Author: Gaby Keane
It’s time to get saxual. No, I’m not suggesting that you perform American Pie-style antics with a saxaphone, but rather that you pick up Marian Hill’s music and be transported back in time with their 20s era sounds.
Hailing from Philadelphia, Jeremy Lloyd and Samantha Gongol make up this fresh, beat-heavy, electronic duo. Gongol handles the vocals; Lloyd takes care of the production; both share in the songwriting.
According to the Marian Hill website, the duo draws from influences ranging from Ella Fitzgerald to Drake, forging a “unique electro/R&B sound with blues and jazz influences.”
Gongol’s vocals are delicate, yet still make an incredible auditory impact on the track and the listener. Lloyd’s production, on the other hand, emphasizes the juxtaposition between incredibly varied beats and the soft, sensual vocals.
Since releasing their first single, “Whisky,” by sending over 60 cold emails to music blogs hoping one would pick it up, Marian Hill has seen fast paced success in the two years they’ve been crafting their music. With praise in the media from both popular blogs and national news outlets, a well-received 2015 released album, and currently a nationwide tour, the duo certainly has a bright future ahead.
Marian Hill’s success is no surprise – their music is, simply put, fantastic. It keeps you entertained the whole time, whether it’s through Gongol’s varied, bouncing vocals and melodies, or the masterful sound mixing that plays upon their balance of old and new style sounds.
The lyricism is the cherry on top of Marian Hill’s luxurious sound. There’s love, there’s pain, and there’s everything in between: “Boy if you wanna go, I would not mind/But I’m not the kind of drum you play one time,” Gongol cheekily croons in the album track “One Time.” You’ll find yourself getting caught up in the music’s melodic ups and downs, and you won’t want to stop listening.
Listen to Marian Hill’s album, tracks, and recently released (and gorgeous) single, “Breathe Into Me,” on Spotify and iTunes. Catch them live on tour now through the summer and at multiple festivals, including Bonnaroo and Firefly.
