Much like photos, songs enable us to relive the most special moments of our lives. Thumbing through the pages of a scrapbook or scrolling through your phone resemblesdropping the needle on your favorite record or scouring a playlist. In similar fashion,Vacation Manor crystallize those moments and memories in the echoes of shimmering guitars, glistening keys, upbeat sunny grooves, and iridescent melodies. On their 2021 self-titled full-length debut, Vacation Manor [Nettwerk], the Virginia duo—Nathan Towles [vocals, guitar] and Cole Young [drums]—stitch together shared and personal experiences in a patchwork of vibrant and vivid alternative anthems.

Vacation Manor continue to sail those lifeboats back and forth. In 2016, they introduced themselves via the debut Girl, Say EP followed by Everything I Can’t Say Out Loud two years later. Racking up over 60 million streams, they continued to entrance and engage listeners. During 2020, they teased out the album with the Thoughts In Progress, Pt. 1 EP—comprising four songs from the upcoming full-length. Garnering critical acclaim, Atwood Magazine applauded it as “another installment of what Vacation Manor does best – creating songs laden with earworm lyrics and bright sounds.” Over the past two years, they carefully architected this body of work. Vacation Manor retreated to Joshua Tree to record with producer Charlie Stavish before making intermittent trips back and forth to Nashville from February 2020 through September 2020 where they worked with Kyle Cummings.

“All of these places and people gave the album different vibes,” Cole goes on. “It made it feel interesting, because there were a lot of peaks and valleys. Nathan and I had been quarantining together in Virginia, because we lived one street away from each other at the time. We would drive to Nashville, go to the studio, and head back to our hotel room. The Pandemic made everything a lot more intense. The good thing was there were no distractions.”

The album culminates on the introspective melodic bliss of “Ending Credits.” The guitar glows in the background as the vocals reflect the warmth of Nathan’s delivery before he offers a fitting conclusion to this trip. “I was trying to write something that wasn’t too directly about quarantine,” he says. “It was hard to avoid, because you can’t really go anywhere, and everything felt heavier all the time. I live on a street where there are always people running by because there’s an old college on the other side. It was weird for it to be springtime and not see anyone. There was a strange darkness to the moment, but the song has a sad sense of hope.” “It’s a song you might listen to when you’re walking home alone from a bar at the end of the night,” adds Cole. “‘Ending Credits’ is really about missing normalcy. There are so many feelings inside of it.”

In the end, all of those feelings make Vacation Manor worth revisiting—much like your favorite photo album. “If you listen to the whole record, I hope it’s like watching a movie you relate to,” Cole leaves off. “Even though we’ve been a band for so long, it encompasses our personal tastes and experiences.” “It’s a culmination of the last seven years, because we started as a garage band and ended up making a record we’re really proud of,” Nathan agrees. “Every part of our collective personality was represented. I’m excited to relive all of the things that led us to make this. It’s Vacation Manor.”

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This week I welcome Mat Cofey of Mirrortalk, a UK band blending loud alternative indie rock with heavy guitars and catchy hooks. Drawing influences from 00's heavy emo/indie rock and bands like Basement and Superheaven. Mirrortalk's sound appeals to fans of melodic alt-rock, grunge, and emo revival.

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If Kansas Had Trees is a genre blending band comprised of Joey Nardone (vocals, bass), Maddux Testa (vocals, guitar), and Stone Magnana (drums), from eastern PA. Being an emoish type band from Eastern PA and carrying the torch for bands such as Title Fight and Tigers Jaw is no easy task, but IKHT keeps the torch lit and moving with their emotive stylings.

Thanks for listening!!! Please Follow us on Instagram @hiddentracks99
Pre and Post roll music brought to you by @sleepcyclespa