With their self-titled debut EP, Perish, the Brooklyn-based quartet makes a striking first impression. Drawing from influences like Adrianne Lenker (Big Thief), Mothers, Land of Talk, Chet Baker, and Sharon Van Etten, the five-track release is set for release on the 12th of this month. I had the chance to listen in advance, and it’s safe to say this is a debut worth paying attention to.
Perish began as the solo project of Florida-born songwriter Katie Callihan, but found its true shape in Brooklyn, where she connected with Sam Lopane, Austin “Chappie” Chappell, and John Dockery during a local church service. What started as a one-off performance quickly grew into something more. After sharing a few demos, Callihan was thrilled when the others agreed to join her in shaping the songs into a new EP. Despite rehearsing in a cramped practice space through the middle of a freezing New York winter, the group clicked almost instantly.
Just two practices later, they headed to Lincoln, Rhode Island, to record with Bradford Krieger at Big Nice Studio. Between long drives, coffee breaks, and skateboarding through the warehouse-turned-studio, the band found a natural chemistry. Their music reflects both their rural roots and the push-and-pull of city life, anchored by Callihan’s songwriting, raw and emotionally direct, yet balanced by her easygoing, lighthearted spirit.
The mini-album’s five tracks unfold like entries in a timeless diary, gentle yet devastating, intimate, fragile, and deeply personal. At its heart are Katie’s trembling, unguarded vocals, carried by arrangements that are soothing yet powerful. Each track brings a new palette of instruments, adding depth while maintaining a simplicity rooted in folk-rock tradition. The lyrics shimmer with imagery, offering listeners not just songs, but small, lived-in worlds.
As a debut, Perish feels remarkably assured, not just a collection of songs, but a clear statement of who this band is and where they’re headed. It captures the intimacy of Katie Callihan’s songwriting while expanding it into something bigger, thanks to the chemistry and shared vision of the group around her. The result is an EP that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant, the kind of release that lingers long after it ends. If this is only the beginning, Perish is a name we’ll be hearing much more often.
Written by Joshua Cotrim
