NOW HEAR THIS is a column dedicated to discovering new and promising local artists from all genres. If you know of an emerging artist we should feature, please let us know via our contact page.
Artist Name: Writhe
Who Are They: Coldwave and post-punk duo featuring Joseph McMichen (Fox Wound, After Care) and songwriter Ben Quain.
Members
Joseph McMichen – Guitar, Vocals
Ben Quain – Synth, Production, Vocals
Sounds Like: Once again I’m caught prognosticating off the impressions of a single song, but given the players involved and their past penchants for emo and shoegaze, Writhe would seem to promise a guitar-forward amalgam of post-punk, stripped-down electronica, and brittle dream pop. Their debut single bears all that out, although with a wide palette that offers considerable paths forward.
Releases: The band’s debut single, “Immaculate Creep,” was released Mar. 21 via Bandcamp.
Mandatory Listening: “Immaculate Creep” arrives fully formed and enshrouded in a glum haze, a creeping, melancholic ballad with a heavy emphasis on melody, atmosphere, and texture. Something about this reminds me of Total Nite-era Merchandise—all lush ambience and depressive grooves—albeit somewhat less mopey overall. What’s truly critical, however, is the song’s restlessness, or more so the clever ways McMichen and Quain continue to layer and evolve the track in ways that add color and contrast without distracting from its defining aura. As debuts go, it’s a hell of a start, a murky yet clear signal that Writhe are a band to watch.
Writhe will make their live debut tomorrow night, Mar. 27, at the Bakery alongside Curse (MD), Astrofolk, and Cosmic Trigger. Doors open at 9 p.m. Admission is $5. All ages.
More Info
Bandcamp: writheatl.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @writheatl
Instagram: @writheatl