Fernway – “An Ache for Distant Places”
Fernway is an Alternative/Indie-Rock band out of New York. The band consists of RJ Demarco (lead vocals/guitar), Jonah Wrest (guitar/textures), Brett Roberston (guitar), Tom Balbierz (bass/vocals) and Tanner DeMarco (drums). The band was created in 2017. The members were “looking to redefine the sonic landscape of traditional rock. The band’s sound pulls from a wide pallet that blends elements of jazz harmony tucked underneath, resulting in a conglomerate that is equally refreshing and unpredictable”. Fernway released “An Ache for Distant Places”, a five track EP that is sure to catch the attention of all listeners!
“An Ache for Distant Places” starts off with Wishing Well. I was immediately sold on the EP with the guitar intro to this song. The upbeat, quick pace got me nodding my head and tapping my foot right away. I love a band that has the ability to hook a listener with just a few strums of a guitar! Something that stood out to me while listening is the bridge towards the end of the song. The lyrics are powerful: “I tried my best to save the best for last. Would I stand a chance? So I’ll take step back from my future endeavors, write them all down in hopes I’ll remember. Maybe this will help me. I’ll find my place in time, in hopes I’ll make it through the day. I’ll trick my fucking mind, in hopes I’ll make it through the day.”
The EP continues with Bottled Up. I really like this song because it has an edgier feel to it. The instrumentals are a little harder and the vocals of RJ Demarco sound amazing. I love the way you can feel the emotion that went into this song through the strong, hard hitting guitar chords and heavy drumming that matches Demarco’s vocals. “What ever happened to innocence? We’ve lost ourselves again. We’re broken but not dead. We’re broken but we can end.” Fernway continues on with Reflections. I get a big Makeshift (LI band) vibe when listening to this song. The instrumentals really stand out. The bridge between the chorus and verses are awesome. Anyone listening to this song live will be heavily jamming along with the band!
“An Ache for Distant Places” ends with Headspace and Deadweight. Headspace slows down the tempo of the album. It reminds me a lot of slower songs that The Starting Line or Brand New would sing. The entire flow of this song is addicting and is sure to be a fan favorite. The crowd will be singing along at the top of their lungs. “I’m afraid that I’ll waste away, losing faith in the things I used to to say. These thoughts, they follow me. These thoughts will follow me to my grave!” Fernway ends the EP with Deadweight. This is one of my favorite songs on the EP. The song reminds me a lot of Lost Prophets. The lyrics of this song are so relatable to anyone in a tough relationship. “You filled my head with constant confusion. I’m overwhelmed with no sense of direction. I let you sink in and bury yourself under my skin. I dare you to hold me close and tell me that you love and you’ll never let me go.” The way Fernway ends this song is the perfect conclusion to the EP. The heavy instrumentals finish of this album with a bang!
“An Ache for Distant Places” is a sick EP. Fernway is another amazing band out of New York that deserves all the recognition and exposure they can get. Make sure you follow their accounts and check out their music on the blog’s Spotify playlist: After Hours Review!