Austin Sound

I distinctly remember the first time I was introduced to Silver Pines - one night in Dallas, I struck up a conversation with a couple guys from The Theater Fire. Once they discovered I had gone to school in San Marcos they were baffled to know I had never heard, according to them, this amazing band. Needless to say, I immediately got on the internet and was swiftly consumed in the whirlwind of musical sorcery that is Silver Pines. This encounter was only the first of many that I would have with multiple musicians who also confessed a deep love and admiration for this group of artists. The seemingly universal respect of their peers aside, the devotion is more than justified and similar to their self-proclaimed influence Kaleidoscope, in that, although their sound isn’t mainstream and popular to the general public, it is obviously born of tremendously unique and talented musicians.

Consisting mostly of Texas State students from San Marcos, Silver Pines has produced a debut EP that is, in short, extremely and sincerely romantic. The key in separating the band’s appeal from other similar artists such as Beach House and Marissa Nadler relies heavily on the rhythm section. The use of waltz, crescendos, and overall booming togetherness creates a perfect platform for Stephanie Franciotti’s beautifully distant and dreamy vocals. For example, “Dawn of the Dawn” and “Clover Eyes” present flawlessly placed rhythmic releases that captivate the listener.

San Marcos based Silver Pines inhabit a beautifully translucent space between dark hollows and an airy evening glow. Under the soulful sway of Stefanie Franciotti’s mesmerizing vocals, the songs linger breathlessly, slide guitar and softly eerie beats unfolding a dreamscape that justifies the band’s comparisons to Mazzy Star, but evoking a rich expanse of the Texas horizon. Their debut EP, Fort Walnut, is available now and you can fall under the spell of Silver Pines yourself this Saturday, October 27 as they join Slowtrain and Honor Farm, who will be releasing their debut, Wait and See.