The latest full album release from Hope Darling gives off a personal and cinematic rock approach while keeping things to a slight contemporary undertone but still with a drive that gives the songs an added edginess.
The Enzo album is packed with heart and performed with a certain passion and warmth that lets the stories be told from a place where you can paint these vivid pictures in your own head each time.
These tracks have a touch of rawness to them that again, is very emotionally drawn from but they also bear this sort of polished Sheen that makes everything pop.
Now, when I say cinematic, I mean that you can definitely hear a large number of these songs in the scene of a film and this in no way takes away from the rock aspect of their approach.
This record showcases a band that has a true love for their craft because these songs are so well built and arranged but also pack a little bit of a punch and the delivery is spot on every damn time.
With songs like these the song writing aspect of it is so impactful that the performance is either going to be hit or miss. If it's miss, everything falls apart and none of it really comes through the way it's supposed to.
But these guys don't miss so the songs are brought to fruition so well that you get this feeling of perfection in a way.
It's almost like when you see a movie and there's a part in it that you watch, and you realize that what you just saw is better than your own imagination could have done it.
It's a really cool aspect that you very rarely find in a band and it's something that impresses me.
Every minute of this album has something to give and if you listen to the whole album all the way through it's really the best way to soak everything in.
Yes, there are plenty of songs that stand on their own two legs on our definite singles and gems from the release but doing it all in one shot if you have the time to, is a different feeling.
It is almost like coming out of a movie you just saw walking back out into the world and having to shake it off.
There's this element of fantasy to it that in a way is a form of escapism almost like reading a good book.
I love when an album gives me that and this one did from beginning to end.
It's like stepping into someone else's life and feeling those emotions through the music.
This was a really incredible record and with its release we did want to have a sit-down with Hope Darling to find out what drove this record really and what might be coming next for the band.
Here's what happened.
Buzz Slayers: Okay guys, let's start with Enso. This album has a really anthemic rock tone to it! How did this record come about?
It has been 3 years of song-writing, arranging and recording coming together on one album. They are songs about the events, people, and stories of our most recent past being told in this album. We wanted a big sound to match the emotionally charged songs.
Buzz Slayers: How did this all start for you guys as a band?
Just like any musician we started as a fan, wanting to emulate our musical idols. We are fortunate we took this love and desire, honed it into a skill, found each other and banded together to form Hope Darling.
Buzz Slayers: What kind of things really inspire songs for you?
Life, love, death, relationships, family, grief, God and the Devil.
Buzz Slayers: This album has some great styles combinations on it! Can you give us some of your biggest influences musically?
The influences are so many but we come from being fans of music ranging from our individual taste of either, rock, reggae, country, jazz, blues, and even classical music. We have been fortunate enough to melt these all together and create the Hope Darling sound.
Buzz Slayers: What are you doing when you're NOT working on music?
Aside from our normal lives with family, you can usually find us enjoying time at the beach, on the boat, going to concerts, or working on music.
Buzz Slayers: Who's in your headphones right now?
This is a combined response from all the members of the band at the moment we asked this question– Blake Shelton, Yacht Rock radio, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Guns and Roses, Manchester Orchestra.
Buzz Slayers: Are you doing any live performances right now?
Besides playing in some local shows here, we will be hitting the road traveling across the state of Florida towards the East Coast as a headlining band for a music festival. We are hoping we will be able to perform at more music festivals in the near future.
Buzz Slayers: Did you record yourself or hit a big studio for this?
We recorded all the music at one of the best recording studios in our opinion – Clear Track Studios located in the heart of beautiful Clearwater, Florida.
Buzz Slayers: What can your fans expect from you in the near future?
New music, new venues, bigger stages, taking the music on the road. We are also in our rehearsal studio writing and arranging new music for a new album.
Buzz Slayers: Before we go, what would you like to say to fans of the music?
We are always honored that our music has made it to the ears of so many. I truly believe music connects us, and we are glad our music is connecting with you!