By Kyra Puetz

Coronavirus and stay-at-home orders brought a lot of new challenges to the world and how we deal with human interaction. Wallows (composed of Dylan Minnette, Braeden Lemasters, and Cole Preston) decided to embrace the new normal and record their newest EP, “Remote,” entirely over quarantine. The trio didn’t physically see each other once during recordings but that didn’t stop them from using technology to their advantage. They recorded vocals on their iPhones, sending each other voice memos whenever they had new lyrics and Facetimed to discuss logistics. 

Despite the changing world around them, Wallows wanted “Remote” to avoid anything quarantine-related. Luckily for them, most of the songs and ideas were already written pre-quarantine. 

At first, I wasn’t sure how to feel about “Remote.” It definitely feels like Wallows, but the sound is a lot different from previous projects, with more of an electronic emphasis (fitting, given the technology used to record it). It’s definitely not something I’d seek out on my own, but as a huge Wallows fan, I wasn’t going to miss their newest release. I think once the initial excitement dies down the only time I’ll encounter these songs is when I listen to Wallows’ discography on shuffle, rather than seeking out “Remote” on its own. 

This is not to say that this newer sound is a step back for the band. In a recent Reddit AMA, Dylan stated that the band never wanted to make the same project twice. Keeping this in mind, it makes me appreciate “Remote” a whole lot more. I love when bands experiment and move out of their comfort zone and although “Remote” wasn’t my favorite Wallows project, it was good for them to experiment. How can you grow as an artist if your sound stays exactly the same? 

“Virtual Aerobics” kicks off the EP and is a strong start to “Remote.” It’s a very different, more digital sound for Wallows, but the lyrics still capture the same essence that Wallows always seems to carry. The song describes the beginnings of a new relationship and the flirty, albeit awkward, text conversations that often occur. 

Despite the new sound, one thing definitely remains the same: the flawless transitions between songs. I’ve always been a fan of Wallows’ transitions and “Remote” is no different, with the transition between “Dig What You Dug” and “Nobody Gets Me (Like You)” being one of the cleanest transitions I’ve heard from Wallows. 

“Nobody Gets Me (Like You)” is probably my favorite song off of “Remote,” most likely because of its similar sound to previous Wallows’ songs. It was originally written for the upcoming album, but the boys felt that it fit a lot better for “Remote.” Written about Braeden’s girlfriend, the song describes the deep connection between the two. The simple lyrics accompanied by upbeat music is what makes this song work so well.

The best part about “Nobody Gets Me (Like You)” is the accompanying music video, filmed with only a few close friends and using mannequins for the rest. I won’t spoil too much except for the fact that it features Windows 98 and Braeden in a wig...you’ll have to see for yourself. 

The final track of “Remote” is “Wish Me Luck,” a dreamy send-off at the end of the high-energy EP. The mesmerizing sound of “Wish Me Luck” fits in perfectly with the words that Dylan sings, with lines like “I don't wanna lose myself to all my insecurities / If I told you all of them, who would it hurt more, you or me?” Everyone’s been insecure at some point in their life and I think these lyrics hit the nail on the head on those feelings of not being good enough. 

What’s next for the Wallows boys? They’re writing their next album and hope to record soon, aiming for a fall release so they can tour (if in-person concerts are allowed by then). Their recent Reddit AMA put a lot of emphasis on evolving as a band with a really optimistic outlook for their sophomore album. Based on “Remote,” I’d say they have good reason to be optimistic.

You can follow Kyra on Twitter @kyrapuetz.