Boston-based indie retro pop/soul seven-piece band Couch pine over a new crush with groovy jam, “Slow Burn” off their splashy debut album Big Talk out now.
“‘Slow Burn’ is a nostalgic ode to the sensation of pining over a high school crush,” says lead vocalist Tema Siegel. “I develop crushes often and burn through them quickly, but lately I’ve grown tired of going through the motions and releasing tension before it can truly build. I’ve been reminiscing about what it felt like in high school—the thrill of yearning for someone over time, or the ache of finally being together but having to part at curfew. There’s something so innocent yet so sexy about that time. ‘Slow Burn’ is about resisting impulse and temptation to once again experience the sweet suffering of a slow burn.”
Sonically, keyboardist Danny Silverston adds, “I wanted to write an indie pop song that reflected my personality and tastes as a jazz player. I’m really inspired by artists like Reuben James and Cisco Swank, people who use jazz harmony in an R&B or Soul context, but it doesn’t feel forced or out of place, it only adds another layer of vibe. I love how the song feels like it’s always in motion, and how it feels nostalgic and fresh at the same time. Writing ‘Slow Burn’ was about using my knowledge of chords and harmony and jazz to get the song to feel that way.”
Couch’s forthcoming album puts their distinct retro-soul/pop sound–complete with texturally-rich horns and inviting vocals on full display. The band’s signature soundscape is fuller and bigger than ever before with its electric energy, masterful, mostly live instrumentation and raw subject matter that sheds light on the band’s lived experiences. Lead guitarist Zach Blankstein says, “’Big Talk’ is our reflection on multidimensional love–romantic, platonic, self-love—and the kind of bold, honest connection that comes from shedding small talk and saying what you really mean. It’s moody and nostalgic, but also warm and bright—a soundtrack for that phase in life when things start to click, even if everything’s still a little messy.”
