Carla Geneve - “Bills”

SXSW 2024 - OEB Score: 8; Popularity Index: 4

Pairs Well With…Holly Macve, Helena Deland, Waxahatchee

Carla Geneve leans into her country side on Hertz, the Australian artist’s sophomore record released late last year. While her early work was more explorative, the approach on Hertz is matured and focused, ultimately the best place for her songwriting to softly impact. Laurel Canyon traditions influence Geneve’s ballad-heavy offerings, finding moments of dynamic as tracks can subtly build over time. Hertz is accessible, going more for timeless than unique, and when Geneve does get a little more grungy now, it stands out even more than the rock directions that led her introductory catalog. (Kevin McStravick)

2020 Review: Australian Carla Geneve shows nice range on her 2019 self-titled EP, an excellent debut of personal, electric songwriting in moments both quiet and direct. Centered around melancholic ballads like highlight “2001” and stark screamer “Yesterday’s Clothes”, Geneve adds layers of grunge and alt rock inflections to oftentimes give her songs unexpected density by tracks’ ends. The contrast of full and spacious play out adventurously on two of the longer tracks of the debut collection, “Empty Change” and “Juliette”, adding a visceral, building quality that gives Geneve’s songs heft and drive.