Hound Heart
Richmond, Virginia, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2018 | SELF
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Denver is a city changing shape so rapidly. I feel like it can barely keep up with itself. I have been a few times and every time I witness a massive expansion. I really appreciate a talent like Hound Heart bringing forth such a strong Americana sound steeped in tradition and what once was. I feel like their sound fits Denver's core like a glove. Sure, buildings are going up, and the city is changing shape, but the mountains are always there to remind you where you are. This self-titled album captures that sentiment of mine.
The first track is titled " Black River". Right out of the gate I was thrown off my game. There's some unforeseen grungy undertone to this alt Americana track. Very interesting choices in the treatment of the guitar. This was also my first introduction to the vocalists, and they are stunning. Two strong, beautiful voices laying down razor sharp lyrics. I admire the production on this one. It's a ballsy track all around and I respect the hell out of it.
In the second track, "Pay Me No Mind", you get into a more traditional folk sound. Beautiful vocal harmony here explodes at the front of the song that raises the stakes. There is something so truly Americana about the sound on this one that really tugs at the heartstrings.
Anchored in the third spot is " Wildflowers". This one holds tight to the traditional sounds of the genres they favor, with a certain charming sweetness. A similar motif was given to the track " Night in Manhattan'. I was deeply fond of the lyrics on this one. In fact, it may be one of my favorite sets of words on this album.
Finally, there was " Is This It?". I always love that question. The subject matter on this one is a wonderful illustration of love, desire and contemplation--A truly beautiful song. They played with harmony so carefully here. I got this sense of devotion and strife tugging at one another. I cannot stress how engrossing it is. It tells a story that is honest, human and accepts that sometimes in life there will not be the closure we would like. I feel as though there is nothing more honest than a lack of resolution. It's such an accessible human plight and makes for a powerful song.
Hound Heart has a natural sprawling beauty sewn into their sound that is as cruel and kind as nature itself. This is the kind of album that could jump start even the coldest stone hearts to beat again. You will get more than your bang for your buck if you decide to throw down on these five songs. - Divide and Conquer
Discography
Hound Heart released their first self titled EP independently in March 2019.
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Bio
Alli Walls and Isaac Friend met at a music venue in Richmond, Virginia some time in late September of 2017, after Isaac had stepped off stage from a show he’d played that night with his then band, Lady Empire. Isaac was a Richmond native and long time local drummer and songwriter, and Alli, originally from Florida, had just moved to the city to pursue music on land after two years of performing as a singer on cruise ships.
From there, they met almost nightly in the basement of Isaac’s downtown apartment building. In that long, echoey hallway— with an old Gibson guitar—they crafted and honed their sound, learning the nuances of each other’s voices, felt the magic of well crafted melodies and powerful lyrics. The magnetism of each practice and performance grew, and they built a dedicated partnership with a vow of commitment to their art.
Denver proved to be a flourishing greenhouse for musicians. After a string of gigs and consistent open-mics, they quickly gained support from local musicians and music lovers throughout Colorado. They then flew back to Richmond to record their demo EP at Montrose Recording. They tracked five songs live on February 25th, capturing the raw nature of their live performances.
In 2018, under the name ‘Isaac & Alli’, they started playing as a duo throughout the Richmond area, garnering support from the local music scene, with Alli often joining Lady Empire as a guest vocalist. That June, they made the difficult decision to move to Denver, Colorado to expand their project in a new city, and soon thereafter began performing under the name Hound Heart.
You can find Hound Heart performing throughout Denver and the surrounding Colorado areas as they build their first regional tour. Their self-titled EP can be found on on all major streaming platforms.
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