Ever since Arcade Fire’s Funeral brought the genre roaring to the cultural fore, the idea of what qualifies as “independent music” has gotten a bit nebulous. While through the 80s and 90s, “indie” was a reference to any artist not signed to a major label, from the early aughts onward, that definition seemed to no longer apply. Today, anything that doesn’t fit cleanly within the lines of mainstream pop, rock, or rap is usually slapped with an “indie” sticker, regardless of label affiliation. However, from bloated concept albums to A24 movies, the genre has one consistent totem: a big-hearted yearning to describe or understand emotions.
Seattle darlings Racoma bring that spirit with aplomb to their new single, “Furthermore.” A b-side from their debut LP from May of this year, the song seems tailor-made for nostalgic night driving. Open-ended descriptions of a faltering relationship meet ethereal lead lines from warm acoustic guitars, building out a world-weary setting that feels instantly familiar. The instrumentation is lush without being overpowering, allowing Racoma to capture that indie-specific wistfulness before frontman Glenn Haider even sings a syllable.
While two people moving apart is well-trod lyrical ground, Haider uses this device as an excellent diving board. He doesn’t rush his way to climax or catharsis. Instead, he lingers like a skilled cameraman over a detailed scene, with lines like “You don’t get to ask me what you’ve already known” suggesting deep betrayal but keeping the specifics vague — a warm sepia filter over the proceedings. The chorus follows a similar scheme, but the bridge brings the knives out, quietly blistering, “You never showed up in my life / Furthermore, we’ve been going through this for years.” The melody soars. All of the colors in Haider’s voice emerge, allowing the final barb to land with a punch: “I don’t owe you anything at all.”
What really comes through here, though, is Racoma’s musical and stylistic vocabulary. There’s licks of Thom Yorke in Haider’s vocal delivery — parabolic, clean vocal lines that spit acid but sound effortlessly sincere. The background vocals, swaying like oak leaves in the breeze, recall Fleetwood Mac in their prime. The relentless folk-rock groove sounds ready-made for a signing to Saddle Creek, yet the guitars wouldn’t sound out of place on a Beach House record. All of these elements lend further emotional heft to the proceedings, sounding like a score to a coming-of-age montage. (We dare you: play it over this video with the audio muted.)
As the refrain repeats, Racoma’s one request is to not have their time wasted. Fortunately, they’ve wasted none of ours. “Furthermore” is a treat to be enjoyed fireside, on the highway at 1 a.m., or whenever you need to drift off and remember that person or that time. Its slow-burn lyricism and warm instrumental give tangible life to elusive feelings. In that way, it’s emblematic of the best part of indie rock — its naked and descriptive emotional honesty.
Listen to the track below and let us know if it makes you feel all warm and nostalgic.
haha love the coming-of-age video montage with the song! so true