“Cursive”
This review was originally written for Music Scene Media.
LA-based duo VOILÀ and Sleeping with Siren’s Kellin Quinn released a new single “Cursive” on October 10. The track came in conjunction with VOILÀ’s debut studio album Happy Never After, which has been four years in the making. Bandmates Luke Eisner and Gus Ross have been making music together for eight years, but spent the past four recording over 40 songs to narrow down what their signature sound was. The resulting album contains 21 of those tracks, including “Happy Never After,” “Drop Dead Gorgeous,” and of course “Cursive.”
The track opens with a mournful guitar melody, a simple beat, and a slight reverb on Ross’s vocals. As the chorus comes around, the track explodes with strong guitar riffs and emphatic drums. “Cursive” plays with an ebb and flow of sound, reminiscent of the sadness and anger that accompany breakups. Quinn’s feature begins in the second verse, but he’s quickly joined by Ross. Every emo kid knows Quinn’s signature tenor vocals, filled with angsty passion. Ross’s vocals are deeper, and bring a classic rock twist to the lines he shares with Quinn. The juxtaposition of their styles in the bridge allows haunting harmonies to come through before the drums crescendo to the final chorus.
VOILÀ’s decision to spend time developing their craft was clearly a smart move. They sound cohesive and well-rounded, which allowed Quinn to come in without stealing all of the attention. They worked together beautifully to produce something new. Hopefully VOILÀ won’t make the listeners wait four more years for their next stroke of genius.
