“What a lovely surprise to discover how unlonely being alone can be.” With these words, American treasure Ellen Burstyn sums up a lesson many of us spend a lifetime learning. It is the same principle that guided the most recent work from Hunter James & The Titanic (a Colorado treasure in the making); a three-track, genre-fusing folk-rock EP titled Why You Always Thinking You’ll End Up Alone? One complete listen through the dreamy, rootsy soundscape of the Denver band’s latest masterpiece is not only an opportunity to appreciate an intricately crafted record, but also an invitation for the listener to ponder loneliness and the fear of it in their life (12 minutes of existentialism never hurt anybody, right?).
Music for your Psyche
The title track, Why You Always Thinking You’ll End Up Alone?, wastes no time in launching the listener into their psyche, as the subtle voices of a harmonica and electric guitar seemingly converse with the track’s lyrics. The hazy edges of every sound establish the project’s style and create a comforting sonic experience that is artfully contradicted by the pensive songwriting of Hunter James. Twice, he poses the impossible question about his loneliness, but it is his shockingly simple response that catapults the track into its musical climax: “Oh no.”
It’s not an answer, and it doesn’t have to be. Perhaps the chorus is meant to cry out empathetically to those struggling with isolation or, conversely, to minimize a universal experience that we overinflate with our egocentric worldviews. “The universality of the concept of thinking we’ll end up alone, whether that’s in love, in death, or in an esoteric way is what makes this track meaningful,” James explains.
The Process is The Message
While writing Why You Always Thinking You’ll End Up Alone?, Hunter James was largely inspired by Don DeLillo’s novels Underworld and Mao II, in which DeLillo illustrates mass media’s deterioration of individualism and the value of artistic, countercultural resistance. James’s exploration of loneliness through the lens of cultural homogeneity bridges personal depth to an ever-present state of being. When derivative, all-too-familiar lifestyles are promoted as progress, our understanding of self perishes, leaving less of ourselves to be alone with.
One of the standout features of this EP is its production. Recorded to tape at James’s home studio, it exudes a nostalgic warmth that is both comforting and evocative. Hunter James describes this decision as a way to capture a “days-gone-by feeling,” an artistic choice that aligns perfectly with the themes of the work. James continues, “As crazy as it sounds, when I make records on tape, I can hear the part that comes next in the overtones.” Yes, Hunter James lets the music make the music, and that is craftsmanship. This analog approach, juxtaposed with Grammy-winning engineer Chris Beeble’s modern mixing techniques, bring about a sound that is timeless yet in-the-now, a perfect reflection of the band’s unique identity. James’s process is countercultural; his process is his message.
“More than anything, I feel like my purpose is to write songs and make records. I can’t escape it, and I don’t want to.”
And it’s evident… Why You Always Thinking You’ll End Up Alone? is the folk-rockers’ fourth project release in five years. Hunter James & The Titanic took a bold step forward on this EP, pushing the boundaries of folk-rock into blues, indie rock, and even electronic music. James’s relationship-rooted approach to growth brought core band members Jason Brazzel, Lizzy Gogolowski, Taylor Marvin, Gavin Allen-Dunn and rotating studio musicians/band members Forrest Raup, Eric Luba, John Grigsby, Ben Waligoske, Connor Terrones, George Horn and Kevin Johnson together to collaborate freely. Their artistic development is genuine, spurred by “the desire to create and a deepened understanding of each other.”
Alone Together
Aside from the gifted array of musical voices that combined to produce this EP, the project’s artwork, created by Joe Murray of Auberon Design, works in conjunction with its message. It depicts a UFO projecting the title, “Why You Always Thinking You’ll End Up Alone?” indicative of the concept that our fear of loneliness is engrained in the human way of knowing, and detaching from that fear is absurdly foreign to us. The grainy, pastel art-style of the cover visually compliments James’s recording process, with the same saturation and grain characterizing the sonic mix. As incredibly focused as the theme of this album is, it was extraordinarily created by a plethora of creatives who shared James’s vision for a consequential, intricate body of work.
Why Do You Always Thinking You’ll End Up Alone? by Hunter James & The Titanic is a product of artists uniting to broadcast solitude. The irony of this project’s existence exemplifies the surprisingly connected nature of isolation that began the article you are reading now. Perhaps Hunter James fears loneliness and made a record about it. Maybe he embraces loneliness, and encourages the listener to do the same. But if there was one thing this EP says about being alone, it’s that if loneliness is universal, then are we ever really alone?
Listen to Why You Always Thinking You’ll End Up Alone? the latest EP by Hunter James & The Titanic wherever you get your music, and catch them live at The Velvet Elk in Boulder, Colorado August 9th.
