Wild Blessing’s music doesn’t demand your attention so much as invite you into its warmly lit universe. Floating in the same ethereal currents as indie darlings The Sea and Cake, Yo La Tengo, and Air, this Washington D.C.-based project isn’t chasing trends or forcing moments. These songs unfold at their own unhurried pace on the band’s new EP From Dust, due out June 5th (PRE-ORDER), revealing their secrets to those patient enough to listen.
It’s difficult to miss just how well-crafted this music is. Drum machines spin in orbit alongside pillowy bass, pitch-shifting electric guitars, arpeggiated synths, and finger-picked acoustics. These elements aren’t new in themselves, but the constellation they form feels both thoroughly modern and somehow outside of time. The result is music that carves out a private space—intimate yet mysterious, disclosing only what it intends to. In an era of oversharing, Wild Blessing finds power in what remains unspoken. These songs exist as small worlds unto themselves, offering sanctuary for those who seek it.
Ben Etter, known for his work with acts such as Belle and Sebastian, Cate Le Bon, and Deerhunter, handled mixing and mastering duties, bringing particular attention to the spaces between notes. Etter’s adventurous production gently pushes boundaries, bringing a muted warmth to Wild Blessing’s intricately layered arrangements while elevating the project’s distinctive sonic identity.
Case in point is the project’s debut single, “Michael Who Walks By Night.” Today, Glide is offering exclusive premiere of the tune, which reimagines a lost-to-time gem by the 80’s Scottish duo Strawberry Switchblade. Compared to the 80s pop brightness of the original version, Wild Blessing opts for a sparse and deliciously infectious version propelled by synths, drum machines, and dreamy harmonies. The result is a melody that it is more introspective and delicate. Giving it that extra bit of levity is the otherworldly backing vocals from Netherlands-based Tara Pasaveer, which helps this track hum with an understated energy.
The band describes the inspiration behind the tune:
“I’ve always been drawn to the Scottish music scene from the 80s and 90s with bands like The Pastels, The Vaselines, and Strawberry Switchblade – how they have a sort of whimsical darkness, combining innocent-sounding pop melodies with a kind of melancholy. ‘Michael Who Walks By Night’ is in that vein and a favorite of mine. The original has an amazing 80’s glossiness to it, but I thought a more subdued arrangement would be a natural way to highlight the song’s nocturnal quality – it’s meant to be music for empty streets and midnight thoughts.”
LISTEN:
