Conjuring an emotive rock pull, “Badlands” is a gripping new single from Lithia, the Chicago-based project of songwriter Sylvia Vaser. The track’s dynamic tonal range shows right away. “I need some good hands,” Vaser’s vocals let out amidst an initially spacious soundscape of twangy guitars. A blast of momentum-filled distortion arrives quickly as “in the badlands” repeats twice. The vocals then ponder the relationship between freedom and attachment, recognizing the former’s freeing sense of catharsis, though also resulting temptations to become overly detached in life and creative pursuits.
“Will you wake up?” Vaser sings with intensified emotion, stirring in its introspective vigor and alternations between solemn and expansive. An especially consuming sequence takes hold into the three-minute turn, preceded by soaring backing wordless vocals that give way to an enveloping guitar solo, which carries into the song’s effective conclusion. “Badlands” is another fantastic piece of songwriting from Lithia, who immersed us in 2023 with the track “Self Isolation” and do so again with this fantastic single.
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This and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Emerging Singles’ Spotify playlist.
