A catchy song and an awesome music video, what else could you ask for?
Slow Coda is an alternative rock duo based out of Los Angeles consisting of Tavis Balkin and Nicholas Morford. Formed in 2012, after meeting at college in Chicago and relocating to California, the duo set out to combine the heaviness of shoegaze and grunge with the lightness of jangle pop, dreampop, and new wave.
After a long hiatus, Slow Coda released their self-titled debut album in August of 2021. Complete with the band’s signature hypnotic guitars and ethereal vocals, the album is a retreat back to a world of guitars, grunge, and gas station burritos. It features eleven dreamy, wistful odes to being a teenager, wasting time with friends, and life at the end of the 20th century.
It was recorded both at their home studio and at Gold Diggers Sound in Hollywood. Upon release, Bandcamp featured the album in their “new & notable” section, calling the album “a riff-fueled road trip.” The band is also currently working on new material and is available for commercial work as well.
Their latest single “Mall Walker” features a smooth vibe instrumentally combined with an equally soft vocal delivery that flows together beautifully. The song begins with a wavy synth melody that soon is accompanied by the drums, the guitar, and the vocals. The track really delivers an indescribable nostalgic feeling that just feels good. The song is definitely easy to get stuck in your head after just one listen.
The song itself is quite catchy and worth streaming without the music video, but this visual addition adds the perfect uniqueness and creativity that’s fairly unmatched. The video was filmed within a miniature handmade 90s mall food court, properly styled for all the forced nostalgia feels you are sure to get upon watching. I found myself completely captured in the vision of this world, with cleverly queued commercial style adverts and even employees who work in this fictional yet familiar mall, such as the janitor. Through and through, this video is a must watch, and is so memorable that you are sure to reminisce upon it while listening to the track in your car or headphones.
Be sure to check out the music video below and stream “Mall Walker” by Slow Coda on all platforms now!
Slow Coda
Written By: Bryce Quartz