"I can say safely that time has forgiven me"
Okey Dokey, the name of the Nashville divergent pop band makes me smile but not as much as the artful and whimsical, The Right Fit, the first single from their upcoming album "Once Upon One Time" dropping October 23rd (2020) on Park the Van. This divergent musical outfit comprised of Johny Fisher, Aaron Martin and Jeremy Clark began in 2016 when Fisher "who'd previously been in a carousel of bands with Martin - grew tired of work as a hired-gun touring musician and asked Martin to start a band with him. Since then, they’ve released two albums - 2017's Love You, Mean It and last year's Tell All Your Friend - and added a third member, Jeremy Clark for Once Upon One Time, continuing to span swelling rock and orchestral pop to squishy funk & beyond".
The Right Fit feels askew from the very beginning with it's fast forward ramp up that seemed to of gone back in time with blippy drum machine bits that feel beautifully squished and lo-fi. Amid the kind of bottom "oomphed" groove there are wonderful offsets like pearly keys and synthetic embellishments. Loving Aaron Martin's vocal aesthetic and lovely pop forward approach. He pushes his slightly gritty middle register to an edgy point. Of the song he says:
“There is always something negative chasing you. Life is a series of ups and downs and I think it’s easier to appreciate if you put a name to the lows sometimes. I feel like if you are open to everything the world has to offer, but keep your eye on positive signs, the Bad News will have a harder time catching up to you. The right fit has no true form, it’s just out there somewhere."
The chorus, again, feels almost unworldly or existing on some other musical plane. I think that is what gives this song a weird inviting confusion between late 70's proto punk and today. It is like a generational divide pumping in stereo creating a truly artful dissonance especially expressed in those smushed synths with tentacles that feel a click off and wrapping around those beautiful vox. The surreal sense and the vocal narrative is simple beautiful. I thought of Harry Nilsson.
The Right Fit is from Okey Dokey's newly announced album "Once Upon One Time" - out on October 23 via Park the Van (Dr. Dog, BRONCHO, Cayucas). Chris Taylor of Grizzly Bear co-produced & mixed the track, with additional behind-the-boards work on the record from Darkside's Dave Harrington, My Morning Jacket’s Carl Broemel, Filip Nikolic (founding member of Poolside) and The Shins’ Yuuki Matthews.
Taking real experiences that have been rewritten in the name of a fresh start, Once Upon One Time combines new and old sounds to explore anxiety, sobriety, breakups and self-love. As Martin explains: “There you have it, that’s me. Every person who hears this record has their own story, which is why this one is left without a call for feedback. I hope people can get some insight into me so that I may hear their experiences in return and we might start our own oral traditions together.” It’s that sense of community which makes the album such a memorable and deeply felt listening experience - music that sounds unbelievably human even when exploring far-out sounds, with an emotive streak that's easily relatable.
The Official Video directed by Casey Pierce with the band totally involved. Aaron Martin designing the look and creative direction by Marin, Casey Pierce and Johny Fisher.
-Robb Donker Curtius
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Nashville kitchen sink indie pop band-turned-cult Okey Dokey just released a trippy video for “The Right Fit” premiered on American Songwriter, the first single from their newly announced album "Once Upon One Time" - out on October 23 via Park the Van (Dr. Dog, BRONCHO, Cayucas). Chris Taylor of Grizzly Bear co-produced & mixed the track, with additional behind-the-boards work on the record from Darkside's Dave Harrington, My Morning Jacket’s Carl Broemel, Filip Nikolic (founding member of Poolside) and The Shins’ Yuuki Matthews. Focused on building a community around the project, Okey Dokey allowed outsiders to send in audio featured throughout, as well as recruiting members to their newly formed community - watch a testimonial from famed professional skateboarder Tony Hawk here.
Over woozy synths and a charging beat, “The Right Fit” tackles the theme of finding the path to peace. As vocalist Aaron Martin explains, “There is always something negative chasing you. Life is a series of ups and downs and I think it’s easier to appreciate if you put a name to the lows sometimes. I feel like if you are open to everything the world has to offer, but keep your eye on positive signs, the Bad News will have a harder time catching up to you. The right fit has no true form, it’s just out there somewhere."
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