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- June 30, 2022
Alpha Mare’s riveting indie-folk debut with “Pollen”
With smooth and light guitar picking, listeners are eased into the idyllic landscape of Alpha Mare’s folk track “Pollen”: something of a soft summer dream emitting a fine sense of calm. The song is grounded by singer Izé Yeng Goodfriend’s uniquely low voice providing a tinge of tranquility as he sings of saviors of the dirt and sky, a woman in a dress, and becoming one with the world and all in it. As the song progresses, its powerful simplicity remains with only light elements weaved in throughout: smooth strings underneath the guitar, or strong little harmonies added beside the melody, and Goodfriend’s own soft hums.
“Pollen” is a single off of Alpha Mare’s brand new debut album The Colt of the Virgin, a project built on otherworldly imagery, fingerpicked guitars, and soothing harmonies. The acoustic-based duo dubs this new project to be born “out of friendship” as singer-songwriter Izé Yeng Goodfriend and multi-instrumentalist (bass, keys, percussion, and more) Andrew Fowler came together to form it.
Just as vivid as its lyrics, the duo’s album was recorded in a picturesque place of its own: on the Hawaiian island of Maui in the upper foothills of the mountain Haleakalā. Huddled in a friend’s living room, the emotional project was created mostly over the course of several “sleepless weeks.” The duo said of their debut project, “From the choral uplift of “Guts” and “Could It Be You There” to the pared-down, scratchy intensity of “Pollen” and “Rocking Horse”, The Colt of the Virgin is 37 minutes of spiritual adventure.”
Keep up with the new indie-folk duo Alpha Mare on their various platforms and listen to their track “Pollen” below!
