comprised of Henry Austin Lannan, Emily Palen, and a host of players, the first single “Journey To The Edge” features a rather sparse arrangement, with thick walls of guitar and bass, and agile vocals from Palen that tell of an existential crisis. The sound is instantly memorable and conjures up Nirvana and Black Sabbath vibes.

“Shooting for outer space/Infinity will you soothe me/Will you take away the pain we feel everyday/Sentience behind the eyes /Waiting for us to recognize/That everything is upside down”

Dramatic songs like this bring the feels, allowing fans to connect to the lyrical message and the music. I’m a big fan of narratives that encourage us to find the answer to anxiety and chaos by becoming mindfully detached.

“Hold on tight/To your heart/As we let go of everything…”

I’ve heard the album and read the lyrics on the forthcoming “Othered Vol. 1,” and the messages are dark, realistic and intelligent. The sound is an expansion of grunge and hard rock, with the inevitable flavors of the hard rock from the 60s and 70s, while Palen’s voice and Lannan’s guitar sounds are unique and distinctive enough that it’s their own thing.

Othered On Instagram
Othered On Twitter
Emily Palen On Facebook

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