Forestlike, the dynamic musical duo comprised of Jared Myers (Daytime Volume) and Joshua Wayne Hensley (The Rutabega), has emerged from a decade-long hiatus to unveil their self-titled debut album, ‘Forestlike.’ The record is a testament to their enduring friendship, embodied through sibling harmonies, nylon strings, and splintered beats.
Jared and Joshua’s journey began in the late ’90s as aspiring young musicians, finding their musical roots playing on porches, in basements, dive bars, and DIY spaces within various bands and configurations. Although they remained close friends, they took a break from making music together as Joshua focused on The Rutabega, and Jared led a more reclusive lifestyle.
A few years ago, the duo’s musical connection was rekindled when Jared acquired a couple of nylon-stringed instruments and recording gear, sharing rough demos of songs he was working on with Joshua. In return, Joshua sent Jared voice memos of his quieter tunes. The creative spark was undeniable, and they officially began working on the songs that would later become ‘Forestlike’ in Jared’s home studio in late 2019.
Unsure about the fate of these songs but unwilling to let the creative spark fade, they decided to keep working on them, tracking parts separately and sending them back and forth until the album began to take shape. Working on ‘Forestlike’ became a lifeline during a challenging period, and the two musicians realized that they had something truly special in the making. The name ‘Forestlike’ was chosen for the album after some humorous email exchanges, and Joshua completed the final mixes before sending everything to Carl Saff for mastering at his Chicago studio.
The lead single from the album, ‘Sinking Stone,’ exemplifies the essence of the entire project. The song, initially written by Jared during a health crisis that turned out to be a false alarm, encapsulates a feeling of fragility and paranoia about wasted time. Collaboratively, Jared and Joshua gave the song its final shape, with an ending section that came to Joshua in a moment of inspiration.
‘Sinking Stone’ was one of the first songs written for the album and was recorded with both musicians in the same location. The basic tracks were laid down in just one or two takes, ensuring that Jared’s dog, Theo, didn’t interfere with the recording process. The mellotron and orchestration parts Jared had initially worked on for the middle 8 of the song turned out to be a perfect fit, eventually making it into the final mix.
The accompanying video for ‘Sinking Stone,’ directed and edited by Nathanael Trimboli (Videographica), captures the day when Jared and Joshua reunited to play some of the album’s songs together in person. It documents a perfect day in local parks and nature preserves and perfectly encapsulates the essence of the music.
“Forestlike” is an album that finds joy in small, quiet moments, offers a respite from the fast-paced modern world, and reflects the resilience needed to face challenging times. It’s the result of two old friends coming together to create melodies and chords, keeping their creative fire alive and staying connected.
Forestlike’s debut album ‘Forestlike’ is now available on streaming platforms, with ‘Sinking Stone’ paving the way for what promises to be an exciting musical journey.
Source
Olivia Long PR
