The Northern Light – People of the Snake (2024)
Blending the sophistication of musical wisdom with the fresh-faced exuberance of new artists, The Northern Light draws together veteran talent and raw innocence in their awe-inspiring tunes. Seasoned artists, hailing back a few decades, David Pollon (vocals and guitar), Carl Larsson (bass and synths), and Kip Rondrof (drums) present a diverse sound fusing various experiences, influences and skills. We came across The Northern Light a couple of years ago with their well-received single ‘Waiting For The Flood’. Join us as we delve headfirst into their most recent release, ‘People of the Snake’.
Following their critically acclaimed self-titled album in 2023, ‘People of the Snake’ is a saunter into 2024 for The Northern Light. While their self-proclaimed “undercurrent of Neil Young’s influence…” exists in ‘People of the Snake’, the track leans further toward alternative rock than songs like ‘As Stars Burn’ and ‘4 Strings’.
Recorded and produced at Seattle’s Orbit Audio (drums and bass), and Temple of the Trees (guitars, vocals and Hammond organ), ‘People of the Snake’ is a hard-hitting concoction of raw instrumentation sliced with Pollon’s gruff vocals. Interestingly, while the crashing drums, bold bass, stirring Hammond organ and soaring guitars join in harmonic unity, the symphony rests on the individuality and prominence of each element. Drums, guitar, organ, bass and vocals each demand attention, but the tapestry retains a soothing wholeness.
This distortion, or rather eclecticism, is melodically fascinating; however, it is the alignment of music with the theme that is truly intriguing. A song about resistance – the desire for people to rise against their oppressors – ‘People of the Snake’ is a brash soundtrack to a timeless issue spanning generations. The Northern Light explain:
“’People of the Snake’ is a song of resistance. It’s a story based on real-life events that occurred on the Oregon Trail in the 1860s. The idea is that people can and will rise up and push back against oppression using whatever means are left available to them… ‘People of the Snake’ is as raw as the high desert landscape that inspired it, dedicated to a population that have been forgotten in the name of progress…”
Find out more about The Northern Light on their official website, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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