Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Swift Tracks: Robert Gomez and Sarah Jaffe

By Brenna Rushing

This Friday Robert Gomez and Sarah Jaffe will be playing a show with The Heartstring Stranglers at the Chat Room in Fort Worth. Sarah is putting out her new EP this summer entitled “Even Born Again,” while Robert Gomez recently released his second album “Brand New Towns.” I picked a song from both artists to look over and learn more about each of them.

During the first seconds of listening to “Closer Still” by Robert Gomez, the sounds of Beck came to mind. In this song Robert’s unique blend of electric elements and guitar are used to create unprecedented sounds.

Robert Gomez hails from Denton, where he runs his own record label, Basement Front Records. Apart from his musical background, Gomez can boast of his days in the circus where he worked six months for the famous companies Barnum and Bailey and Ringling Brothers.

There’s a repeating set of chords in the background of the song that make the track playful and upbeat. His lyrics use analogies to describe his feelings, such as in the beginning when he says “Come, fill my cup, if we had what we want.”

Compared to his other songs, this track has a faster tempo and more going on. There might be an effect on his voice, distorting it to make it seem like there are more singers. The mood of the song has an exotic tone, taking you to a far off place, away from it all.

The second artist, Sarah Jaffe brings another sound to the table. Her music is described as folk, but her soothing voice is an added element. In most of her songs she plays the acoustic guitar to create her melodies, and writes haunting lyrics that keep you enthralled.

In the song “Watch Me Fall Apart” she is describing her unhappiness and how it drags on endlessly. The chorus explains how everyone is watching her fall apart. Most of her writing leans towards the negative, but the outcome doesn’t follow. You feel settled after hearing this song, at the same time begging for more.

There are some great harmonies that flow throughout, which are created with another female vocalist. Their voices together intensify the emotion seeping out of the lyrics.

Although their sounds are both described as indie singer-songwriter, Gomez and Jaffe offer very different styles. Check them out at the Chat Room to gain your own enchanting experience.

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• Arts > Popular Music > Folk
• Arts > Popular Music > Singer / Songwriter