Getting older doesn’t always make you wiser.
Although the dystopian alternate reality COVID-19 created has been mercifully put to rest, the anxiety it evoked still feels familiar for some today.
For some, the lingering dread and longing for connection never really went away; it just twisted itself into different forms. Peace of mind might feel hard to come by, but luckily, this doesn't have to be true! For Seattle-based-outfit Byland, solace can be found in the greatest and most poignant indie rock albums of our time, and they have every intention of adding to that list with their releases.
What makes an indie rock album truly great? Is it the instrumentals? The voice? The indie spirit? What even is the indie spirit? Although there has never (and probably never will be) been a universal consensus for what makes an indie rock album great, Byland believes that every great indie rock album bears the scars of our collective trauma. How this trauma is expressed, pure, honest, genuine, or otherwise, separates the normal albums from the truly special ones.
“Two Circles” is Byland’s latest single and their latest stop on the way towards musical greatness. The instrumentals are a captivating affair, incorporating lilting pedals, glassy synthesizers, and more to set a grand stage for frontwoman Alie Renee to take us away. And take us away she does, with haunting lines like “You never grew up; you just got older,” delivered with a ghostly quiver that immerses us in her haunting yet poignant soundscape. Dark, insular magic has been created here, and we can’t wait to see what else Byland has in store for the future.
Byland will rise to greater heights with every release. Whenever you’re ready, tap in and stream Byland’s new single “Two Circles,” which is now on all majour streaming platforms.
Welcome to Buzz, Byland! We loved “Two Circles,” we had to ask,
what was your initial vision for “Two Circles,” and how does the final version compare to yours?
I’m so glad you like it! Working with Director Chris Cunningham of Dark Details was such a unique experience in that he pretty much takes a song of yours he’s inspired by, and he pitches the idea he dreams up to you. We’ve seen his work and trusted him as an artist from the get-go, but it did take a lot of faith to be so “hands-off”… The whole process was fun. We got to see the world someone else created from our song, which was magic.
What was your favorite part of bringing the vision for the music video for “Two Circles” to life?
Thanks to Kate Becker, I loved having the opportunity to create with the whole team at Harbor Island Studios. Chris brought a top-notch team to the shoot, and even though he had the whole day planned out shot-by-shot, he did go off script at times to get the shot he was envisioning. The projector, lights, and door scenes were so cool in person. Ask him more about this, but he’s not just a “fix it in post” guy. He’s a genuinely creative and artistically authentic person.
What’s your favorite music-related memory together as a band?
Watching one of our songs play on a Fox TV show was pretty surreal. I didn’t see the scene until it was live while watching with my family. I laughed and cried all at the same time. It just felt like a good reminder that what we’re doing is connecting with people, and it matters. The Actor in that scene has since passed away, and it’s just so emotional and special now to have that moment marked in history with a song I wrote.
What does music mean to you, and what qualities do you think are most important for musicians to have?
Music is a friend to me. It’s always been there for me, and I believe it always will be. My first moments alone with music as that friend are something I won’t ever forget, and it grounds me when I get in front of any crowd. I strive to keep that connection with myself and music first while I offer exactly that to anyone around—not changing myself for them.
What’s next for Byland, and is there anything you’d like to tell your fans?
We are not slowing down. We just finished three tours in support of this new record, “Heavy For A While,” and I think it’s the best thing we’ve ever made. But I thought about the record before that. I think we are finding “us” while we continue to create, and I’m just going to keep going. I want to do this full-time and collaborate with inspiring people.