Muriel is a personal and introspective journey into the mind of songwriter and founder of the band, Zak Thomas. Available on October 13th, the debut album captures the essence of lo-fi indie rock and folk, drawing inspiration from artists like Sparklehorse, Carissa’s Weird, and The Microphones.
The creative process behind Muriel mirrors the project’s experimental drive with Zak beginning it as a solo project before welcoming Rachel Crabbe, Andy Oliveri, Will Davies, and Jamie Joiner. With them by his side, the songs would be transformed from fledgling bedroom recordings to lush and polished songs.
Lyrically, the album delves into themes of grief and spirituality, drawing from Zak’s personal experiences, including the loss of his father. These are explored with a sense of introspection and depth that adds a layer of emotional weight to the music. Muriel reflects his commitment to staying true to his artistic vision, avoiding trends and striving for authenticity.
A track near to his heart “Relative” and he says this about the song,
“I remember writing it in one night, I think lyrics and all, it had very few revisions and I kind of sung over the music in a stream of consciousness not long after my dad passed, singing about the very moment I had the phone call, one night when I was at home on my own, from my uncle in law, who gave me the news of his passing. In that moment there are no deep realisations or existential pondering. You just process the fact and then, for me, I began to think about the last time we spoke, and I realised that he had tried to call me and I forgot to ever call back. This song was about that instant, painful but very human thought I had. Then the rest of the record explores the afterthoughts.”
The song like the album is a strong reminder to his authenticity and the overall depth of his songwriting. I feel the album could be the soundtrack to a Wes Anderson movie as it invites listeners to look at the roller coaster of life through the lens of layered succulent lo-fi indie folk rock. The debut album will leave a heartfelt lasting impression and lyrically resonate with those who appreciate a deeper journey through lyrics.
MUST LISTEN TRACKS: “Relative” “Body of Light”, “Lavender by the Frames”, “Someone’s Coming In”
FAVOURITE TRACK: “Body of Light” “Relative”
