by emma schoors
photo by nikoli partiyeli
“Remote” is uncharted territory for Wallows, and they’re navigating it with style.
Dylan Minnette, Braeden Lemasters, and Cole Preston didn’t physically see each other at all during the recording of their newest EP, which makes its completed form that much more impressive. Instead, they took to FaceTime and the iPhone voice memos app to complete the tracks.
“Dig What You Dug” is bass heavy and spotlights Braeden Lemasters’ stunning vocals. The pre-chorus is catchy and has the same general feel as some tracks on “Nothing Happens,” but as soon as the chorus hits, listeners are reminded that Wallows has changed significantly since then. Both versions of the band are equally worth listening to, but one thing is clear. The band is reigning in on what they do best in this EP, and there isn’t one “boring” song. Each track has countless musical complexities that make it memorable and worth giving another listen.
The intro of “Coastlines” is slightly reminiscent of the band’s most popular track, “Are You Bored Yet?” (feat. Clairo). Give it a mere couple seconds, though, and the band’s progression is clear. One of the most hard-hitting yet simplistic lines resides in this track: “Do your words make up what’s on your mind?” One key difference in this EP compared to the band’s earlier work is that it’s a lot more electronic-centric, and it’s pulled off surprisingly well.
“Talk Like That” showcases Dylan Minnette’s vocals, and overall shows the greatened intensity in the band’s sound. Just after the one minute mark the song takes a turn, and it becomes increasingly difficult to comprehend how the band managed to make such a beautifully complex song remotely.
A beautiful and resonating closing song, “Wish Me Luck,” slows things down slightly. This change in tempo is much needed to contrast the high-paced songs that carry the EP. Dreamy is the first word that comes to mind, but that doesn’t cover how stunning the mix of sound and lyricism is. “I don’t wanna lose myself to all my insecurities. If I told you all of them, who would it hurt more? You or me?” Wallows has always been great at writing songs that connect with people, but this track is especially relatable. The fear of inadequacy that so many people often internally feel is navigated effortlessly.
A true test of a band’s strength is their ability to adapt to abrupt changes in the industry and in the world, and Wallows has embraced these changes with ease... though, in the words of “Nobody Gets Me (Like You),” “All the things that made sense suddenly feel different.” The entire EP is deeply exciting, and a much needed breath of fresh air in an increasingly suffocating world.