When I listen to opening track ‘Pool Girl’ from Dutch indie popsters Snow Coats, I realize that, somehow, I’ve already heard it. It must’ve been on the radio here in the ÜK already. It feels familiar, and strangely; despite the fact that, on paper, this sound isn’t really my thing, the song evokes a feeling of pleasant recognition.
Snow Coats admit that they don’t really sound like a Dutch band and that’s OK because the four-piece, influenced by the American music scene, want to break out of that niche and get their music heard across the world. Vocalist Anouk van der Kemp sounds effortlessly British when she sings in her young, sweet sounding voice.
She and bandmates Frank Peters (bass guitar) and Dan and Joost Ebbers (guitar/drums) released their first album ‘Take The Weight Off Your Shoulders’ in August 2018. The indie-folk inspired debut, although recorded in an attic room, was well received and helped muster them enough recognition that by 2019 they were opening for American indie rockers Pinegrove.
Not ones to rest on their laurels, Snow Coats built a studio and with the newfound freedom of time, quickly wrote the ‘Pool Girl’ E.P The influence of the bands touring pals has led their music away from folk and more towards the indie pop rock which got them signed by their new, Oxford based label Alcopop! records, but Anouk still weaves the mandolin through somehow… It’s time to have a proper listen and see what all the folking fuss is about.
‘Pool Girl’ refers to the relative safety of staying in the pool with respect to braving the wider ocean. It’s a song about home comforts, lazy Sundays and personal anxieties: or ‘overthinking’ as Anouk would put it. The lyrics are clever and well put-together which makes them refreshing and this is probably part of the appeal. It’s a poppy, summer song which makes you feel good and might just raise a wry smile as you identify with Anouk’s quirky and sometimes contradictory descriptions of herself.
While ‘Set and Replay’ appears like a simple song with a sing-along chorus, again in the verse it puts the finger right on the pulse of relationship dynamics, like when the other party doesn’t seem to want to get where you are coming from about fairly obvious issues. ‘Am I saying words that you don’t understand?’ Ever felt like you’re speaking another language in a relationship? I bet you have. How the utter frustration is gotten across in such a light and, frankly, non-violent way I don’t know, but the indirect delivery of a clear message makes me like this track. Maybe that’s a woman thing, or maybe the fucker is gaslighting you.
‘Jersey Weather’ talks about trying to make a relationship work when two people are very different. ‘I’m stormy jersey weather, you like t-shirts better’, captures the essence of this slightly mellower offering. Lastly single ‘Navy Blue’ is about being friends with someone who is totally different to you. To this I can relate. One of my best friends is my polar opposite, yet we connect and are, in lots of ways, the same. So this made me smile and think of that person. “I hear you… I’m Navy, You’re bright blue”.
Snow Coats then are for folk who like jumpers. Those who like their home comforts and feeling safe, warm and content. Get back here right now! I saw you run off shouting ‘“Well I like metal and pointy studs!”. Ok and maybe you do and yes, there’s no way Snow Coats are metal, or even heavy rock, but they are relatable and you’ll probably grow to like them. They do what they do well, just like a jumper and everyone likes jumpers don’t they? Navy jumpers are alright too I guess though I prefer black. Mark my words, you’ll hear Snow Coats on a radio near you soon.
- ‘Pool Girl’ is released on 11 September. You can get your copy HERE.
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