song premiere: "the problem is us" - gladie

photo: Adam Peditto

The music of Augusta Koch has always had an immediate reliability; it hits you with its sincerity, making a connection with the listener, regardless of their circumstance. The performer, also known for her work in Cayetana, has teamed up with partner Matt Schimelfenig of Three Man Cannon for a project known as gladie. Their first EP will be available on 5/17, and ahead of that we're excited as heck to bring you the premiere of their single "the problem is us." The track begins with a quiet thrum of instrumentals and Koch's musings on the "beautiful mundane": "i drank a cup of water/cause I wanted to be better/but something always pulls me back/something always pulls me back in." She's soon joined by Schimelfenig, their vocals effortlessly intertwining against the backdrop of a keyboard. The single continues with a passionate energy as they recall a series of conversational memories, some better than others. At one point the pair sing directly to one another, Schimelfenig's whispering into Koch's worn cries, creating an impassioned moment that hit you directly. "the problem is us" is a brief, but poignant reminder to find your voice, and make the most of each day, regardless of whether it ends up as perfect as you envisioned.

Augusta detailed the project in an e-mail to The Grey Estates, writing: "Gladie was born out of a little songwriting challenge I participated in with two dear friends. We challenged each other to write and  share a song a week. That process in itself inspired me in ways I hadn’t experienced. As I was working on the songs at the studio Matt Schimelfenig and I built in the Poconos we started piecing the songs together, experimenting with different sounds and textures. The skeleton of the songs was pretty much just drum machine, guitar and vocals, and some keyboards. Once we finished working on the four songs in the Poconos, we asked our friend Sean Hallock to record drums for them at Miner Street in Philly. We really loved how they sounded with live drums and decided we wanted to put a full band together and start playing shows. That’s where we are at now. We play our first full band show May 23 with Doll Baby, Bat Boy, and Big Nothing at Everybody Hits in Philadelphia.

I feel like the process of making this EP has taught me to believe in myself more and trust the process. I’m very excited and ready to keep working on this project and write with more intention."