In many facets of culture, more and more people have lost faith in mainstream news, films, and music. An interesting revelation, it could be due to learning of alternative mediums, but in the case of music, it is most certainly about quality and sincerity. In corporate record label atmospheres, it sometimes becomes an atmosphere of dishing out one act that replicates the next. Often associated with art or unique qualities, fortunately, the independent scene of music is alive, well, and producing some interesting bands like Paper Lady.
Out of Boston, Massachusetts, Paper Lady is a highly independent act where everything they do (writing, recording, and mixing) is in-house. Formed by Vocalist/Guitarist Alli Raina in 2019 as the primary songwriter, she has steered the band’s boat, which is filled out by well-versed players such as Lead Guitarist Rowan Martin and Drummer Alex Castile.
Joining as this trio in 2021, the band soon worked on tracks for their 2023 EP, Traveling Exploding Star, which followed up to 2020’s While You Should Be Sleeping. Releases that show a steady progression and willingness to experiment, the EPs mix Folk and Alternative Rock with elements of dreamy, melancholic Rock. Factors which earned them a nomination for ‘Alt/Indie Artist of the Year’ at the Boston Music Awards in 2023, jumping forward to 2025, Paper Lady returns with their debut full-length album, Idle Fate.
Set for release on May 9, 2025, the album was brought to life amidst a 2024 trip to an Upstate New York cabin where the band craved out ideas. Putting the final touches on it all when returning home to Massachusetts, the new album first saw the release of the single “Silt,” a distorted guitar-driven track with catchy vocal melodies, followed by haunting “Static,” before the more punk-sounding “Joe Modern.”
Three very different songs show off the diversity in Paper Lady’s sound and what Idle Fate offers. As a whole, the album has a very moody atmosphere that goes from heavy and fuzzy to somber and sweet, as heard with “I Am Ribbon” or “You Are The Sun.” There are also the highly addictive, more straightforward Alternative Rock songs like “Rust” that add even more intrigue.
In the end, the best way to describe Paper Lady is as an inventive Alternative Rock band that emphasizes the energy of each song while offering lyrical landscapes that deal with emotions of love, anger, sorrow, and more. If you enjoy early Metric music, Mazzy Star, or those like Slowdive, you most certainly will appreciate the aesthetic of Paper Lady. Worth adding to your list of bands to dig into, Cryptic Rock gives Paper Lady’s Idle Fate 4 out of 5 stars.
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