Married music duo, Washer Dryer, has recently dropped their first ever EP together, "Washer", which was written and produced in the midst of major life changes and decisions.
TRACKLIST
Not Like Yesterday
City Is An Animal
baby baby baby
Undertow
Oblivion
Washer Dryer consists of singer/songwriters and married lovers Alex Taylor and Karen Costello Taylor. They came up with the name Washer Dryer because it was something they didn't have but desperately wanted while living in their New York apartment, which is a very big inspiration for their EP we are talking about today! They describe themselves as "Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile—if they were married and made music together all the time". Their sound is a blend of alternative and indie rock with essences of synth-pop. They met in Tallahassee, Florida. After they got married, they moved to Brooklyn, New York to pursue those big city dreams, spending their 20's living it up in NYC. Although they have a soft spot for the city life, things changed when they had a baby, which was also around the time they started writing and recording the "Washer" EP. They started craving more of a suburban life for themselves and their little one, so back to Florida they went. The songs on "Washer" reflect their love for the city, but also the exhaustion that comes with that kind of lifestyle. It's a very personal project that takes you through the process and conflicting feelings of what Alex and Karen were going through. Even the cover art has deep, significant meaning, as it's a detailed clay replica of their Brooklyn apartment that they turned into a real-life fish tank. Washer Dryer officially debuted last year (2024) with the single "Undertow" in anticipation for this EP release, along with two other singles "Not Like Yesterday" and "baby baby baby" which we will get to explore. Below is a visualizer which contains the full EP, so press play and listen along while we dive into each track!
Not Like Yesterday
We start off the EP with their third and final single release, "Not Like Yesterday", a super fun and upbeat rock'n'roll song to get you amped up for the rest of the project. This track is about recognizing how things can change at any moment. Whatever was true yesterday, doesn't have to be true today. You have to always do whatever is best for you, even if those decisions might not make sense to others! In "Not Like Yesterday", Karen sings with confidence and just a hint of sass. There's almost an Americana twang hidden in there; an attitude that you just know not to mess with. Filled with distorted guitars and the catchiest cowbell you've probably ever heard, this indie rock jam is the perfect start to get to excited for what else is to come. One of my favorite moments is the interlude before the ending where they create this eerie, dissonant moment that is just chilling to the bone.
City Is An Animal
Next we have "City Is An Animal", a leisurely, classic-toned soft-rock song about just how draining and exhausting the city life can really be. Some people just aren't cut out for it, even if you think you are - and once you're in it, you realize you're trying to bite off way more than you can chew. Especially in New York City, the city that never sleeps, you will never sleep either. You can still love the city and not want to live there, and that's what Alex and Karen realized within this song. When it came to their mental sanity, raising their child and having a home to rest in, they needed a bigger, quieter space. Not only that, but they were used to the warm, Florida sun, while New York can get awfully cold. Listening to "City Is An Animal", you can feel the tiredness from their situation radiating from the music. The emotion emanates from the tone of the guitars, the tempo and the intense reverb.
baby baby baby
"baby baby baby" is a super dreamy and nostalgic indie pop/rock track. With Alex taking the lead vocals and Karen singing the refrain in between, we hear this new structure that really showcases how beautifully their vocals intertwine and blend together. This song features an addicting soft guitar riff with reverb engulfing everything, making the soundscape ethereal. "baby baby baby" is dedicated to Alex and Karen's child, and wrapping your head around having this new little lifeform around, and how it's completely changed your own life. Having a baby is a huge change, and there's things you have to do differently. Yes, losing sleep is hard and having to break habits for the sake of the baby can be difficult, but it's worth it just to be able to see those sparkling little eyes every single day.
Undertow
When you think of the word "Undertow", you probably think of water and it's behavior of pulling away underneath while the water on the surface is still moving in forward motion. What you might not know is there's another meaning for "Undertow" that has to do with underlying emotions; lingering, atmospheric feelings that sometimes you don't even understand why they're there... and you just wish they would go away. The song "Undertow" is about being caught in an endless cycle of unwanted behavior and emotion. It's a heavy rock song that builds with punchy, crashing energy. Just hold onto your boots for the guitar solo moment!
Oblivion
Last, but certainly not least, we have the gorgeously vulnerable track, "Oblivion". As the most lyrically complex song on the EP, it's also the most gentle, raw and emotional in it's tone and soundscape. The style takes an approach that is reminiscent of 60's / 70's folk rock, with blends of different guitars, a bass, soft drums, and heavy emphasis on storytelling and vocals. The moral of this song, without giving all the details away, is life just doesn't always work out the way you think it will or want it to - but that doesn't mean give up. Things are bound to get hard sometimes, but no matter what happens you have to keep going. "Oblivion" is very personal but yet still so relatable to so many. I highly suggest just closing your eyes and taking this one in. What a stunning way to end an EP.
I think that "Washer" is such a rock solid (no pun intended) start for Alex and Karen. Seriously, what an incredible project and moment in time to introduce themselves to the world as studio-recording artists. Their story is honestly quite inspiring, and their relentless effort to share their music with the world despite the obstacles they have faced is so admirable; and this music needed to be heard. They have such a natural, effortless flow to their sound and songwriting; plus there's their undeniable creative and intimate chemistry. I can't wait to hear more from them, and this is definitely still only the beginning for these two. Make sure to follow Washer Dryer below to keep up on their incredible musical journey!
Written By Kaitlyn Nicole
FOLLOW WASHER DRYER:
*Sponsored Post - Discovered on SubmitHub. A contribution was made to help create this article as part of a promotional campaign.