Sailor Down – vacation (forgive me evan) | Single Review
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Relief Map Records
Summer has never been my favorite season, which is ironic considering that I live in a state known for its endless beaches and near-eternal summer. I much prefer the cool embrace of our four days of fall, but instead, I’m stuck dealing with California’s five hundred days of summer heat. There are a few redeeming aspects of this season, though – one huge benefit is the opportunity to take day trips to the Bay Area and cooler northern coast. To me, one of the fun parts of these little road trips is curating the perfect playlist to set the mood for the drive. Luckily, up-and-comers Sailor Down have just the song to add: “vacation (forgive me evan).”
Hailing from the East Coast, where summer is shorter and slightly more forgiving, Sailor Down is a four-piece ensemble headed by frontperson Chloe Deeley. Their music is described by Relief Map Records as “Kinsella-inspired,” mellow, folksy, and emo. “vacation (forgive me evan)” is the first single off Sailor Down’s upcoming EP Maybe We Should Call It A Night, and it’s the perfect song for hazy, cricket-scored summer evenings. With an album and an EP under their belt, Sailor Down has already begun to establish their sound. Tracks like “Bat Signal” and “Skip the Line” are warm and beautiful, decorated with charming synth melodies and guitar riffs.
On “vacation (forgive me evan),” Deeley’s soft and gentle voice, supported by cozy guitars and pleasantly buzzy drums, creates an atmosphere of wistful emotion. “Moon in the mirror orange as a citrus / Rain on the windshield following sound / We spent vacation overanalyzing / No one’s letting anyone down.” Poignant visuals like these are threaded beautifully through the song, creating a watercolor world for the listener to explore. Deeley continues to paint a picture as variations of these lyrics return throughout the track, telling a story of two people navigating the new emotions of a shifting relationship.
Tell me how you picture time
If it’s linear, then I won’t mind
I’ve got something to say, and I’ll keep it
Until I’m back to the future tonightSomething is changing, rolling like a storm in
Rain on the windshield following sound
Happy to be here I am only hoping
No one’s letting anyone down
As I loop this track over and over, letting it hum through my headphones, I allow the warmth of this summer evening to embrace me. My mind wanders through a quiet suburb, side by side with the person I love. As the stars appear like little lanterns, I am singing: “Happy to be here, I am only hoping no one’s letting anyone down.” Maybe I’ll like summer a little more this year.
