The Grass is Green: Honeywise
(debut album
review)
By:
Moose
Honeywise are comprised of duo
Sophia Landis (vocals piano, mandolin, Native American
Flute, and percussion), Jason Suratt (guitar), and for this album they enlisted
the help of Trevor Troupe on bass. The
Grass is Green is their latest album and with it brings twelve songs of Americana
/ folk music. With their roots, and home base set in Iowa they have put together
an album derived from a life on the road. Honeywise are a young band having
only been around since February of 2016, and with this album they have found a
way to make their introduction.
Sophia and Jason met at an open mic
in Waterloo, Iowa and from that meeting has come Honeywise. Sophia was mainly
working on her solo project which in her words is “more down tempo piano
ballads,” and she enlisted Jason to help manage the production of her first
solo album. With Sophia finding it difficult to find gigs for her “Sunday
afternoon music” they decided to join forces. Jason’s outlaw country guitar
playing background and Sophia’s blend of Native American flute and storytelling
lyrics they have found their sound, folk music. The album spins like that as
well. A simple reflex of folk music is what they have achieved with this album.
The
Grass is Green weaves through the highways and bi-ways of a touring band. A
band according to Sophia in regard to where they live “we consider ourselves
residents of the road,” and that element is littered throughout the twelve
tracks of this album. Sophia pens most of the songs both musically and
lyrically, and it was evident through my first listen that the poetry of the
road had some influence on the shaping of this album. Sophia obliged by saying “I
have written music simply about people I’ve met and things I’ve seen on tour, “
and I could almost hear the rubber on the road, or the wind whipping through
the windows of a van, or in their case a recreational vehicle.
Throughout the album there is the
blend of Jason’s heavy guitar balanced with Sophia’s voice or, at times, her
Native American Flute. This particular instrument isn’t featured in many songs
that come my way so when I heard it I was intrigued, to say the least. Through
playing in a group called Big Blue Sky Sophia was introduced to this
instrument, and it adds an element sort of like the basil in a pesto. You know
it is there and hanging out, but at times comes to the forefront. Again
showcasing their brand of folk music with a traditional folk music instrument,
all blends nicely through twelve songs about having a good time and or with the
people you meet.
With the album completed they are
taking it out on the road with them to a city near you. They are continuing to
put together material for their next release. Honeywise brings a merging of
sounds to create something unique to them while keeping it within a folk music
vein. I will let Sophia and Jason close this out, but first I would recommend
going to see them wherever they may be. You can check out the link at the end
of this for all things Honeywise. Here are Honeywise in regard to Why Music, of
all things to pursue or want to do why this?
Jason: Music has been a part of my
life since early childhood. When my parents got divorced my dad got me a guitar
and that is how we used to spend time together, him teaching me to play basic
chords. When I moved to Iowa with my mom at the age of 8 all of the friends she
made were musicians so I was surrounded by music. She would bring the bar home
after closing time and they would jam all night (keeping my sister and I up
late despite having school the next day). She eventually married a musician and
we moved to Austin, TX to pursue his career. This was when I was in high school
and I decided then that I wanted to be a professional musician. I just loved
playing and performing. Years later my mom talked me into going to college and
I wasted 10 years pursuing higher education, receiving a master's degree, and
spending a few years working on a PhD. However, music was always part of my
life and I kept playing in bands. Eventually I started making enough
connections that I could keep my band on the road full time so I dropped out of
the PhD. program and pursued my music career. It's what makes me happy; simple
as that.
Sophia: I have loved music and
performing since I was young. I started piano lessons when I was three and have
been singing throughout my entire working memory. I have tried other jobs and
received a degree in communication studies, but the things I hate the most
about being a musician are less stressful than the feelings I would get when I
wasn't doing anything with my music. There's just something really special
about seeing someone smile, jump up off their chair, and start dancing while I
play. Few things are as rewarding.
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