Water Street has done it again on their new single, “Afraid of Forever.” Right from the first strum of the guitar, you’re sucked into a story that feels as personal as it is universal. Julia Aiello’s vocals carry an emotional weight that is palpable, instantly pulling you into the narrative of love and uncertainty. Once the band kicks in, the track becomes a rich atmospheric soundscape, layering brass over dynamic harmonies and the rhythmic interplay of keys and guitars.
This North Jersey band, with roots in Blairstown, has a way of morphing soulful melody lines with rock energy, and “Afraid of Forever” is no exception. Recorded at Little Brother Audio in West Philadelphia and produced by Tyler Ripley, the single sees the band focusing their timeless theme of romance through a vintage instrumental lens. Growth within the band and an exploration of new musical avenues come forth, all resulting in a fresh-yet-familiar feel to their sound.
Julia Aiello’s introspective lyrics stem from her personal journey through a tumultuous relationship. She openly puts it: “A few months ago, I had a lot of questions running through my mind about a relationship that was in limbo. How do you know when you want to spend the rest of your life with someone? How long does it take to know? Should you ever have doubts about it? Did I not give it enough of a chance?…When I thought about spending forever with this person, it wouldn’t make me happy. If I was truly in love, shouldn’t that thought make me happy? I was feeling very trapped by something that was not at all gratifying, but I felt obligated to fix it.. I had to be selfish, and put myself before everyone else. This is my life, my happiness, and my forever. I am now the happiest I have ever been after choosing myself.”
The sentiment is echoed by keys and saxophone player Alex Kerssen, who adds, “ Is there anything more brutal than being head-over-heels for someone who seems to be just lukewarm about you? What about being into but not crazy about someone who’s head-over-heels in love with you? This song captures both sides of that situation, asking the painful question of “shouldn’t I know by now?”
“Afraid of Forever” features a close-fitting rhythm section, rich strings, and sweet horns, all which make for an effervescent foundation for the call-and-response vocals. The music feels joyous and liberating despite its moving lyrical content, speaking volumes about the band’s ability to communicate emotion through their arrangements. Bassist Brendon Gardner said, “Even though the lyrical subject matter of “Afraid of Forever” isn’t the happiest, the music behind the words sure sounds it. Recording this song was so much fun and felt very freeing as a bassist trying to emulate the feel and tone of an upright bass playing some swing music.”
The timing of this release couldn’t be better. While the American summer goes along its way and us Australians are dreaming of a summer to come, Water Street heats up with music that forms the perfect soundtrack for days at the beach, mornings with the flavours of coffee on the porch, or evenings with cocktails. An unusual blend of indie-Americana and soulful acoustics, Water Street mixes up punches of rock and roll for that timeless, refreshing sound. Heavily influenced by the northwest hills of New Jersey and the Appalachian Ridge, Water Street rolls out songs that holler back to the rugged beauty of their surrounding lands. And made up of Dave Paulson (vocals and guitar), Brendon Gardner (bass), Connor Konecnik (drums), Julia Aiello (vocals), Edward Woodcock (lead guitar), and Alex Kerssen (keys and saxophone), the band still feels like part of a home while stretching out into some other sonic territory. The kind of space indicative of the heart and hustle that have pushed this band into fruition, their Water Street Blairstown rehearsal space is.
Water Street has brought their music far—from the triumphant stage at Dorney Park’s Battle of the Bands to playing many of the best festivals and venues in the country. With the inclusion of Julia Aiello, amongst other talents, there came a flair in their sound which sounded dynamic and interactive live. Many new releases are on the way with their recent signing to Free Dive Collective and working with Tyler Ripley as producer.
In and of itself, “Afraid of Forever” says a lot about Water Street’s ability to take personal experience and turn it into powerful, yet palatable music. You’ll find yourself completely carried away by the heart-on-sleeve storytelling in the song, energetic performance, and charming writing. Water Street is an open-wound kind of band, and its music shines bright for it. Lean back to the experience that’s both raw and uplifting with “Afraid of Forever.”
You can find more of Water Street at:
Website
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
You can listen to ‘Afraid Of Forever’ below:
Karen Harding is a Melbourne, Australia based singer/songwriter, founder of Sounds On The Couch, and founder and operator of boutique music PR service for emerging and independent artists, Rise Indie.