By Carlos Ramirez
The therapeutic nature of music has never been up for debate. Sad? Cry to some country. Mad? Scream to some metal. Happy? Scream to some Metal!
So, what happens when a person training to be a Music Therapist creates? Soothing sounds and lighthearted jabs at relationship norms of course.
Erin Vadala’s tone is intimate, especially at the beginning of her latest song, “Robots”. The lead vocals aren’t a whisper, but they do give the impression of an “indoor voice”. This calm vocal approach is paired with a guitar and no other instruments until the ooos of ghost-like harmonies join with a bassline before falling into another verse. The bare bones of the intro and a few other sections make the build that much more impactful. Each section adds or removes another element – a very engaging approach to the arrangement. Electric guitars and rock beats push the song into a crescendo that peaks after the 2minute mark where Vadala stretches more powerful vocals during within the main melody.
What stands out the most are some unique chord changes. Ending certain phases on minor chords hit the ear just right. Those chord changes along with the harmonies get the listener smiling and swaying before they’ve even realized a vibe has been caught.
As for subject matter… The Bostonian musical therapist described the song as “… a tongue-in-cheek exploration of gender dynamics in relationships”. Hmmm.. Someone in the relationship is acting like a robot unable to open up or ‘process’ emotions? Or! Based off the line “… it’s cute to be stupid/Robots are hot” maybe a robo-himbo? Humor is a great healer as well after all. Seems Erin Vadala’s approach to music – at least on her latest track – is to make sure the listener is soothed and giggling.
Check out “Robots” below, or find it on the Alchemical Records Multigenre Mixture playlist on Spotify.
Carlos Ramirez is a broadcaster from the DC region and lover of all things performance art with experience in theatre, television, and radio. Carlos believes one of the most important details that makes music magical is the culture. Supporting the artist is just as important as enjoying their art. Therefore, when he’s not on the air, you can find him at every open mic, hole in the wall, and basement show in town. @LosOnAir
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Alchemical Records is a Washington, D.C. based music publication. We cover the Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Richmond, VA metro area music scenes, including band interviews, articles about your favorite musicians, new music and concert dates.
