by Tanvi Shah
Photo by Tyler Lehren
Otis Shanty is releasing their second album Up On The Hill tomorrow. Inspired by the venerable city of Somerville, their album is an “ode to a second coming of age that’s beginning to feel like home.”
Otis Shanty was formed 7 years ago, when the band members were in college in upstate New York. The name comes from the first time the band got together at a cabin in Otis, MA, and Shanty was the name of the house where they first met; even as their music matures, they’re not completely beyond keeping younger days alive. This band of friends and roommates consists of Sadye Bobbette on synth and vocals, Julian Snyder on bass, Ryan DiLello on electric guitar, and Jono on drums.
To celebrate Up On The Hill, Otis Shanty is having an album release show at (where else) Crystal Ballroom on October 24th in Somerville with openers Small Pond, Lost Film, and Night Moth. “This is our biggest feat as a band in Somerville and we’re cultivating a vibe and sound for this show!” Since Otis Shanty has such a special connection with Somerville starting from their album cover that was taken on Prospect Hill, they are also doing a special partnership “Up On The Hill” beer with Winter Hill Brewing, which is a hazy, delicious IPA.
What was thought to be a summer album has actually turned into a fall album sporting a lean eight track transient vibe and an air of nostalgia that the changing of the seasons always seems to bring on. “There’s an energy to the album that invites movement and is in motion,” reflected Sadye. Inspired by Yo La Tengo, Adrianne Lenker, Khruangbin, Parquet Courts, and Frank Sinatra, the album is different from their earlier music, now leaning more shoegaze-y and psychedelic rock with an underlying folk influence, instead of their usual forest-rock genre. Up On The Hill has more energy than their earlier album Early Birds, with bigger sounds and a higher BPM. In fact, If the band members were to describe this album visually, it would be biking (definitely not walking) through the forest.
Each band member has their own favorite part of the album. Julian loves the final chorus of “Pipeline” because of the culmination of energy and the crash-landing vibe of the song. Ryan is obsessed with the refrain of “Saving, Waiting” because of the detached nature of the lyrics “Maybe I could save me, maybe I could wait.” Sadye loves that she played guitar on the album as she doesn’t usually, and Jono (who actually didn’t make it to the interview as he was asleep) loves the chorus of “Outrage” because he feels super connected to the lines “I can’t see through the folds of my eyes where I hide away the kid who is terrified.”
If the band could work with any local artists, they would collab with Joyer for their neat guitar sounds and Horse Jumper Of Love but would push their BPM a little faster.
After listening to Up On The Hill, come celebrate with Otis Shanty at Crystal Ballroom on October 24th in Davis Square, buy some unique Somerville-themed merch, and be a part of their psychedelic rock world!