It was midnight, and I was opening another bag of chips, getting ready to watch more band performances on YouTube. I clicked on a video link, and I was transported to an underground venue, illuminated with blue strobe lights.
As the band onstage opened with an infectious syncopated rhythm, I was drawn into their palatable technicality and mesmerized by how in sync each member was with one another.
I had just experienced the magic of FORAGER, a three-member band based in Brooklyn, New York City.
It consists of lead vocalist Shyamala, guitarist, keyboard player and bassist Jack Broza and drummer Colum Enrique. They released their first track, “Tandem Bike,” in 2021 and have released an album, “Pipedream Firewood,” since then.
Many of their songs have an element of spontaneity. FORAGER’s lyrics are often thought of during random outings in the city or from old voice memos, according to their interview with MXDWN. Their songs reflect this natural feel, giving tracks a layer of authenticity that connects me to their songs.
Their music also leans heavily into funk. The main riff for “Tandem Bike” is syncopated, constantly making listeners guess where the beat will be before throwing in an off-beat. This technique suspends the on-beat vocals, musically complementing them.
Despite the techy setup, the band makes fun of itself with their lyrics. Shyamala sings, “I’m trying not to rush my relationships or my eighth note triplets,” playfully breaking the fourth wall to highlight a cool musical feature.
Some of FORAGER’s finest work can be seen in “Pomeranian.” Instead of having a simple verse-to-chorus transition, they slow down the chorus by a whopping 60 BPM. The transition is seamless, restraining the song’s initial puppy-dog energy into something more mature, making fun of the love interest’s performative behavior.
Though this effect is complex in theory, it’s even harder to pull off in practice. While the rapidly changing time signatures challenge many veteran musicians, FORAGER manages to perform “Pomeranian” live and stay in the pocket. And they have the audacity to do it twice for the chorus.
This kind of musical complexity is hard to find in indie bands like FORAGER and shows a surprising level of exploration in their musicality. FORAGER will make waves in the indie band scene, and I can’t wait to see what they will do next. But their discography can’t be encompassed in a single article, so I’ll “Leave a Little to the Imagination” and let you experience FORAGER for yourself.
