Alex Lotito is known for his sharp songwriting and rich lyricism. Ever since moving back to Atlanta in 2017, he has been pushing new boundaries with his art. In the past few years, he’s made significant strides with his band, the Titos, and regular gigging around town. But when the pandemic shut down live music, Lotito faced an impasse. How could he keep making music without his bandmates? Lotito decided to return to the way he started—with an acoustic guitar and a melody in his mind.
“Smolders,” the first single off his forthcoming self-titled EP, applies a silver lining to the pandemic blues. Written in collaboration with former local Drew Hart (now of Brooklyn’s Slumberland Studios), the EP connects more towards ethereal indie rock without giving up Lotito’s enigmatic, Dylanesque knack for turning a line. To help flesh out the songs, he enlisted percussionist Paul Stevens (Moloq) as well as guitar work from Joseph Faul and Gary D’Angelo. For Lotito, the process was both familiar and liberating.
“In some ways, ‘Smolders’ and the other tunes on the project are a return to my oldest days of songwriting,” Lotito says. “In other ways, these songs are a departure from the norm for me. ‘Smolders’ was recorded between my home studio and Drew’s studio Slumberland. Remote recording allowed for new creative possibilities, which I hadn’t experienced with live tracking. Drew’s production on these tunes also brought a more modern sound.”
True to its title, “Smolders” burns slowly as it drifts through Lotito’s fuzzy meditations. As minor chords materialize through a warm bed of synthesizers, it’s clear that Lotito and his collaborators are on to something extraordinary. The propulsive and laidback groove feels like it could go on forever—or at least another minute longer—before ending too quickly. But there’s something remarkably intriguing about the transient nature of the composition.
Directed by Narah Landress and Parker Bradford, the video echoes the loneliness of COVID isolation with Lotito traversing the barren landscape of Arabia Mountain. Still, he appears relaxed and calm as he balances atop rock mounds and reclines in the pool. Occasionally, a flash of color shoots through the frame as he defiantly channels David Byrne’s dance moves. All in all, it’s a mesmerizing clip that highlights Lotito’s ability to embrace the spotlight and capture your attention.
Watch/listen above.
Alex Lotito will perform with the Titos on June 25 at Ladybird Grove & Mess Hall. Music starts at 7 p.m. Admission is FREE. All ages.
More Info
Bandcamp: thetitos.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @ThetitosATL
Instagram: @titos_atl
SoundCloud: @alex-lotito