Where’s Gladys – Where’s Gladys (2023)
If Radiohead were to have a child with the Beatles, the chances are great it would be Where’s Gladys. Originally formed in 2019, although the lads had been performing with other bands for years, Boston-based duo Art Papas and Alex Reinart fused their natural talents to create Where’s Gladys. Turning heads with their music, the pair have received critical acclaim from independent publications like IGGY Magazine, Rock Era Magazine, Find No Enemy, Music For All, Indie o’clock, Illustrate Magazine and many more.
Showcasing their innovation and originality as artists from the outset, Where’s Gladys captivates audiences with their self-titled debut EP. Staying true to old-school rock sounds, there is a hint of gritty grunge melded with indie-rock and a powerful pop-rock flavour; however, it is with this variety of rock tones that we see (or rather hear) a contemporary edginess making Where’s Gladys appealing to any audience. Perhaps not at a rave, but definitely when you’re driving in your car or dancing about the house with a bold, soul-stirring blast of music in the background.
In an interview with Pretty White Blog, Papas shared that the pair “…worked really hard over the course of the last few yours to evolve our songwriting and our sound” – something evident in their debut EP. Given, I’m unsure what their previous material sounds like but the refreshing stance of Where’s Gladys highlights a mature, sophisticated sound still slathered with raw innocence.
Opening with the indie-rock track ‘Out of Air’, Where’s Gladys incorporates pounding drums with rough vocals bringing a grittiness from the fore. The grittiness becomes almost palpable in ‘World Stopped’ dragging you back to the days of Radiohead. Yet, just as you feel you are about to fall into a grungy abyss, Where’s Gladys scoops you up in the ballad ‘Let That Set In’, embraces you in ‘So Insecure’, and sets you adrift on a soft cloud with ‘Sleepwalk’. The thing is, while a pop soulfulness ends off the EP, the group ensure you feel a sting of grunge with a quick crescendo into a powerful guitar/pounding drum sound in the final track. Don’t worry, you will still feel calm, laidback and warm when ‘Sleepwalk’ finishes in its soulful way.
Tapping into their inner Beatles, Where’s Gladys captures the intimacy and depth of Paul McCartney and John Lennon in their refreshing debut EP.
For more from Where’s Gladys, check out their official website, Instagram, Twitter and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
