_{By Anwaya Mane}

“Why should people listen to us? Why not? It’s the best music on the planet,” Poolhouse confidently announced in an interview with Provo Music Magazine almost three years ago. What began as a quarantine-conceived project has since evolved into a more seasoned, self-assured act, now matching the confidence and superstar aura the band always projected.

Poolhouse, then consisting of Jake Buckner (lead vocals, guitar), Jonny Steed (lead guitar), and Lucas Olivier (bass), made waves with their debut EP titled Blue, which features the eponymous track along with “Strawberry,” “Easy,” and “Fake My Heart Out.” Blue is homegrown, very Utah. In its own way, it both champions and transcends its roots, aiming to reach a more diverse, musically savvy, global audience – one that, now more than ever, seeks its roots.

Blue carries the kind of significance that anything “first” does: it’s your baby, your firstborn. You love it, cherish it, hold it close, and embrace its shortcomings. The 13-minute indie-rock EP is compact, but every song captures the listener’s attention. True to its name, Blue evokes a calming feeling, almost like essential oils distilled into musical form. It engulfs listeners, inviting them into its world and leaving them wanting more.

The second track, composed by Buckner and jointly produced by Nate Pyfer, is intriguingly titled “Strawberry,” though it has little to do with the fruit. Instead, it explores the emotional crossroads of deciding whether to give up on a romantic relationship or give it another chance. The lyrics are poignant and relatable, especially in the context of modern relationships and love in the era of dating apps and swiping left or right.

We called it off for the fourth time./I don′t really like the way you taste anymore./ I waited up on the couch in your living room./I could see the sun, and I don’t wanna miss it for you.

The artist describes their lover/partner’s smell and taste as strawberry, smartly using the fruit’s flavor as a metaphor for a relationship hanging by a thread. “Strawberry” could fit right into Celine Song’s Materialists – it has such a romantic, almost sappy aura about it, yet it remains grounded in realism, much like the film itself. 

The third track, “Fake My Heart Out,” feels like an extension of “Strawberry.” Faced with the choice between giving up or giving the relationship another shot, Poolhouse chooses the latter, along with all the agony and turmoil that the decision brings. The lyrics are more anguished, colored by excellent electric guitar work and a catchy hook.

Poolhouse have cited Radiohead as an influence for their alluring, almost ethereal soundscape and The 1975 and Coin for their brilliant and youthful indie-pop energy. In the context of the Blue EP, I found their sound deeply resonant with Japanese Breakfast, another American indie-pop artist who has risen through the ranks in recent years thanks to an almost hypnotic and consistently versatile discography. 

Blue has gained newfound traction thanks to TikTok and is designed to cater to a young, restless generation that consumes music on the go. However, fans deserve a longer album to offer a complete and immersive experience of the EP’s sincere, romantic yet grounded-in-reality soul. Fortunately, Poolhouse has had many more releases since Blue, including Tape Machine in 2023, and have steadily released multiple singles leading toward a full-length album.

Overall, Blue by Poolhouse is a compelling listen – succinct and assertive in its presentation, yet romantic and yearning at its core. It offers a nostalgic nod to 2000s indie rock, while pivoting to appeal to a more TikTok-savvy generation with addictive hooks and sing-along lyrics. The result is a sound that’s both likeable and distinctive.

Make sure to follow Poolhouse on Instagram! You can listen to “Strawberry” below.