“Expect honest words and genetically perfected harmonies.”
With a tagline like that, how could a band not pique your interest?
Joseph, an indie rock trio from the Pacific Northwest, consists of sisters Natalie, Allison and Meegan. With a folksy, beautiful sound and passionate vocals on all ends, Joseph ticks all the boxes. The sisters named their group after their grandfather, Joseph; the location of their childhood summer home, the town of Joseph; and the dream interpreter from biblical lore, Joseph. The group performed at the 2015 SXSW conference in Austin, Texas, where they received high praise from music publications across the web. Writers from Paste Magazine online called the band a “new favorite” from SXSW.
The band released their debut album in 2014, titled “Native Dreamer Kin.” Their sound brings to mind folk artists of decades passed, plus the soulful indie hum of groups like Fleet Foxes or The Head And The Heart. The sisters’ closeness is evident; their music has a cohesive sound that few groups can match. There’s definitely some truth to Joseph’s promise of “genetically perfected harmonies.” “Native Dreamer Kin” flows perfectly together; the album is seamless, and upon first listen, I couldn’t tell when the album ended or began.
“Native Dreamer Kin” kicks off with “Cloudline.” The song starts a little slow, but it picks up the pace when a second vocalist’s voice adds a soft harmony. The second track, “Wind,” is what drew me to the band. It opens with a mesmerizing harmony of “oh’s” and progresses into a beautifully fast-paced track with a drum beat so catchy, you can’t help but tap your foot to the beat. “Wind” has a natural feel; the song seems to channel the uniquely feminine and incomparably strong feel of nature, with lyrics like, “From dust we came, to dust we’ll go / but we ain’t gone.” The song is enchanting, and it’s definitely a standout from Joseph’s debut.
“Tell Me There’s A Garden” is a soft, melancholy ballad with the same powerful, enchanting quality as “Wind.” There’s just something about the way these sisters’ voices combine that is a joy to hear. “Lifted Away” is another stellar favorite, with a beautiful chorus that hits the listener hard. The lyrics are strung together beautifully, and once again, the trio of sisters harmonize in a way that can only be described as an eargasm. “Eyes To The Sky” stands out, too, and for all the right reasons: the song ends the album with a powerful bang. The background harmonies give the song a prayer-like feel that is both hypnotizing and haunting. It’s hard not to fall for these singers, whose vocals continuously captivate me.