It is hard to imagine Lonely Parrots’ breakthrough folky electronic-pop single, Soulmates, in an even more lush form. Yet the San Francisco singer-songwriter duo surpassed all expectations with Soulmates (Live Acoustic).
Michael Martinez and Max Embers, Berklee-trained artists with solo credits touching NBC’s Songland, American Idol and collaborators including Kelly Clarkson, John Legend, Ryan Tedder and John Oates, possess one of the most down-to-earth ways to exhibit their synchronistic songwriting pedigree through their music. It just adds to the reverie of being in their aural orbit that a song born from friendship turns into something unmistakably fated.
The original single, a punchy 12/8 synth-pop anthem, tinged with pulsing electronic percussion and swathes of 80s nostalgia, explored the wildly beautiful experience of finding the people whose lifelines seem tied to yours by invisible strings. It celebrates partners, friends, family, dogs, the Earth itself, any beating heart that reminds your soul we are less separate than we pretend. They threw out the myth that soulmates are solely reserved for romantic relationships, opening their audience to the beauty of kindred spirits, whichever form you find them in.
The Live Acoustic rework strips away the synthy ethereal rush and exhibits Lonely Parrots’ mastery of balladry. Intricately soft minor-key piano melodies and guitar strings leave plenty of room for the resonance and chemistry pouring from layered harmonies as they pirouette through an octave range most singers would sell their souls for.
Fans of Olivia Dean’s soulful pop glow, MUNA’s open-hearted melodic rush and The Civil Wars’ close-harmony intimacy should fall hard for the duo and the ease in which they carry humility, gently profound production and uplifting purity that puts most pop proclamations of affection to shame.
Soulmates and Soulmates (Live Acoustic) are now available on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify.
Review by Amelia Vandergast