By Abi Falin
STORIES! is the one-man project of Tanner Pratt. His debut EP suburban houses was released in 2021 with this caption on Instagram: “go for a drive and give it a listen!” It’s an invitation that fits the vibe of the EP, in my opinion.
About the EP, Tanner says: “suburban houses is a collection of the first 6 songs I ever wrote and recorded solo. I was still trying to find my sound, so I made a point to finish every song I started.” Tanner said the perfect band to him is Death Cab for Cutie, and you can definitely hear their influence in his music, with the soft instrumentation and storytelling elements.
“I think you can really hear me experimenting with genre in these songs,” Tanner says. “‘Paper Planes’ is my first shot at a ballad. I wrote it in 15 minutes, and I honestly feel like it wrote itself.”
With its soft piano and lyrics, the track feels like layers of sparkling water, arranged in a way that feels wispy and nostalgic: “It’s alright, sweet dreams. We’re throwing paper planes from the balcony.” One of the last lines closes the song like tying a bow on a gift: “You can hold my hand. I’m still your friend.”
I look forward to hearing STORIES! continue to lean into his style. Tanner Pratt excels at writing songs that encapsulate feelings of old memories. One of the other tracks I love on the EP is “polyester.” Its lyrics are relatable: “All my friends are moving away. They’re trying to find them someplace warm. Some are getting married; the rest get stoned.” I know that many people find these words relatable. That’s one of the most important things music can do for a person: make them feel like their hearts and experiences are heard and seen.
Tanner has exciting things coming. He says: “I’m working on a new project right now called “let’s fight ghosts” and I’m really excited about it. So, expect to see something new from me before the end of this year. Hopefully it’s an EP.” I’m on the edge of my seat.
Make sure to follow STORIES! on Instagram. You can listen to “paper planes” below!