Orlando is one of the only places I have a deep connection with when it comes to music and the local scene. I was born and raised about an hour outside of the city, and as I grow older, I appreciate that more and more. It gave me the unique opportunity to see some of the best live music played more or less in my own backyard, so when I came across this Orlando-based group, I’ll admit I was smitten before hitting the play button.
Mary’s White Lie is a match made in heaven for me, with solo artists Head Banned and Roger’s Only Son pouring their skills into a collaboration that scratches my ever-present shoegaze-rock itch with every strum and perfectly-crafted ambience.
Stable of Stone is the debut EP from Mary’s White Lie, and I went in almost completely blind, as I normally try to. I felt instantly drawn to the cover art, a haunting yet peaceful swirling depiction of a small cabin of sorts, with what looks like a shepherd or farmer feeding a lamb at the forefront. The artist, East, can be found on Instagram @eastdocht, so check out their other creations there.
The first track on this EP is called “Horsey”, and within the first few seconds I was in deep, being immediately greeted with a blend of shoegaze, folk, and indie rock. Trust me when I say that if language didn’t feel so incredibly limiting, there would be a better word or phrase for what they have concocted here, they deserve it.
It sort of eases you into the sound in the beginning of this introductory track, which I really enjoy. Almost like a greeting before they show us what they have in store, like a warm handshake. Some of my favorite lyrics from this one are “I’m gonna pay for what I took / I’m gonna remember why I even looked / Deep inside of me / Filter through a storybook / Telling lies to me”
They really resonate with the season of life I’m currently in, with pointers toward introspection and figuring out what parts of yourself are true or placed by other people and outside influence. I need to mention the vocals or else I feel like it’s a disservice to you and the artists…THEY ARE SO DAMN GOOD!
The next song, “Nevermind (Used To It)”, has the same amazing vocal power. About a third of the way through the song there is a build up that has definite palpable payoff and I didn’t expect it! This one is still introspective but feels a lot more focused on existentialism and the repeated phrase really cements the idea of constant questioning of your own reality: “What’s the reason for this? Nevermind / I’m used to it.”
By the end of this track, we’ve tapered off and landed sort of back in the realm of the beginning of the track, another way for them to express this “loop” of sorts.
“Hello, Hello” feels like a conversation that you have with yourself in your own head, shame on full display. They lean a bit more into the shoegazeyness here, but the emotion and truth is so present that you can’t help but to feel like you’re in the body of this person for a moment.
The next three tracks are considered bonus tracks, with adjusted-speed takes on the first three songs, expanding upon their own ideas in a fun and colorful way that make it sound (almost) like a completely different song if you didn’t know any better. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen that before on an EP or album, but I really enjoyed it and more artists should take note.
Stable of Stone released earlier this month on August 20th, so you still have time to be an early-ish listener and give this body of work the praises it deserves!
If you’re local to Orlando, keep an eye out for any upcoming shows and let them know if you dig their latest release. I’ll be here digging into their solo stuff, begging for show dates, and eagerly anticipating any other releases that may or may not already be in progress.
Take a listen to Stable of Stone and follow Mary’s White Lie on Instagram below.
Written by Newt Fangs
