SONG PREMIERE: Torrey Comment on Social Media Dependence with Dreamy Indie Rocker “Screens”

Everything is going to be okay.

This sentiment runs through Something Happy, the debut record of San Francisco outfit Torrey, in many shades: In the joy that exudes from the four piece’s effervescent energy, in the words of encouragement summoned to push away the darkness, and in the unspoken trust that weaves the band together.

Torrey, made up of siblings Ryann and Kelly Gonsalves, Eric Mohammad and Adam Honingford, first gravitated towards one another as something of a musical experiment. Ryann and Kelly, who grew up forty minutes outside of San Francisco, both fell in love with music at a young age. It wasn’t until very recently, however, that the pair began to collaborate, a process sparked by an exchange of tentative voice memos that soon revealed the creative potential between the two.

“I think naturally working with your sibling is challenging.” Kelly Gonsalves says of their process. “Some days are really amazing and you’re on the same page, and then other days you just really know how to dig into that person […] But it seems like no matter what, I can be playing guitar and Ryann knows exactly what to do right off the bat.”

The pair then brought in friends Mohammad and Honingford, and the band soon evolved into a vibrant and safe space for creative expression which, for many of the members, was a new experience.

“I think a couple of us were having fun playing in a band for the first time in a while.” Ryann says. “We can make a pop song and then I can also be singing about my depression and we’re still having fun. It’s a good time.”

The implicit trust within the band is what allows the project to shine. The chemistry between the band members is apparent in the dreamy pop-rock splendor that is Something Happy, which was written in a collaborative, often non-linear fashion that allowed for each member to flourish. The songs careen forward with an effortless groove and shimmering guitar riffs, while Ryann’s vocals nestle into the beat with perfection. The album’s title, Something Happy, manages to feels tongue-in-cheek and sincere at the same time. The tracks play out like the antidote to a subtle darkness that surfaces throughout the record. Ryann’s lyrics cradle the listener, her voice repeating in sometimes mantric fashion as she shares with us her uncertainties, breathless moments of beauty, and the words she uses to find inner strength. While the record reaches towards a place of positivity, it hums with the depth that comes from healing something that was perhaps not right before, and the effort to find oneself in a long- eluded place of belonging.

Something Happy was recorded at Tiny Telephone in San Francisco, CA. It was engineered, produced, and mixed by Sami Perez (The She’s, Cherry Glazer) and mastered by Jacob Winik (John Vanderslice, The Magnetic Fields, Thao and the Get Down Stay Down). Before the Covid shutdown, Torrey performed regularly in the San Francisco scene that continues to inspire and nurture their music, playing their last show with Sasami at the Chapel for the beloved Noise Pop Music Fest in 2020. The record is due for release this summer, and they eagerly await the opportunity to share their music live with their community.

Today Glide is excited to premiere the album’s opening track, “Screens,” an energetic ride through the patterns of anxiety and validation that exist within social media. In the past year, many of us have found ourselves even more drawn to our screens than ever before, and not always for the best. Torrey sets these feelings to a dreamy indie rock soundtrack that brings to mind groups like Belly, The Sundays, and the Breeders. Ryann Gonsalves has a cool and collected vocal style that she occasionally brings into punk territory without ever going into full on rage mode. Bouncy grooves and crashing, feedback-laced guitars give the song a fun slacker quality that offers a contrast to the darker message of the lyrics. It is definitely cool to hear another guitar-driven indie rock outfit emerging with honest lyrics that resonate with many of us, and “Screens” is evidence that we can expect more greatness from Torrey. 

Ryann and Kelly Gonsalves describe the inspiration and process behind the album:

“Screens” is about reflecting on who you were before, who you are now, and how you present yourself to the world. The vocals and lead guitar taunt each other with equally tongue and cheek melodies and teasing repetition that propels the song forward. The refrain of the song, “Screens say you’re alright” acts as a reminder that what you see on social media is curated and to not judge yourself harshly in comparison to anyone.

Most songs on this record have the same underlying theme– it will all be okay, promoting self-love and personal reflection. Our siblinghood definitely creates an ease with songwriting, sending short recordings back and forth creating the bones of a song. Then we bring our segmented drafts to Adam (lead guitar) and Eric (drums)– where we work together to pull from all reaches of our influences to create each song together as a four piece.

LISTEN:

Photo credit: William Callan