By Charlie Maybee
Fullerton, CA-based alternative rock band, Spinning, finds itself reflecting on Irish traditions with the new single “St. Stephen’s Green,” which released on March 11, just in time for St. Patrick’s Day.
The arpeggiated guitar chords and ethereal vocals make this song feel like a floating cloud. It’s untethered, but not overwhelming as it gradually spreads and soaks the space it takes up with a sound that is painted in thoughtful colors on an expansive canvas. There’s a lot of care in the vocals, as if they are aiming for a calm, healing presence, which is nailed to fantastic effect.
Lead vocalist and guitarist, Matthew McCarthy, writes that “’St. Stephen’s Green’ is a song I wrote after reflecting on a trip to Ireland a few years ago with my family and significant other at the time. I always get inspired to write after traveling, and on that trip, I was struggling a lot with my mental health.”
“I remember feeling like a huge burden to everyone around me, finding it difficult to communicate my feelings effectively, and how much it frustrated me,” he added. “The song casts a light on how unpredictable emotions can be, how they are impacted by one’s environment, and how they can affect our relationships with people around us.”
Taking some inspiration from post punk bands like Oasis, Blink-182, and The Cure, there’s a certain ease to the music that’s alluring and oozes good vibes. Knowing that the song was written to process a complex mental state is not surprising because of how naturally supportive its vibrations are. The song feels like it can carry you through tough terrain with surprising softness.
“St. Stephen’s Green” is available on major streaming platforms, including Spotify and Apple Music. Follow our Alchemical Multigenre Mixdown playlist for more great music featured on the site.
Charlie Maybee is a dancer, musician, educator, and writer based in Charleston, South Carolina who currently teaches with the Dance Program at the College of Charleston. His primary work as an artist is with his performing collective, Polymath Performance Project, through which he makes interdisciplinary performance art that centers tap dance as the primary medium of expression and research. He also currently plays rhythm guitar for the Charleston-based punk band, Anergy, and releases music as a solo artist under the name Nox Eterna.
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Alchemical Records is a Washington, D.C. based music publication. We cover the Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Richmond, VA metro area music scenes, including band interviews, articles about your favorite musicians, new music and concert dates.
