In a world full of lies and deception, it’s important to live within the truth when it comes to what we tell ourselves. That’s what Poet Lies (due out August 18th via Volar Records), the debut album by San Diego’s moondaddy, is all about.
Multi-instrumentalist and driving force behind the project Cara Potiker wrote the record as a means of grappling with difficulties she’s lived with for most of her life. An escapist at heart, Potiker’s manner of getting away during the early days of the pandemic, when no one could go anywhere, meant diving deep into songwriting as a coping mechanism. Yet in that process of solitude and introspection, Potiker discovered a few aspects of herself that she no longer wanted to keep buried, and it all unfolds within the notes of the tracks. The eleven songs that make up Poet Lies all comment on establishing a balance between working to resolve that which ails and being proud of the person those ailments helped shape—an interesting dichotomy that manifests itself in many ways.
Today Glide is offering an exclusive premiere of the new album, which manages to be reminiscent of acts like Beach House, King Hannah, Cigarettes After Sex, Interpol, Portugal. The Man and the Cocteau Twins while also offering its own original take on dream pop and shoegaze. Indeed, this is heady stuff that balances instrumental cool and rich atmospheric sounds with songs that are melodically powerful. Potiker likens the experience of writing and recording the album to that of an exorcism; it’s a release of the vice grip that love, addiction, obsessive tendencies, and self doubt have had on her which allows her to examine how those things have influenced how she has felt about herself while maneuvering through life. The result is a collection of carefully crafted songs that touch on everything from 1970’s glam rock to 90’s shoegaze and trip hop. These songs carry a certain intimacy to them but you can just as easily imagine them filling the space of a large venue with the audience bouncing up and down. Taken as a whole, this is an impressive debut for moondaddy.
Cara Potiker describes the inspiration behind the album:
“Poet Lies is the product of years of creative exploration and various collaborations, It started as a humble bedroom project, but ended up leading me to places and people, including my current band members, that have shaped me in profound and unexpected ways. I’m so thrilled to be able to share this album.”
LISTEN:
September 1st // Tijuana, Mexico // Republica Malta
September 3rd // Pomona, CA // DBA256 Bar and Gallery
September 7th // San Francisco, CA // The Battery
September 8th // Olympia, WA // Cryptatropa
September 9th // Seattle, WA // Central Saloon
September 10th // Seattle, WA // Central SAloon
September 13th // Portland, OR // Kelly’s Olympian
October 21st // San Diego, CA // Escorted Trips Festival
