Lowertown - “The Gaping Mouth”

SXSW 2022 - OEB Score: 7; Popularity Index: 5

Pairs Well With…Helena Deland, Indigo De Souza, Adrianne Lenker

Lowertown’s second record The Gaping Mouth is rooted in minimal bedroom folk, a quick, finger-picked guitar melodically laying groundwork for vocalist Olivia Osby’s stream-of-conscious-like vocals. The result feels loose and experimental, but there is direction in Lowertown’s music as the Atlanta duo branches out and around the lo-fi pop universe. Their sound is equally emotional and hypnotic, rooted in introverted songwriting, but never wallowing or encouraging pity. Instead, Lowertown’s music is quietly confident and subtly tense - see “Debris” and “Sunburnt” for their examples of their indie rock drive in lieu of melancholy ambience. (Kevin McStravick)