As anyone in the industry can attest, building a life as a musician is not for the faint of heart. In the case of itinerant drummer and vocalist Darlin’ Brando, nee Brandon Goldstein, he’s moved across the country more times than I’ve moved my furniture. After a repeat stint in LA he’s back in Nashville and about to release a new EP entitled Seeing Her Again.
Hewing to a straight-forward country sound, Brando and producer Elijah Ocean get a compleat honky tonk vibe without resorting to complex arrangements. EP opener Grab Your Partner is a modern version of a square dance number with double meaning in your choice of life mate: they should support you in the lean times but also be there for the fun on the dance floor. That’s Why I’m Always Smiling (In Pictures) is a tongue-in-cheek country shuffle about not leaving any evidence that you miss your ex. The title track also mines the past relationship territory, this time because she inhabits your dreams in weird ways.
My favorite song, How It Is, started life as a poem by Brando’s life partner, Edith Freni, who also co-leads on vocals. It’s sort of a philosophical view on some lessons learned over time, offered not as advice but as just an observation of reality. When they sing, “one day you’ll grow up and drink too much wine, make bad decisions and have a good time,” well, we’ve all had that journey. The full EP comes out in mid October, but we’re fortunate to be able to offer you a listen to that single now. Here is How It Is.
About the author: I've actually driven from Tehatchapee to Tonopah. And I've seen Dallas from a DC-9 at night.