It started out with Royal Jelly (2015), Löwin‘s 7-track debut that placed songwriter/vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Sara Houser in the limelight. Your AMM’s favorite picks: Opener “Best Laid Plans,” the exhausted narrator’s lament on “Move It Football Head,” and of course, “Big Mouth” tellin’ it like it is (“You’ve got a big mouth / when you ain’t talking to yourself…”). Rather than masking the rawness, Houser left every nerve exposed.
The leonine energy of the Say Say Mixtape (2018) and cool fire Heavy as the Sun (2019) revealed more facets of Houser’s talent, along with multiple contributions to other artists’ recordings (Spoon, Walker Lukens, Golden Dawn Arkestra, A Giant Dog…). But behind the scenes, Houser remained unsure of her footing. What was next? Which direction to take?
Something snapped stylistically with the single “A Fool For Thinking.” Houser, recording all synths and vocals herself, with Adam Mason on bass, had written a track with herself in mind – the impetus for the solo project, S.L. Houser. It was time.
S.L. Houser’s debut performance is tomorrow night, Saturday Sept. 11, at Hotel Vegas, 1502, on a bill featuring Esme Patterson and Sabrina Ellis (Sweet Spirit, A Giant Dog). Doors at 9 p.m. – and please remember to bring your mask.
Reflections...
AMM September 10 2021 || S.L. Houser at Hotel Vegas, Sat. Sept. 11, with Esme Patterson and Sabrina Ellis.
-Photography by Kate Blaising.
