One of the enjoyable things about being part of Team GDW is having the opportunity to connect with an artist early on, and then follow in their journey as they evolve. Such is that of our connection with singer-songwriter Nathan Ess, who shares his musical talents under the name The Rainy Day Apparel.
Nathan is no stranger to making music in some form or fashion, and just taking a quick scroll through the band’s Facebook page, you’ll find a collection of posts from Nathan singing along with his guitar. I especially enjoyed listening to his takes on a few covers from globally known artists such as LIVE, John Denver, and the Bee Gees. But with a recent release of a new composition, we are here now to celebrate Nathan in what he does best – writing and creating his own original music.
Following “Moon, Light, And Waves,” which I enjoyed reviewing last year, I was equally excited to give this latest single, “Freakin’ Out,” a few spins – itself the prelude of a new EP coming next spring. What draws me to this music is that the songs are easy to listen to upon first go, but the deeper you listen, the more the lyrics draw you in for an intimate experience. The Rainy Day Apparel deliver carefully crafted pieces of musical art, and this latest proves to be another one worth framing.
Joined by Evan Giesbrecht on guitar and keys, and Jared Giesbrecht, who provides fantastic drums that, according to Nathan, “gave the song a real heartbeat,” and I couldn’t agree more. I felt comfort in the familiar tones of what I came to appreciate and enjoy of Nathan through his first 2018 EP “Reset,” but also picked up on something new and even more alive that comes through.
Giving us plenty to ponder, Nathan delivers mid-song; “With a common thread / We stitched up the unraveling world outside / We can sew the tear the stigma left / In the cover of the night / Why go to war when you never needed to fight?” This verse spoke to the way that I feel – especially as of late – that humanity needs to stop and remember what binds us instead of what separates us. To me, that common thread is love.
The overall delivery gives me a sense that The Rainy Day Apparel has awakened to a new level. “Freakin’ Out” shows Nathan is evolving in his soundscapes and is not afraid to challenge himself and his music. Mixed by Evan, it is clear Nathan has a good connection with his music support and we can look forward to hearing more great music from this team in the spring. This single has undoubtedly left me anticipating the future EP and I hope you take time to enjoy it as well.
Jess has always enjoyed a wide range of music genres and eras. Connecting deeply with classical music, she played cello from grade school through high school, and although no longer actively playing, her affinity for finding an emotional connection to music is still strong. Residing in central PA, she is new to the Canadian music scene and enjoys listening to new artists as a way to break away from “the usual.” Jess is an avid yogi who often finds a sliver of peace while on the yoga mat with good music playing in the background.
