In today’s society, it is often hard for musical artists to achieve a large amount of fame without the aid of a record label. Unlike Miley Cyrus and Nicki Minaj, artists who aren’t under a label don’t necessarily have the tools it takes to become popular, but are still worth listening to.
The Oh Hellos, a folk rock duo from Texas, have been featured on Bandcamp’s Best and on National Public Radio multiple times. According to Bandcamp’s Best, the “larger-than-life” band is “well worth” the time it takes to listen to their relatively short three albums.
Courtney Rose, Longwood junior and listener of The Oh Hellos, agrees and explains that their music has a powerful, calming effect.
“I have a lot of anxiety issues, and when I listen to their music, it calms me down. It’s kind of therapeutic for me,” said Rose
This soothing effect probably comes from the group’s use of reverberation with their vocals. The echo-y sound in combination with the mellowness of their acoustic music has helped Rose through difficult moments in life. She recounts one of these moments as she describes a day when she felt stressed.
“One time I was driving in a storm, and their song “Cold is the Night” came on, and I felt better,” said Rose
Their music also deviates from the mean with their use of different instruments. For example, their song “Hello My Old Heart” incorporates the banjo, violin and accordion.
“You listen to them, and you’re like ‘oh wow, this is more than just a guitar,’” said Rose.
Rose explains that their music contains religious aspects as well.
“They have a religious undertone, but it’s not in your face.” Said Rose.
The main reason that many others may not have experienced the same soothing feeling that Rose has is that The Oh Hellos have never signed with a record label. The trade-off of remaining unsigned is that while the band has the ability to keep their musical integrity, they are unable to make a lot of money this way. They don’t have the same resources that an artist like Justin Bieber has to gain publicity.
“They’re on Bandcamp, and on Bandcamp, you can make your stuff free. So, they probably don’t make enough money to get themselves out there,” said Rose.
So, with the affordability of The Oh Hellos music, Rose urges others, especially those who like folk rock, to take some time to listen to their music.
“I feel like anyone who likes Mumford & Sons should listen to this band… Their music is very calming.”
Check out their newest album, “Dear Wormwood,” on Spotify, iTunes and Bandcamp.
