Premiere: Lone Kodiak, ‘Calm Down’

Kevin Bronson on June 27th, 2017

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The musical grandeur of Lone Kodiak is the work of Daineal Park and Daniel Alden, Portland expatriates whose former band Emberghost faded away after the tragic death of singer/keyboardist Sarah Jennings six-plus years ago. The pair moved to L.A., where drummer Andrew Smith (ex-We Are the Kings and Queens) joined up, and after getting attention for the one-off “Disaster,” last summer released an EP of ambitious covers (“Ladies We Love,” with songs by Daughter, Maria Taylor, Lorde, FKA Twigs and Agnes Obel).

The painterly, majestic meditation “Calm Down” is the first song from the forthcoming EP “Feet in the Water,” showcasing the trio’s penchant for indie-rock that is at once expansive and intimate. “Campfire rock” is what the band calls it, and over strings, piano and handclaps, “Calm Down” finds Parker teaming up with guest vocalist Alex Rhodes to achieve the sweeping emotions that come when you have to dig deep to summon hope and optimism.

“The second I heard her voice come in on ‘Astronaut’ [one of Rhodes’ singles], I knew she was the one,” Parker says of Rhodes, who sings on the whole EP. “There is a emotionally devastating tenderness to her voice that we instantly fell in love with.” Produced by Johnny What (BRÅVES, Nikki Reed), mixed by Kyle Mangels (Lady Gaga, Goldilox, Haley Reinhart) and mastered by Grammy-winning John Greenham (Ice Cube, Bastille, Katy Perry, Sam Smith), the EP features violinist Stephan Hovsepian, whose work was added to the recordings only two days before the mix was due for mastering.

Calm down, or don’t.

||| Stream: “Calm Down”