The Prickly Pair – Rosemary (2022)
The Prickly Pair are using the tragic tale of Rosemary Kennedy as the jumping-off point for the personal exploration of their debut single ‘Rosemary’. While not the most common Kennedy subject for a song, her story opens the door for the angsty musical style of the duo. The single is a distinctive mixture of resignation and heartbreak swirled around a country slide and vibrant vocals.
While this is the debut single for this musical duo, the roots of their collaboration go back to when they were both students at the USC Thornton School of Music. Irene Greene and Mason Summit connected through a class assignment that led to friendship, a romantic relationship and contributions to each other’s musical projects. They only started creating music for this particular project after the pandemic hit and their new musical flair is definitely interesting.
Greene’s vocals open ‘Rosemary’ with a rich melodic flow that instantly draws you into the single. From the first moment of her performance, she fills the soundscape with a sense of resignation to the fate that faces her. The movement of her performance through the opening verse has a feeling of musing on a topic after having a few drinks. This is dropped for the chorus that is packed with heartbreak. Through the chorus, she brings a touch of aggression and anger that flows back into the resignation. It is a very sad single as the lyrics dip into the story of Rosemary, but there is something more to the movement. Rosemary’s story forms the foundation for an exploration into more relatable and universal experiences.
Beneath Greene’s vocal performance is a deeply moving melodic flow. The guitar and drums that open the track have a subdued feeling, while the country slide yawns out into the soundscape. There is a rather morose feel to the music through the verses. When the chorus hits, the guitars gain a light push that bolsters the anger of the vocals. It is a wonderfully layered melody that brings the morose tones to a rich depth of strings and Americana sensibilities. As an introduction to the band’s sound, the melody really showcases their skills and mastery of their unique style.
The Prickly Pair draw you into a morose sense of resignation and heartbreak, with the lightest touch of anger through the rich tones of ‘Rosemary’. Greene’s vocals are steeped in resignation over the situation, only to flare with anger and heartbreak. The melody that rests below her performance is rich as the country tones slide out into the soundscape carried on the back of morose Americana notes.
Find out more about The Prickly Pair on their Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
