Brother Bird

When things become stagnant, they don’t just slow down. Stagnant water collects, usually in a confined space, and with no current to move it, it begins to smell unpleasant. Upon coming into contact with it, you can tell that it is an unhealthy, unsafe state. brother bird is a project from Nashville-based singer/songwriter caroline. And while another year is her most romantic-sounding collection yet, drawing from the Cranberries' melodic vibe, the shoegaze influence of Mazzy Star, and the guitar tones of Big Thief, under the surface lies a common muse: waiting for something to happen. And under all the pretty, soothing sounds on the record lies the particular style of caroline. “I would say I’m a happy person and playfully sarcastic. But I get the most raw and honest I can be in my lyrics. My music is kind of like a vessel.” And it starts with a song that’s as raw and honest as they come, “i’m sorry.” It flew right out of the stagnant space caroline found herself in, surprisingly fast and near the end of the writing and recording process — almost as if shaking her creative bottle knocked something important loose. “It sounds more and feels more romantic, but if you zoom out a little bit, I don't know that it is. I feel close to the words, and I'm still kind of figuring out why,” caroline says. The tracks “something better” and “quitter,” are twin flames embodying that style: confessional, with a touch of satire and a drizzle of dissatisfaction. Okay, more than a touch — caroline’s friends and collaborators had to be reassured she was okay after hearing them. “It feels like everyone has all these really impressive things to say, and I'm holding on to things I did years ago,” caroline says, naming imposter syndrome as an inspiration. Captain of the ship is the role caroline gave herself in creating Brother Bird, and on her first LP, gardens, she worked closely with friends and mentors Andy Hull and Robert McDowell of Manchester Orchestra. On another year, she co-produc