An indie gem for the long-time alternative rock and pop-punk / emo fans across the board. North Carolina solo songwriter and musician Violet Wish ignites the passion and power of the past, with the energising arrangement and deeply reflective emotional heartbreak of Thanksgiving.
Featuring a bold arrangement of cascading guitar riffs and the live crash of drums, Thanksgiving weaves in a beautifully gentle but impassioned, accessible leading voice, leaving us somewhere between the like of Brand New and Jimmy Eat World – a kind of sadness encapsulated amidst a near-euphoric instrumental power.
Things begin with a simple but distinct riff, a quiet voice and some distant lyrics that draw hard for connection. Then the soundscape builds, the anticipation rises, and the chorus drops in with piercingly poignant lyrics and a juxtaposed sense of celebratory escapism from the musicianship.
That balancing of heartbreak and optimism is a huge part of what made the early 2000s such an iconic time for indie rock and alternative sub-genres. The songwriting and performances felt genuine, unfiltered and unafraid to ‘go there’, and Thanksgiving has the very same sense of emotional escapism and relatable honesty to both the lyrics and the delivery.
Ultimately a song of heartbreak, reflecting on the sudden end of a long-term relationship, on a day otherwise celebrated by an entire nation, Thanksgiving is the first single to release from Violet Wish’s upcoming EP Skylight, set for release this summer, and not to be slept on.
Find Violet Wish on Instagram.
