‘Xtra Mild’ by For Floral Couches | Album Premiere
Exclusive album premiere of ‘Xtra Mild’ by Floral Couches, out April 19th.
Emerging from Chicago’s vibrant north side, Floral Couches found its inception within the city’s diverse musical landscape. Following the disbandment of his previous group, Young Adult, Gray embarked on a personal journey of musical exploration, honing his craft through performances across the city. Sharing stages with luminaries such as Sam Evian, Sen Morimoto, and Late Nite Laundry, Gray’s artistic evolution was deeply influenced by these experiences.
Infused with the soulful essence of Motown and soul, Gray’s music reflects a seamless fusion of classic and contemporary influences. Delving into the depths of human sentiment, Floral Couches’ compositions traverse themes of love, reminiscence, self-discovery, and raw truth. Through poetic lyricism, Gray delves into the nuances of existence, exploring the transient nature of time and the beauty inherent in everyday moments, themes which resonate throughout his forthcoming sophomore album, ‘Xtra Mild’.
With a blend of shimmering guitars, lush horns and flutes, entrancing synths, Rhodes keys, and emotive vocals, Floral Couches’ new sonic landscape promises both auditory and emotional resonance. ‘Xtra Mild,’ set for release on April 19th with support from AWAL, invites listeners on a captivating journey through sound and sentiment.
“The writing process for ‘Xtra Mild’ began in 2019 while still finishing my previous album. I wanted to move away from the drum machines and synths to make a more live sounding album. I had just recently moved my grandmother’s old piano into our Chicago apartment and decided to write songs entirely outside of my computer either sitting at the piano or on a guitar. Every song needed to be engaging with just a vocal and single multi-voiced instrument. After years of being discouraged attempting to DIY the album, I began reaching out to other Chicago artists to help mix and produce such as Late Nite Laundry’s Brenden Cabrera (production) and Alex Santilli (drums) along with Zac Bron of Smooth Rogers. To add the finishing touches, I reached out to Jared Hochberg to arrange horns. After moving to Nashville the album was completed with Jordan Grubbs at Magic Square Recording and mastered by Dalton Allison of Post Animal.” – Cody Gray
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