Formed by the singer songwriter Ty Stuart and the multi-instrumentalist Isaac Hero, Who What Where is another entry into the ever-expanding list of independent acts delving into pop rock. Joined by Jeremy Snyder and Tyler Andrzejewski, the foursome’s new music is rather good, even if it doesn’t explore particularly ‘new’ territory.
Who What Where have four tracks live right now via SoundCloud, so we’ll dig into those. All four exhibit a firm handle over production. Spinning the tracks several times through in-studio was a pleasant experience. This is vitally important, because so much independent music is cringeworthy in the production department. ‘Conclusion’ does a fine job showcasing a lot of that very prowess. The harmonies, heavy drums, and layered electric guitars are tactful and well-placed.
Despite being over five minutes in length, ‘Conclusion’ doesn’t offer much lyrical insight into the band’s style. ‘Body’ does, however, do a better job with this with over the top lyricism . Who What Where’s sound is very reminiscent of the early 2000s. It’s catchy, and I’m sure it’s quite the event live. The sly, hip-hop-esque delivery of ‘Body’ is refreshing. It just has as much depth as the shallow end of the kitty pool.
‘Hook’ is refreshing in a different way because the lyrics are actually impactful and well articulated. They aren’t meaningless musings about a cute girl, but instead, they’re very introspective ideas. It’s not terribly self-complementary, but rather, exposes the songwriter as a vulnerable, flawed figure. The raw realness of these lyrics makes ‘Hook’ Who What Where’s strongest, arguably most relatable outing by a mile.
Finally, ‘Intro’ toys with a JFK sample. It’s worth mentioning this was reviewed in their order of organization on SoundCloud – I wholly realize that ‘Intro’ is surely the opener of this endeavor. It’s a neat sample, actually.
Who What Where is a perfectly good pop rock act. ‘Hook’ hints at them being something more – something with longevity and depth. That said, these four tracks are a brief insight into what seems to be some sort of conceptual project worth keeping an eye on.
By Brett Stewart
I’m a professional writer and editor, a journalism major, and I have extensive experience in musical review. I worked for two years as the Editor & Chief of an arts magazine, Strike Magazine, where I worked closely with writers and musicians. Through this, I was able to interact with dozens of acts including Heart, Holly Williams, Robert Cray, John Hiatt, and more. The magazine printed thousands of issues and was even recognized by Rolling Stone’s founder, Jann Wenner.
