This week, I’d like to take a look at a music artist I believe to be incredibly underrated. With only 70 monthly listeners and less than 5,000 streams of their most popular song on Spotify, the Brooklyn-based duo angora has already created some incredible music.
According to their artist biography on Spotify, angora’s vocalist is songwriter Sabine Kearley and the music is composed and produced by Aaron Morrison.
Currently, angora has only one EP, titled “in the static.” It was released in April 2024 and features five songs: “siren song,” “entwine,” “atone,” “virginia creeper” and “foreign city.” Each song comes with its own distinct emotions, though they all share an ethereal quality.
The first track, “siren song,” begins with a sound byte of rushing waves to set a serenely melancholy scene. A backing track consisting mostly of piano continues the feeling of loneliness throughout. Kearly’s vocals are then introduced, soft and haunting, and the emotions are enhanced by layering and echoing effects.
The second track, “entwine,” is definitely my favorite of the five. It features more digital effects, with soft notes held on a synthesizer and repeating arpeggios. It presents the opposite emotions and message to the first song—where “siren song” is about loneliness and calling out to someone, with long held notes to emphasize the vastness of the space, “entwine” is filled with short notes to grab the attention of listeners, keeping them focused on the song. It describes the experience of someone trying to find their own way, who desperately wants an escape and to be alone.
“Atone” is painfully raw, a tune lamenting the loss of a loved one and the brightness and hope that they brought. The verses include a methodical drum kick and a backing track of quickly descending notes, but most of the instruments drop away by the chorus, which repeats the phrase, “it all left with you.” The changes in instrumentation demonstrates a shift from an agonizing, intruding grief to a quiet, lingering kind.
The fourth track, “virginia creeper,” has a much more pressing and slightly aggressive undertone. The vocals are almost second-place, with several instruments, including an electric guitar and high-pitched synthesizer. Though it’s still generally a soft song, the change in balance adds to the feeling of having something or someone encroaching on your life and trying to control you, which is what the song is all about.
Finally, “foreign city” uses much more robotic sounds, with an edge of digital alteration on Kearley’s singing. The piano and bass are powerful, and it’s the only track that uses mostly ascending arpeggios. The combination of the signature ethereal sound against an almost upbeat backdrop creates a somewhat unsettling effect, which is drawn out at the end, imitating the song’s message about people changing over time.
For a first EP, the tracks really stand out as interesting and moving. The sound and lyrics are captivating, and I can’t wait to hear more from them in the future.
“In the static” is available to be streamed on Spotify, YouTube Music, Apple Music and Bandcamp. Their second EP, “red stars,” will be released on Feb. 14, 2025.
