With their debut full length Grow out today, Stay Here are preparing to make their presence felt in Atlanta. To that end, the group will headline the second annual Big Gig on Jan. 4 alongside a veritable cavalcade of established locals, including Michael Cera Palin, the Callous Daoboys, Blis., Challenger Deep, and more. That’s damn fine company to be keeping, and if the LP’s lead single is any indication, the group’s moody and dynamic songwriting should find plenty of friendly ears within those respective fanbases and beyond.
True to its name, “Sunlight” builds in a series of glowing movements. Filled with drama and quiet tension, the song doesn’t so much burst forward as it does stretch and retract, forever in search of a shadow to seep into. The vibe is more wistful than sad, and the autumnal quality of the music coats the song in an amber-like ambiance. And yet, the occasional surge of roaring guitars hint at more aggressive possibilities for the band. If Stay Here can continue tip-toeing the tightrope between sweeping grandeur and earnest catharsis, their future could be bright indeed.
Directed by Zak Washburn, the video does well to sync itself to the song’s blooming passages and springtime metaphors. On one level it’s a simple performance clip, but the enveloping white backdrop and overlaid imagery of nature in perpetual movement help add an element of textural depth and symbolism. Much like the song, it’s striking enough to grab your attention and leave you wondering what alluring gardens Stay Here will plant next.
Watch/listen above.
Recorded at Toast and Jam Studio, the 11-track Grow is being released on digital and limited-edition vinyl via Sibling Rivalry Records, a new label venture started by Toast and Jam owner Dom Maduri. Copies of the record can be ordered here.
Stay Here will perform on Sat., Jan. 4 at the Big Gig at the Masquerade alongside Michael Cera Palin, Blis., The Callous Daoboys, Mighty, Challenger Deep, and more. Doors open at 2 p.m. Admission is $15. All ages.
More Info
Bandcamp: stayherega.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @stayherega
Instagram: @stayherega
Twitter: @stayherega