Moving on from his renowned folk-pop style and delving more into lo-fi soundscapes, Devarrow releases today A Long & Distant Wave, a ten-track album that follows the surprise release of his double single Kickin’/In Time. Even though the Canadian singer-songwriter explores uncharted territory, his sound is still characterised by a minimalist production: a guitar, a piano, drums, and his incredible voice. Of course, some more instruments come at play, but one of the qualities of his latest record is the DIY approach, which was made possible thanks to the intimate ambiance of a home studio.
It’s been five years since Devarrow’s latest release. During this period, the artist has been working on crafting a new sound, one that reflects even better the way he wants to communicate with the world. Even though he’s taken his time to write, record, and fine-tune the ten songs that make up A Long & Distant Wave, Devarrow aims to “dismantle the notion that art must emerge from a tortured and introspective place dictated by emotions.” Instead, he enjoy making art for the sake of it, enjoying it every second.
At a quick glance, the artist’s new album encapsulates the fleeting nature of time and the enduring power of memory. It’s easy to perceive that just with some titles: Begin Again, In Time, Memories, or Something About Getting Old, one of the main tracks. Speaking of it, Devarrow shares: “It was one of the first songs I recorded for A Long & Distant Wave, and helped form the backbone of the record’s vibe and lyrical content. This song was also one of the first times I experimented with ad libbing lyrics, and in fact, the lyrics of the outro were all done in one take, with no ready-made writing or prompts.”
With heartfelt lyrics, stripped back production, and honest emotions, Devarrow releases an album that is emotional, melodic, and invites listeners to reflect on the passage of time, cherish the present, and be excited for the future. At the crossroads between lo-fi and folk, Devarrow’s music soothes the soul, especially in songs like A Long & Distant Wave, where he’s sampled sounds from the sea that are perfectly paired up with a piano, or In Time, which also has a melancholic undertone but conveyed through guitar riffs.