Song of the Day: Low Roar - Give Me An Answer

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of our Song of the day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJ’s think you should hear. Today’s song, featured on the Midday Show with Cheryl Waters, is "Give Me An Answer", by Low Roar, from the 2017 album Once In A Long, Long While... on Nevado Music.

Low Roar - Give Me An Answer (MP3)

He warned us before with "I'll Keep Coming" a breakthrough hit - thanks to its inclusion in the trailer for Hideo Kojima's popular game Death Stranding - and now Ryan Karazija is back with another stunning release from Low Roar. Karazija, a perpetual wanderer, made music with Audrye Sessions back in the Bay Area, where he grew up, then moved to Iceland to form Low Roar. Now, he's living in Warsaw but continuing to travel and to perform his moody, atmospheric music. The recently released Once In A Long While... picks up from 2014's 0 stylistically, as it was recorded once again by Tunng's Mike Lindsay, but thematically it draws from Karazija's more recent wanderings and relationship changes.

Today's featured track, "Give Me An Answer", is the album's latest single (the first, "Bones", features KEXP-favorite and Icelandic chanteuse Jófríður). The song's digitized slow groove only highlights the urgency - and maybe hopelessness - of its lyrical request. As Karazija repeats his plea, "Give me an answer", the melodic elements multiply and transmute, magnifying his emotional woe. As ever, the build is climactic and the release cathartic. Classic Low Roar.

You may have missed your chance to see them in Seattle opening for San Fermin last week, you might have to wait a bit. Hopefully, Low Roar will return soon, but until they do, look for more music and info on their website and Facebook page, and listen to the album's first single, featuring Jofr (JFDR):