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Couch by Billy Landers x Prophet Media
words:
aggy kazlauskas
a stellar debut from seven talented musicians
boston’s hottest new band couch have finally released their highly-anticipated studio album, big talk. it’s a stellar debut that sees the Septet practise exactly what the title preaches: “and we’re not talking small talk, Baby, we’re talking big,” lead vocalist Tema Siegel sings in the bridge of ‘transparent’ – a groovy, texturally-rich number that perfectly captures the project’s core identity.
the eleven-track record blends a multitude of genres, from irresistible retro pop to glimpses of soul jazz, with eclectic horn arrangements threading their way through the densely layered production.
“big talk is our reflection on multidimensional love – romantic, platonic, self-love – and the kind of bold, honest connection that comes from shedding small talk and saying what you really mean,” the band’s lead guitarist Zach Blankstein explains. “it’s moody and nostalgic, but also warm and bright – a soundtrack for that phase in life when things start to click, even if everything’s still a little messy.”
the album’s crown jewel, ‘middle man’, also taps into the project’s recurring theme of addressing big feelings.
“It’s about a time I pursued a guy with the help of my friend – only for him to pursue her, and for me to realise I was into her too,” siegel recalls. As he started dating her friend, siegel then adds, their own friendship continued to deepen, until a spark ignited romance; and so, she eventually found herself longing for a life where the fella was out of the picture. “He ultimately let her [siegel’s friend] down, and I was struck by a feeling that I think many queer women have felt at one time or another – romantic relationships could be much more nourishing if they were with each other, not heterosexual men,” the singer continues.
in a similar vein, the track is a sincere attempt at treading the line between friendship and romance – a phenomenon that every queer person is all too familiar with. “[it] poses the question that I sometimes ask myself when I meet an attractive and interesting woman – do I want to be her, be friends with her, or date her?” siegel clarifies.
big talk doesn’t shy away from dialogue. instead, it celebrates it as an art form – and in this case, it’s a beautiful conversation between the band’s seven members as well as the people in their lives.
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