Coming out of LA, psychedelic dream pop rockers Secret Flowers came to be when Micheal Hentz (vocals, guitar), Jacquelyn Sky (vocals, drums), David Greening (guitar, lap steel), and Ava Rodriguez-Smith (bass) decided to merge like-minded efforts to create their own minimalistic, yet encapsulating sound.
As can be heard in their most recent EP, Balboa, the group has a penchant for satisfying the ear with a fresh reverberated sound, putting listeners in a dreamlike state with airy vocals that manage to feel close and far away at the same time.
Secret Flowers first emerged onto the scene with the release of a series of singles in 2019 and 2020, followed eventually by a video single for their cover of Mazzy Star’s “Ghost Highway” in 2023. The video, directed by Rodriguez-Smith, stays consistent with the darker theme, visually presented using a newsprint effect. The band’s take on the song seeks to expand the rock number into a hypnotic universe of guitar licks, and compelling female vocals.
With Balboa, the band takes listeners into their surreal sonic universe instantly, beginning with a heavy bass riff and a hazy sort of resonation on the electric guitar in the opening track, “Strawberry.” The song follows this riff as well as the voices of two band members, as they sing of changing themselves for someone in an effort to be better for them.
The opener is followed by “Malibu Burns” and “Carte Blanche,” which delve into themes of struggling to trust and feeling like you’re wasting time with someone. Distorted guitar carries the chorus of the latter song as the vocalists sing, “Call your heart out / Seems like you are / The one who can be trusted/ At least that’s what I thought.” “Malibu Burns” brings a bit of a Tame Impala energy to the EP, with dreamy riffs in the chorus, coming off of phrases with a sweet but subtle distortion on the guitar.
The fourth track, “Saw It All,” expresses a longing to be near someone whilst being carried by an electric guitar riff and a trace-like beat. It expresses yearning, particularly in the chorus: “I’ll be waiting for you / Since I really need you / Those dark nights were for you / Couldn’t you be with me right now.”
The 5-track EP closes with the reflective final track, “Listen,” which takes listeners off into the sunset with a narcotic melody carried by the entire band, bringing listeners home with the message of taking in all that’s around you.
Secret Flowers’ debut EP, Balboa, dropped on Bandcamp yesterday June 7th, 2024, and will hit all other streaming platforms June 21st.
