<p>Elk, My Deer has just released their debut self-titled album. Elk, My Deer is a NYC based psych-folk-pop-jazz project of singer-songwriters Elena Karpoff and Sean Hastings.</p>
<p>We are greeted with deep acoustic guitars, dissonant horns, and a heavenly string section as we enter the world of <span style="font-size: 1.0625rem;">Elk, My Deer and their self-titled masterpiece. The introduction is absolutely grand. Listeners can expect to get lost in the music. At the two-minute mark, powerful vocals come in, surrounded by harmonies and acoustic percussion, the horns get into alignment. It feels as though the sky is opening, and the curtain has risen on something extraordinary. We’re eager to hear what comes next.</span></p>
<p><a href="https://rockthepigeon.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/300950107_110059515155976_1969757515178514799_n.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-26839" src="https://rockthepigeon.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/300950107_110059515155976_1969757515178514799_n.jpg" alt="" width="2048" height="1365" /></a></p>
<p>The expansive soundscapes persist in their track &#8220;The Walls.&#8221; This song resonates with many, as it was initially inspired by the Covid lockdown and the beginning of a new relationship. However, its themes extend to anyone experiencing a new chapter in life, where fear and excitement intertwine. Elk, My Deer masterfully captures these emotions in the track, making it both relatable and impactful.</p>
<p>&#8220;Blind Eye&#8221; is a coming-of-age track that explores the theme of ignoring the flaws of idolized parents and even suppressing your own emotions. The song features a blend of clean guitars, calming vocals, and electric keyboards that form its foundation. The vocalists interact seamlessly, harmonizing beautifully throughout the piece. The chord progressions and rhythms carry a distinct jazz influence, adding depth to the composition. This song is completed with an experimental electric guitar solo.</p>
<p>Next we get to hear a laid back ballad that is all about love. &#8220;Thoughts That Held Her&#8221; has retro flavors to it, especially in its chord progressions and vocal melodies. This gorgeous song is about proving your love to be true. We could hear the massive amounts of emotion, the lyrics and vocal deliveries, showcasing both the anxiety and devotion that the writer is overcome with.</p>
<p>Elk, My Deer gives the listener a short folky interlude for the albums&#8217; 5th track. &#8220;Grounded (Interlude)&#8221; is about being isolated with the person you love. There is a strong sense of togetherness and peacefulness that comes through in this track. There is even some whimsical whistling on this song, adding another interesting touch to the record. This song features acoustic instrumentation, hand percussion, and a fun melody.</p>
<p>A warm and deep piano opens up the next track. &#8220;Fable&#8221; switches the tone drastically. This song is more similar to &#8220;Thoughts That Held Her&#8221; than &#8220;Grounded (Interlude).&#8221; However, the changing of genres definitely keeps the listener on their toes and therefore more interested. This song has operatic moments, and also leans towards jazz. There is a luxurious horn solo that lies on top of unique drum percussion. This song is about overcoming depression and hoping that a more peaceful time lies ahead.</p>
<p>We hear another genre switch for &#8220;Your Faith.&#8221; A unique guitar riff serves as an immediate hook on this song that is all about turbulence in a profound romantic relationship. The subject has shifted drastically because of their religious experience, and that shift has created turmoil in the relationship. The songwriter wonders if they could make it work or not. This song has a gorgeous vocal melody that truly takes the listener on an adventure.</p>
<p><a href="https://rockthepigeon.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/300943786_110062888488972_3768238114323923029_n.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-26841" src="https://rockthepigeon.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/300943786_110062888488972_3768238114323923029_n.jpg" alt="" width="2048" height="1323" /></a></p>
<p>&#8220;The Seer&#8221; is an epic journey of a song, narrating the tale of a tribal leader who believes he’s discovered the only path through a nearby dark forest. Determined to prove his wisdom to his people, he chooses to set the woods ablaze so that his path can be seen by all. The song may serve as a metaphor for being trapped in rigid beliefs—holding onto what is considered &#8220;right&#8221; so fiercely that it ultimately leads to self-destruction. When we asked what Elk, My Deer&#8217;s favorite song to record was, Elena replied that &#8220;The Seer&#8221; was:</p>
<blockquote><p><em>&#8220;For me, it was definitely The Seer. I’m really happy with how the lead vocal came out on that one, and additionally we had so much fun with the background vocals. There’s a call and response section in the bridge between the narrator and their followers, and we think of all those harmony vocals as the “bridge gremlins.” With help from our friend Zach, Sean and I took turns recording layered harmonies and trying out different voices and accents in our home studio. It was hard for whoever was running Pro Tools not to laugh during the takes. There’s a scary reverberant demon vocal, a witchy opera vocal, and a scream track that’s super cringey by itself but works in the context of the song. We always knew we wanted this section to sound absolutely thrilling and terrifying.&#8221; </em></p>
<p><em>&#8211; Elena (Elk, My Deer) </em></p></blockquote>
<p>One&#8217;s life and mental state could really shift when they enter a loving relationship. Previously, they may have been hopeless with low self-confidence due to failed or toxic relationships. &#8220;Life Rebegins&#8221; is all about the shift that occurs when one person is touched by another person&#8217;s light via love. This is a drastic shift in the writers&#8217; life. The shift is portrayed with a fantastic string section that journeys through moments of tension to get to a state of peace and bliss. This song showcases much gratitude.</p>
<p>We hear some melodies of &#8220;The Seer&#8221; on &#8220;Ash (Interlude).&#8221; We also hear melodies that will be unveiled on the next song, &#8220;Yon Yonsson/The Ant in Amber.&#8221; &#8220;Ash (Interlude)&#8221; has elements of tension as a string arrangement riffs around while a piano plays a syncopated rhythm. By the end, both lead instruments resolve. This is a great interlude peace, giving the listener a temporary break from lyrics to let some of the songs&#8217; themes sink in.</p>
<blockquote><p><em>&#8220;Yon Yonsson/The Ant in Amber has been a favorite since the beginning. I’m so proud of the harmony on that one. When we were writing it, the progression reminded me a lot of Dollars and Cents off of Radiohead’s Amnesiac. I’m also just a sucker for string parts that climb to the atmosphere and make you weep—I took a lot of inspiration from River Man by Nick Drake when arranging those parts. Sometimes I listen to this track without the lead vocals just to appreciate the performances by our string players on the recording.&#8221;</em></p>
<p><em>&#8211; Elena (Elk, My Deer) </em></p></blockquote>
<p>The next song is inspired by the famous Serenity Prayer. Starting with the lyrics &#8220;God, grant me serenity, to accept the things that I know I can&#8217;t change&#8230;and blow with the wind.&#8221; &#8220;Yon Yonsson/The Ant in Amber&#8221; is a gorgeous laid-back folky song with alluring, a string section, acoustic guitars, and hand percussion. This is a tasteful song that any folk music fan will love. This song was inspired by the book Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut and is sung from the perspective of Billy Pilgrim. Thematically, this song covers fatalism, parenthood, and past trauma.</p>
<p><a href="https://rockthepigeon.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/http___gather.fandalism.com_4434116-8D622532-EBE5-447A-81D883092E966A7B-0-5983308-AlbumCover1.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-26840 alignright" src="https://rockthepigeon.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/http___gather.fandalism.com_4434116-8D622532-EBE5-447A-81D883092E966A7B-0-5983308-AlbumCover1.jpg" alt="" width="476" height="476" /></a></p>
<blockquote><p><em>&#8220;All of the songs mean a lot to me, but Yonsson is also my choice for this question. Many of the lyrics are references to Slaughterhouse, but nonetheless I’m really happy with how all the lyrics turned out in the song. Two lyrics that are wholly original although inspired by the book are “You can’t stop the wave before it breaks”, and the last stanza “Daughter Dear I see tears upon your face, reminds me of tears from your mother. I wish I had the power to dry them before they reach your eyes” which are some of my favorite lyrics on the project. I also find the structure of the song to be really engaging and fun to listen to, which is almost cyclical (ABCBA) but then unexpectedly returns to the middle section (C) of the song for the ending.&#8221; &#8211; Sean (Elk, My Deer) </em></p></blockquote>
<p>&#8220;Rosy Cheeks&#8221; is the final song on the album and is a stream of consciousness. It&#8217;s a very honest song that speaks about dealing with Aphantasia. Aphantasia is a condition characterized by the inability to visualize images in the mind&#8217;s eye. People with aphantasia are unable to create mental pictures of objects, people, or scenes, even when they try to imagine them. This condition can affect not only visual imagery, but also the ability to imagine other sensory experiences, such as sounds or smells. This song has a fast-paced performance style to it which transmits a sense of anxiety. The song features a driving drum section, pianos, horns, and bass. The song also has a breakdown section that serves as a reprieve, before the song explodes again.</p>
<blockquote><p><em>&#8220;Rosy Cheeks is a song that is special to me because of how personal it is. I knew that I wanted to pull all the stops out on this one, and was excited when Elena wanted to make it the closer for the album. As a result, the recording of this song includes organ, chaotic drum fills, discordant piano, distorted electric guitar, and some eerie solo violin. I also was able to get some catharsis from the vocal side of recording this song, as I provided some Jeff Buckley inspired high notes, howls and improvisations that appear near the end of the song.&#8221; &#8211; Sean (Elk, My Deer) </em></p></blockquote>
<p>If you are ready for a musical journey, dive in to Elk, My Deer.</p>
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<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Written by<a href="https://www.instagram.com/ryancassata/"> <span class="s2">Ryan Cassata</span></a> </span></p>
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