“Crash”
On March 23, Boston-based indie band Joint Affair released an extra special track. The song, “Crash,” was created in collaboration with writer Evan Solomonides, who penned it to process a traumatic car accident he survived at 17. The crash left him in a coma and later paralyzed for months, but he never stopped pushing forward. Now recovered, Solomonides has dedicated himself to helping others; in fact, it was a Battle of the Bands fundraiser for the Boston Children’s Hospital that brought Joint Affair into his life. Joint Affair won the event, forever connecting the group with Solomonides. Inspired by their sound, he brought them an unfinished song about his experience, and asked for their assistance. Singer Maeve Love help him to complete the lyrics, and guitarist Joe Gatti and pianist Misha Nicholas handled the arrangement. They took the track to Mad Oak Studio in Allston and finished recording it in under four hours. In addition to Love, Gatti, and Nicholas, Joint Affair features Caleb Board on drums and Seth Nuffer on bass.
“Crash” opens simply, with just a bluesy riff from the guitar, piano accents, and smooth vocals from Love. Intimate and raw, the lyrics start to unspool Solomonides’ emotional journey as he recovers. Not long after, a warm bassline melts in, sitting below the piano and vocals, enveloping the listener to deepen the emotion. Naturally, the track begins to build, leading to a crescendo and with four determined drumbeats, the chorus kicks in. It ties in with the lyrical message, as Love describes rising “like a phoenix from the ash.” Together, Joint Affair navigates beautifully. They know how to play around one another, letting different instrument timbres shine. Expertly intertwining their individual lines, they create a rich and complex soundscape. From the first downbeat, “Crash” seems like a track that would be performed live in a modern and swanky jazz club. Theatrical key changes and an ebb and flow of the drum presence create tension and release phrases throughout, echoing the roller coaster Solomonides has experienced. As “Crash” comes to an end, Love’s clear and strong vocals settle. She croons that all the internal strife has given way to a “lullaby,” finally allowing her, and Solomonides, to rest.
Almost all music has emotional significance to the artists, but when an artist can turn their past trauma into something beautiful, it makes an even bigger impact. Hopefully this will be the beginning of a fruitful partnership between Joint Affair and Solomonides, and that they will both go on to create more beautiful art.
“Crash” Album Artwork via Evan Solomonides
Joint Affair via instagram.com/joint.affair/
