Happy Friday, everyone! Welcome back, and to any new readers, we are happy to have you! Take a seat and get comfortable, this week we'll be discussing the brand new, self-titled, debut EP by the band Dear Season! Dear Season is an emo/post-hardcore band from West Chester, Pennsylvania; their members include:
Sean Slattery- guitar and vocals
Brian Foster- guitar
Mario Delano- bass and vocals
Nate Gittelman- drums
Dear Season's self-titled EP was released on Friday September 13th, 2024; it clocks in at about sixteen and a half minutes and includes four tracks. Make sure to read until the end for a very special interview with the band! And without further ado, let's jump into the review!
(Akira) Bike Slide:
This opening track does a great job at splicing together the energy and tone of a hardcore song with the slower, more subdued, twinkly melodies of emo music. The song begins with hard-hitting drums and feedback screeches and swells from the guitar, as well as some fast-paced, impressive hardcore lead. This all taking place before the instruments grind to a halt momentarily, then proceeding into the shimmery strums and soft vocals,
"I’m overwhelmed
and out of touch with what I want
I was never good at speaking up when something’s going on
It’s hard to find the words to say exactly what was wrong
When nothing seems to work the way it should,
how can I be sure if anything I say is good?"
During this verse, there is a very slow build, coming from very clean and sad vocals, slowly adding an additional layer to flesh out the sound. More relaxed drumming as well allows for the bass to show some spirit, nothing that seems out of place for the context of the song, but definitely more elaborate than the typical case of just following the root notes, the bass definitely uses its time wisely and takes advantage of its place in the mix to add some spice. Once the chorus kicks in, everything returns to the heftiness it had at the start, vocals becoming more growly and angry. For the first half or so, the song follows the same structure of going back and forth between heavy hardcore and light emo (impressively pulled off, shifting between the two), but some liberties are taken as these lyrics are sung,
"I guess I should have seen that from the start,
but things are different now
I can’t compare with what I used to know
And I’m still awful at
articulating what I want to say
So I rely on someone else to write it in a slightly different way
And if you halfway understand me, then I think I’ll call it good
Pick up the broken pieces in between us where we stood"
Specifically during "articulating what I want to say" and "someone else to write it" the instruments all follow along with the vocals in a very fun and clever way that I really enjoyed, giving those lyrics some more emphasis. Easily my favorite section is "I'm still awful at articulating what I want to say, so I rely on someone else to write it in a slightly different way". It's so well-put, I've studied writing my entire life, this has always been something I've been passionate about, but I am also a chronic second-guesser and lack the confidence to trust my own abilities in choosing the right words to accurately communicate the point I'm trying to convey. Ironically, I really loved the way it was articulated, really great lyricicm, there specifically.
Open Apology:
This song begins purely acoustic, a sharp change of pace coming off of the previous track. The vocals are reminiscent of the hushed vocals on "(Akira) Bike Slide", but not identical, showing a bit of diversity in their range through subtle nuances and minute details. The acoustic styling comes across like a classic, sad midwest-emo song but as the band fills out the mix, it honestly turns into more of a rock song. Once the chorus hits, it has fully upbeat instrumentation despite the guilty and regretful lyrics,
"So this is an open apology
to anyone who spends time with me:
I know I’m a burden when I’m sad and I’m whining,
But things are getting better I think.
This is an Open Apology
To anyone who falls in love with me:
I’m a lot to handle when the handle’s empty,
But it helps me take my mind off things"
The vocals during the chorus are much more projected, not rough or strained, just louder and well-sung, they are not putting on their punk voices for this track. This is the type of song that would be an easy pitch to get played on the radio, something that my grandparents could listen to without covering their ears and scowling. In no way am I trying to put this song down by comparing it to "grandma music", it is simply very accessible for a wider range of audience, opposed to the niche fans that are specifically into hardcore and emo music. If I had to use only one word to describe what I'm trying to say, it's a Bop! I think if you're hesitant about heavier types of music, this would be a great track to start on if you're open to giving Dear Season a listen.
Twentyone:
The third song on this EP starts with a pretty cool drum beat, leading into a reverbed guitar, faster paced than one would expect from this type of string picking. I like the opening lyrics,
"Is it okay if I don't come out tonight?
I don't want to show my face
It's not that I don't like your friends
I just get so damn nervous"
Utilizing some vocal fx here and there, specifically on "I don't want to show my face". The chorus slows down for just a moment before picking back up to full speed, then jumping back into another instrumental section with dueling guitars. The second verse changes tone with muted guitar that follows the beats of the vocals, almost like a call-and-repeat. The drums and guitar quickly escalate, ending with a bass slide and jumping back into the chorus once again. About halfway through this song, we get a really inventive instrumentation, watery and warbly and some super fun cymbal use from the percussion. Once the water has somewhat died down, we get a very cool guitar solo that shatters into the final chorus.
Jouska:
We finish off this EP with an emo/rock BANGER. The song’s title, “Jouska,” is a term that describes a conversation you replay in your head, and the lyrics reflect this inner dialogue, navigating themes of self-doubt, reflection, and longing. The instrumentation is delicate yet emotionally charged, with soft guitar strums and ambient background elements that create a dreamlike atmosphere. The twinkly, yet dark, guitar plucking reminds me of something I'd expect to hear in music from between 2005-2009 or so, there is a period of dueling guitars that seem to step on each other's toes for a moment, almost like a delay effect, and the drums effectively set the scene. This was definitely a great track choice to put as the finale of the EP, coming out at just shy of five minutes, it really brings the heat and gives us time to sit with it. The vocalist is giving it their all, almost an operatic performance, they are very pronounced even when they are yelling or doing brief falsetto. The vocals carry a rawness that complements the song’s reflective tone, enhancing the sense of vulnerability that permeates the track. There's a sense of nostalgia and searching throughout the song, making it both haunting and relatable. I particularly enjoy the lyrics, "at the bottom of this bottle it says 'get out while you still can' " and "I hear that voice siren song in my head, it lures me in, it pulls me down, and I'm drowning again". For anyone who is a fan of introspective, atmospheric music, this track is definitely, 100% a must-listen, offering quite a vulnerable experience.
I am so grateful for the opportunity to share my thoughts on Dear Season's self-titled EP, but we're not finished yet! Down below is an interview with Sean and Nate!
Interview:
Hey everyone! Congrats on your first ever release as Dear Season! I hope the reception has been great so far, and continues to do numbers.
How did you all come together to form the band? Did you all know each other prior?
Sean: Hey thanks! We’re overjoyed with the reception so far, people have been so kind and outspoken with their support.
Dear Season officially started in Spring of 2023 - Nate (drums) and I (guitar, vocals) had floated the idea of starting a band for a couple of years, but there was a day when he gave me a call and was just like, “I’m ready to start taking this seriously, are you in?” So we had a jam session where we started developing some new ideas, some of which turned into “Bike Slide” and “Twentyone” from the EP. Mario (bass, vocals) was the next addition, followed by Brian (lead guitar, saxophone).
The short answer is that we all went to the same college - our time there didn’t totally overlap, but I think we all knew each other through school, one way or another.
How long did the entire process take from writing and recording to releasing this EP?
Sean: The EP took admittedly a lot longer than we expected, but I think it was with good reason. All said and done, I think it took about 6-7 months from the first recording session. At first, we were kind of thinking we should just get it done as quickly as possible so that we have something on streaming services, with the intention being that it would help us book more gigs if we had a streaming presence. As things started to take shape, though, we all decided that we would be happier if we committed to having a higher-quality end result, so we brought in some outside help with recording, mixing, and mastering, which played a huge part in how the finished product ended up sounding. We were also pretty meticulous about re-recording and re-mixing before we sent everything off to be mastered, just to make sure we were getting the best possible sound for each take.
Where did the name "Dear Season" come from? Whose idea was it? Were there any other notable band name ideas that were floated around that got cut?
Sean: “Dear Season” comes from a story I was telling about growing up in Pennsylvania (Nate and I are from PA, while Mario and Brian are from Jersey), and how we always had off of school for the first day of deer hunting season. I don’t know if other places do that as well, but it’s always felt like a pretty quintessentially Pennsylvania thing to me. And we went with the pun spelling because it felt more emo to do it that way. We bounced a few names around - the ones that come to mind are things like “Former Miss Delaware,” “Offshore Drillsite,” “What Fresh Hell is This?” and simply “Chris.” I think we’re all glad we landed on the name we did.
You told me that you have a mascot named Mama, you have to tell me all about that, where did Mama come from, how'd you decide on the name, give me any and all info on that!
Nate: I, along with some band mates from some other bands, started renting some studio/rehearsal space at Madhouse Records in Clifton Heights, Pa around July 2024. In addition to being an awesome space for recording, rehearsals, and even some intimate shows, the converted office building also had some hidden treasures (and some trash let’s be real) in the abandoned rooms. One such treasure was a taxidermy deer head — also to clarify none of us in Dear Season hunt or really vibe with taxidermy, it’s more for the bit to be honest — that we snagged from a pile of junk. Despite knowing it would be a funny schtick to have the deer as our mascot, we didn’t really have a character or name in mind until I brought in an old Wawa hat from my day-job. Turn the hat upside down, bada bing bada boom, you get Mama. She’s kinda gross and only there for some giggles but we can potentially picture some Mama merch in the future
How long have you all been playing music as individuals? Do you play any other instruments? If you COULD play any instrument in the world, what would you choose?
Sean: I think we all have at least a little experience on some other instruments! My first instrument is the drums, which I started playing when I was 8, and I actually ended up getting a degree in percussion performance. That’s where Nate and I met, in our college percussion studio. I also know that Mario plays guitar and piano really well, and Brian plays bass and all kinds of woodwind stuff. If I could play anything else though, it would be really cool to play the cello or flute or something like that.
This might be a tricky question, but I'm challenging you:
What pop-culture deer would you be? (The only pop-culture deer I can think of is Bambi, whoops)
Nate: I think Elliott from Open Season (no relation) is a solid dude. Gotta love the nerdy underdog, or I guess underdeer?
What inspired you to make music? Which bands do you pull the most from?
Sean: I grew up in a pretty musical family; my dad plays bass and all my siblings played instruments growing up, so it was always just something I was around. I was really fortunate to have parents who fully supported my interests, so I was signed up for drum lessons and youth bands at an early age.
Our influences are pretty far-reaching, which I think you sort of get a taste for on the EP, but if we had to narrow it down, we pull a lot of inspiration from The Hotelier, Sweet Pill, Modern Baseball, My Chemical Romance, Sunny Day Real Estate, Pedro the Lion, Forests, Invalids, The Wonder Years, Carly Cosgrove, and Spanish Love Songs to name a few.
This EP just came out on Friday September 13th, 2024, but do you have any plans for what will come next? What are you current goals as a band?
Sean: We’re working on some new songs right now! If you ever get the chance to hear us live, our set has a few that haven’t been recorded yet, so the goal is to get as many written and recorded as we can, and to keep playing shows, which is really our favorite thing.
How does the songwriting process work for you? Does one person write the lyrics and then the instruments come in, do you all write as a collective, what's your strategy?
Sean: It’s been a little bit of a mixed bag- sometimes someone will show up with a pretty fleshed-out song , but other times we’ll just have a riff or a chord progression that we need to jam on forever until we can build a song around it. Lately, a lot of the songwriting process occurs while playing in the room with each other, which I think helps our decisions come about more organically.
Have there been any disagreements throughout the songwriting or recording process? How did you come to a decision?
Sean: All the time! I think an important part about being in a band is being able to leave the ego at the door and understand that it’s not a personal attack if someone in the room doesn’t agree with a creative choice. Everyone in the band is really good about that — we can share ideas and feedback openly and honestly because we’re all under the pretense that we’re working on making these songs as good as we can. No one in the band is afraid to try something that differs from what they had in mind. Sometimes that means you end up having to abandon an idea that you were really stuck on if there’s a way to better serve the music. But it’s never personal when there’s a disagreement - we’re friends first and bandmates second, so we’re all pretty mindful at handling disagreements in a mature and respectful way.
If you'd like, feel free to use this space to shoutout any friends, family, other local bands!
From the band: Well we’d love to shoutout our friends and collaborators on the EP - Caitlyn Scanlan for helping us with recording, Michael Trycieckyj for mixing, and Jordan Petrellis for mastering. Of course all the friends, family, and fans that have made it out to our shows mean the world to us too! And finally a special shoutout to Meatball.
Thank you again for submitting your music, I had a ton of fun listening and reviewing, and thank you so much for taking some time to answer questions for me! Keep up the great work and best of luck to you all!
Thank you for reading this far in the inter-review, and all their important links are HERE!
( https://linktr.ee/dearseason )
Related Posts
