Indie rock singer-songwriter Kelsey Magnuson is announcing her debut LP, ‘Don’t Budge’ is going to be released on November 2nd 2022 via Earth Libraries. In celebration of the upcoming release, we’re giving you the first listen of the first single titled, ‘Beep Beep.’
With its splashy riffs and mellow grooves, ‘Beep Beep’ is the kind of song that makes you feel carefree as you zone out and lose track of time. Kelsey gave more details about the track by saying:
‘Beep Beep’ is a song written in the first months of the pandemic during a slip into a total loss of my sense of time. But the sound (beep!beep!) of a friends watch that went off on the hour every hour was particularly noticeable…how each hour could pass without much happening at all. The days would drag and then all of a sudden pass too quickly-the rhythm and stops in ‘Beep Beep’ echo that specific feeling.”
‘Beep Beep’ is the opener to the 9-track album which draws inspiration from a number of other amazing feme rock artists such as Courtney Barnett, Julie Doiron, Haley Heynderickx, and Hannah Mohan (And the Kids).
Though the experiences might not be your own, Kelsey Is a songwriter that writes lyrics that are easily relatable. Or, they have the effect of pulling you in so deeply, you can make those experiences your own. Or as Kelsey puts it “The best songs are the ones that generate nostalgia for a place you’ve never been, a person you’ve never met, a memory that isn’t yours.”
Don’t Budge – TRACKLISTING
01. Beep Beep
02. Anna’s Song
03. Don’t Let The Rats
04. Coulda Made It Out
05. Waitress
06. Put Me In Coach
07. This Town Mix
08. Never Been Hurt
09. Faking It
Across its nine tracks, Don’t Budge carries the warmth that comes with having recorded largely in bassist Robin Caromosino’s analog home studio—though it finds heaps of grand emotional resonance in even seemingly small moments. “I just want a day off/ And I just want a clear sky,” Magnuson calls out on single “Faking It”, her theoretically simple request taking on so much weight when leaping off of drummerIan Francis’ rolling waltz rhythm.
Francis and Magnuson each separately moved to Olympia from Nebraska in 2021, and were then connected by a mutual friend. After attempting to record “Faking It” before her move, the fluid chemistry Magnuson found with Francis and Caromosino unlocked a new depth. “That song lyrically encapsulates a lot of the vibe for the whole album,” Magnuson explains. “I’m so happy to have landed on this fuller, more orchestrated feel that only came after moving to the Pacific Northwest. I feel more a sense of connection and pride in the music I’m making and the community around me is making than anywhere else I’ve lived.”
Though they’ve only worked together for a little over a year, the three musicians have honed their connection via relentless live performances once venues began opening up. Single “Anna’s Song” highlights that taut interplay, waves of Magnuson’s bronzy guitar brushing up against shimmering cymbals and limber bass. “And when it clears/ I know that she’ll be there/ When it clears/ I hope she knows I’ll be there,” Magnuson sings, before adding a caveat:
“And even if I’m not/ We’ll still be laughing at the things we should not.” That playful bounce between open-hearted and self-sacrificing detail recalls one of the biggest touchstones for Don’t Budge, Julie Doiron. “I was so drawn to her range of sound, from plucky guitar songs to heavier riffs, and how it flowed so well through one album,” Magnuson explains, again needing to share another heartfelt detail. “But I’d also be a phony if I didn’t mention my real life inspo from idea man-confidant-and total lyrical genius Anna McClellan.”
