Vonelle

"As more and more pop/indie rock bands pop up in Canada, it becomes harder and harder for bands to distinguish themselves. After all, how many ways can a pop song be done before it becomes stale? Toronto four-piece Vonelle have managed to mesh together straightforward pop songwriting with an experimental sound that makes their songs pretty unique.

Even when you think you know what you’re in for, the band will throw you for a loop. Also to their strength is lead singer Julia Crawford, whose vocal range can go from a breathy whisper to higher registers over the course of a song. Take the EP’s middle track “My Love.” It starts out sounding like it could be a soulful, 50s-inspired ballad. However, partway through the song there is such a flurry of keys, synths and electronics that you’d be forgiven for thinking a different song had just started.

Opener “Over & Over” is perhaps the strongest song on the album. It is constantly buzzing with a unique grainy-sounding keyboard. The lyrics are dreamlike (and why not; the chorus references having the same dream several times), featuring images of bikes floating into the sky and birds who just won’t fly at all.

“Old News” could be the most straightforward track here- the lyrics mention a girl that people don’t seem to like. And boy, are the lyrics venomous. The hard-driving electric guitars are punctuated in the choruses by keyboards for added flavour.

The EP’s title track gravitates between sweetness and intensity, particularly in the bridges between chorus and verse. Finally, there’s “The Haunt” which features some especially glitchy-sounding keyboards. The choruses reach the heights that soaring pop songs reach, with lyrics about being a star. The description doesn’t do this song justice though- it changes several times and makes for a strong ending.

Vonelle has proven that they are perfectly capable of writing solid three-minute pop songs with this EP. So long as they keep combining Crawford’s great vocal range with unusual song structures (as well as the killer keyboard sounds) the band will have a great niche for themselves." -Michael Thomas - Grayowl Point

"As more and more pop/indie rock bands pop up in Canada, it becomes harder and harder for bands to distinguish themselves. After all, how many ways can a pop song be done before it becomes stale? Toronto four-piece Vonelle have managed to mesh together straightforward pop songwriting with an experimental sound that makes their songs pretty unique.

Even when you think you know what you’re in for, the band will throw you for a loop. Also to their strength is lead singer Julia Crawford, whose vocal range can go from a breathy whisper to higher registers over the course of a song. Take the EP’s middle track “My Love.” It starts out sounding like it could be a soulful, 50s-inspired ballad. However, partway through the song there is such a flurry of keys, synths and electronics that you’d be forgiven for thinking a different song had just started.

Opener “Over & Over” is perhaps the strongest song on the album. It is constantly buzzing with a unique grainy-sounding keyboard. The lyrics are dreamlike (and why not; the chorus references having the same dream several times), featuring images of bikes floating into the sky and birds who just won’t fly at all.

“Old News” could be the most straightforward track here- the lyrics mention a girl that people don’t seem to like. And boy, are the lyrics venomous. The hard-driving electric guitars are punctuated in the choruses by keyboards for added flavour.

The EP’s title track gravitates between sweetness and intensity, particularly in the bridges between chorus and verse. Finally, there’s “The Haunt” which features some especially glitchy-sounding keyboards. The choruses reach the heights that soaring pop songs reach, with lyrics about being a star. The description doesn’t do this song justice though- it changes several times and makes for a strong ending.

Vonelle has proven that they are perfectly capable of writing solid three-minute pop songs with this EP. So long as they keep combining Crawford’s great vocal range with unusual song structures (as well as the killer keyboard sounds) the band will have a great niche for themselves." -Michael Thomas - Grayowl Point

"Maybe you’ve been lucky enough to see Vonelle live. They’ve popped up at various Toronto venues steadily since the band’s conception last year, and they put on one hell of a live show. But their debut release, Young Soul, really showcases the full Vonelle experience. The band’s music is simultaneously groovy and passionate, surreal and compelling.

Let’s get the obvious out of the way: yes, the band sounds like Metric, from the chirpy synths to vocalist Julia Crawford’s more than passing similarity to Emily Hanes. But the comparison is reductive: when Vonelle get going they branch off from indie rock and explore territories that owe more to Brian Eno than Canadian Music Week.

The title cut is anthemic in the best way. A catchy hook, driving guitar melodies and a skull-pounding bass drum propel this song deep into the recesses of your memory. If you do listen to Vonelle, be prepared to have “Young Soul” resurface out of nowhere at 2 AM and not leave for a couple of days.

Vonelle is populated with strong musicians, but Young Soul is a success in equal measure due to its solid production. Delays, echoes, cavernous reverb, buzzy guitar effects, distorted synths…it all blends into intriguing and original backdrops that the band gets to spend some time in.

It’s always nice to find a band that has the ability to make you dance and make you think in equal measure, and Vonelle fits that bill nicely. Throw on some good headphones or set up your nice speakers, put Young Soul on and let the sounds wash over you." -Nicholas Tristan - Listen To Everything

"Maybe you’ve been lucky enough to see Vonelle live. They’ve popped up at various Toronto venues steadily since the band’s conception last year, and they put on one hell of a live show. But their debut release, Young Soul, really showcases the full Vonelle experience. The band’s music is simultaneously groovy and passionate, surreal and compelling.

Let’s get the obvious out of the way: yes, the band sounds like Metric, from the chirpy synths to vocalist Julia Crawford’s more than passing similarity to Emily Hanes. But the comparison is reductive: when Vonelle get going they branch off from indie rock and explore territories that owe more to Brian Eno than Canadian Music Week.

The title cut is anthemic in the best way. A catchy hook, driving guitar melodies and a skull-pounding bass drum propel this song deep into the recesses of your memory. If you do listen to Vonelle, be prepared to have “Young Soul” resurface out of nowhere at 2 AM and not leave for a couple of days.

Vonelle is populated with strong musicians, but Young Soul is a success in equal measure due to its solid production. Delays, echoes, cavernous reverb, buzzy guitar effects, distorted synths…it all blends into intriguing and original backdrops that the band gets to spend some time in.

It’s always nice to find a band that has the ability to make you dance and make you think in equal measure, and Vonelle fits that bill nicely. Throw on some good headphones or set up your nice speakers, put Young Soul on and let the sounds wash over you." -Nicholas Tristan - Listen To Everything

"When Vonelle appeared and performed their first song, the audience was at its peak. This indie rock band with melodic new wave vocals performed by singer Julia Crawford, stole the show.

With her silver danceresque dress, and flowing long blond hair, Crawford’s style truly matched her ethereal, smooth voice." -Lama Kanj - The Dialog

"When Vonelle appeared and performed their first song, the audience was at its peak. This indie rock band with melodic new wave vocals performed by singer Julia Crawford, stole the show.

With her silver danceresque dress, and flowing long blond hair, Crawford’s style truly matched her ethereal, smooth voice." -Lama Kanj - The Dialog