Track of the Day: Urban Walrus – August Rain
The brainchild of Swiss-born singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Fabian Koerber, Urban Walrus is one of those artists who are an enigma. Considering the mass of information individuals post on social media, it is not often we find an artist who chooses to shy away from that world; however, Urban Walrus is one of these oddities. Self-described as “probably the most boring band in the world…boring because Urban Walrus is a lazy creature that loves to keep a low profile…”, the intriguing musician focuses on music rather than keeping up appearances. The latest addition to his discography is the single ‘August Rain’.
Following his single ‘Shades’, Urban Walrus adopts a soft, soothing and laidback tone in ‘August Rain’. Adhering to his classic rock meets indie-rock style, there is a grittiness of sorts in this rock song; however, just as there is a gritty sensation, a harmonic, soft rock sound comes forth in the melodic instrumentation. Piano-led with steady drums in the background, ‘August Rain’ has a smoothness to the melody. The insertion of a heavy guitar solo takes us back to the classic rock sounds of the 70s with nostalgic charm. Interestingly enough, while the track has a simplistic approach, it is also kaleidoscopic in nature.
While the melody can hold its own, it is the poetic lyricism that showcases Urban Walrus’ depth as an artist. He explains that ‘August Rain’ “…tells about the finitude of being, sudden changes in life, unexpected twists and turns and strokes of fate, about the helplessness in the face of our own transience.” It is this juxtaposition of a smooth, flowing, light-hearted tune with melancholic and profound lyricism that really captures my attention.
This is my introduction to Urban Walrus, so I wasn’t entirely sure of what to expect but I am so happy with this discovery. Rich, bold and full-bodied, Urban Walrus brings old-school soft rock to audiences proving that the best of rock is not yet dead.
For more from Urban Walrus check out his Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
