Just in time for breezy spring days and still, cool nights, Memphis folk duo Oakwalker has dropped their debut album, Tiger Sun Moon.
In a lively yet graceful album, singer Victoria Dowdy’s soulful vocals are accompanied by Ethan Baker’s violin, which blends with her sound to become a voice of its own.
The opening track and lead single, “I Didn’t Know,” has a vintage, upbeat feel to it, featuring a shift in tempo that allows for the chorus to build up to its full potential. A cheerful groove meets playful violin in this opener, and offers excellent harmonies in the chorus. The repetitive “I didn’t know” line is incredibly catchy, making this bonafide number sure to stick in your head.
The second track, “Bad Decisions,” switches things up with its more swamp-like roguish sound. Dowdy’s voice soon becomes more sultry and commanding on this bar room-danceable track. “The Cheshire cat sees that he’s done his job / And he slinks back into the night,” she sings. The promiscuous lyrics top off the unique charm to the fun folksy song’s feeling of mischievousness.
Dowdy and Baker met through mutual friends, and soon became musical collaborators. Their deep connection allows for vulnerable, tender songs, such as the fourth track on the album, “Ladybugs.”
“Ladybugs” slows down the album, and yet is one of its most empowering tracks. “You used me and you abused me / And I let it go on too long / You can’t have my heart back / But you can have this song,” Dowdy sings, accompanied by Baker’s sharp, aching violin. “Ladybugs are good luck / I’m done sharing mine with you,” goes the song, adding to the album’s message of hope and moving forward.
Another notable track comes in at number five on the record, “I’m Not Alone,” which is a song of comfort, showcasing Dowdy’s powerful vocal range. Starting slow and allowing for escalation throughout the course of the track, the violin delivers a twangy, country sound, joined by a simple beat that lets the vocals, violin, and lyrics shine. “There is beauty / In little things / So I will not be afraid / Of the future and what it brings,” she sings.
The seventh track, “Waxing and Waning,” features unique, lilting vocals as the violin takes on the qualities of a second singer, matching Dowdy’s voice note for note. The song dreams of a safe place as she sings, “Waxing and waning / Hoping and praying / That you’ll see the light / Even though it’s dark.” The track takes on a deep, mourning sound that manages to still hold a sense of peace.
Another standout track, “Creature of Habit,” blends the guitar’s steady, short strums and the chimes of the violin to create a sound of momentum. “I work, I play, I get myself off track,” Dowdy sings of acceptance, contributing to the album’s overall message of finding peace despite being in a state of chaos, and of finding love for oneself despite being flawed.
With twelve tracks, Oakwalker’s debut record accomplishes a story of the different feelings which arise when embracing oneself; confidence and glee, anger for our past selves, hope, and acceptance. Dowdy’s vocals and Baker’s violin sound like they were made to accompany one another, blending and playing in each track to create a dynamic album full of heart and soul.
