Exclusive Song Premiere: ‘In the Window,’ WL

ABOVE: WL. IMAGE COURTESY OF ANNA IGNATENKO

That WL hails from Portland Oregon should be no surprise to anyone familiar with the Pacific Northwest’s temperate rainforest climate. The band’s music sounds pre-acclimated to the region’s arboreal landscapes, with empyrean vocals and bleary guitar that swirls like a dense fog. Comprised of guitarist Michael Yun, vocalist/bassist Misty Mary (whose name itself could describe WL’s sound), and drummer Stevie Sparks, the trio is readying its debut album Hold, set to be released digitally—and, fittingly, via cassette tape—this summer.

“In The Window,” which we’re pleased to debut here, does a nice job encapsulating WL’s charmingly analog sound. As Yun explains: “Misty was touring around Europe last year and brought a little micro cassette recorder with her in order to keep momentum going in our writing process. She was walking around ancient ruins in Rome when the song came into her head in one piece.”

Mary knew she had to capture the moment immediately. “She was with a group of people but didn’t want to lose the inspiration, so she lagged behind and sung it into her pocket recorder in a whisper,” says Yun.  The resulting track, recorded by the band and arranged in their living room, mixes the crystalline textures of Beach House and the all-encompassing fuzz of shoegaze. (Yun also notes the drum track’s “psychedelic effect.”) For a new band, it’s a remarkably self-assured affair.

HOLD IS OUT DIGITALLY AND ON CASSETTE JULY 16 VIA PROSPECT & REFUGE. FOR MORE ON THE BAND, CHECK OUT ITS FACEBOOK PAGE.