The travel song is a classic part of the American road trip. The radio helps to create this mood of change and wonder. A sense of exploration and metamorphosis. Memories are made on these trips, and later on when those memories are hazy, the songs we associate with them bring those oft happier memories into sharp relief. “time and time again”, the latest single from Veronica Everheart, strikes me as one of those songs.
Everheart takes the listener on a journey across these three minutes. The soundscape is varied and rich, from all kinds of echoing percussion that never seems to leave my head, to the 90’s pop guitar work that glides along. The mix is fairly quiet and soft, though never hazy. At times, the groovy bass lines will dip out along with the snares, kicks, and woodblock. In these moments, Everheart’s voice rises to fill in the space with wide, gentle vocals. The piece has a rich authenticity to it, and harkens back to lazy sunny afternoons and dusty suburban streets. We’re coasting along, vocals fade out to guitar which dip for a harmonic chord…the electronic sounds rest just under this. While these are subtle inclusions, they do wonders for helping the fullness of the track. They never jump out at you quite like the rest of the instrumentation, but the soft sound is perfect for easing out the track sonically.
“time and time again” feels plucked from the childhoods of the listeners, and through careful cultivation of the soundscape, it helps sell it’s soft, lazy, tone. The mix is clean, while still feeling authentic. It’s the kind of song that seems like it fits perfectly into those sepia memories, and helps to create a place for itself in the indie scene.
Is there a place in particular you imagine your songs being listened to?
I recently moved from Phoenix to New Jersey. Though I have a special place in my heart for the Phoenix scene, I always felt like my music belonged in the northeast, as many of my influences (The Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and LCD Soundsystem) were from there. Though I feel like my music meshes the best here, I think my music has something for anyone regardless of where they’re physically located.
What headspace do you need to be in to perform and record? Is it so simple as just playing an instrument?
I definitely need to feel confident and well-practiced before performing or recording. Though they are two different environments, I always want to push myself to perform the best, whether that’s giving it my all energetically on stage, or nailing a specific performance.
Your sound seems to grow from song to song, do you have plans to keep expanding your soundscape?
Every song is a learning experience, and each time I get a little more ambitious. I see myself exploring a few different sounds as I continue to write and produce, especially from an electronic standpoint. One day, I’d like to bring everything I’ve explored together to form the true, “Veronica Everheart” sound.
Was there something in particular in the musical world that pushed you in your songwriting?
Being around jazz and classical players in school has really inspired me to push myself musically and lyrically. Also expanding my catalog of what I listen to helps generate new ideas.
You pride yourself for the honesty and authenticity in your work, which is readily on display. However, when you perform in person, does this ever make you feel vulnerable?
I kind of perceive myself as two different people, since Everheart is not my real last name. It’s easy for me to embrace Veronica Everheart, as “she” is this fun, confident, and the personification of Valentine’s Day (haha). It sounds silly, but I suppose this image allows me to wear my heart on my sleeve.
