The Infinite Daisy Chains, the Virginia based indie pop duo of Kristina Westernik and Ian Dandridge, released their double single EP: “Novi Sun | Rose Without a Thorn” on July 17th and it is the best thing I have reviewed so far. Mixed and mastered by Mike Fridmann, the engineer behind records from The Flaming Lips and MGMT at Tarbox Road Studios, the EP is self-produced and self-recorded, with live string instrumentation from Westernik and additional percussion from their drummer Manuel Arciniega. The fact that this was made independently and in a bedroom context, it’s genuinely hard to fathom such creativity coming out of that environment.
“Novi Sun” is the song that makes you giddy. I am probably the biggest fan of this song; you should’ve seen me when I heard it. The production is so lush and full of life that you can’t help but get caught up in it. Inspired by a trip to Amsterdam during tulip bloom season, the track is luxurious and groovy, and feels effortless and unique. Westernik’s voice is the centerpiece, and when she reaches the line “worlds collide to form this starry night”, her delivery shifts into something airy and breathtaking, one of those vocal moments that genuinely stops you in your tracks. The chorus – “Novi sun blossoms for you, Novi sun blossoms for two” – is infectious in the best way possible; it ended perfectly and it left me sitting with it until long after it had ended. This is the song that could connect with a wide audience; it has that rare quality of feeling both deeply personal and immediately accessible, the kind of track that could soundtrack someone’s summer in say the Bahamas. It’s ORIGINAL and I need to see this performed live.
“Rose Without a Thorn” carries a gentler, more romantic weight. It sounds something that’s Selena-esque in a way where it has that same luxurious romantic production. The moment Westernik sings “the moment that I saw you for the very first time” is the emotional peak to me: Yes, it’s in the beginning, but you can hear how raw and emotional it sounds and it transforms into an explosive beat. It’s so beautiful. Her voice lifts into something airy and delicate it almost feels too beautiful to hold onto. “I can’t help but wonder why the cards were dealt this way”and “this is your glimpse of heaven” are delivered with the same reverence. The instrumentals throughout this EP are worth noting too. Arcininega and Westernik’s contributions give both songs a richness that elevates the whole project.
As a duo, Ian Dandridge and Kristina Westernik have something genuinely rare here. Their chemistry as collaborators comes through in every arrangement, every vocal choice, and every layered instrument. After going back to listen to their discography, this feels like a significant leap forward from an already promising discography. The Infinite Daisy Chains deserve to be heard by a much wider audience, and with KCRW already spinning their music and an upcoming tour with Pearl & The Oysters and L’Eclair, I see their moment arriving for them and I hope for nothing but the best for the duo.
Written by Anthony Perez
