BY TORI SWIACKI// Courtney Barnett, the indie darling of Australia, is returning to Washington, DC this Tuesday, July 24.
Barnett and her music have always held a certain staying power, between the blend of folk guitar dressed up with garage rock influences and her deadpan lyrics giving fans no shortages of witty quotes to swap. The most recognizable, and perhaps my personal favorite, will perhaps always be, “Give me all your money, and I’ll make some origami honey,” from her 2015 sophomore album, “Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit.”
Putting the sometimes pithy nature of her usual lyrics aside, other tracks reveal a soft, queer love, like “Depreston,” telling the story of moving in with a partner and what it feels like to choose a new home for oneself. In her newest album, “Tell Me How You Really Feel,” Barnett shows a rare display of aggression in the middle track, “I’m Not Your Mother, I’m Not Your Bitch,” which is neatly balanced out by the opening track “Hopefulessness,” with a simple plucked melody that never fails to hypnotize.
In short, Barnett presents herself as a well-balanced musician, offering fans the indulgence of well-composed rhythms and catchy melodies, in conjunction with humor and a certain carefree attitude signature to Barnett herself.
Fellow female musicians Julien Baker and Vagabon will be joining Barnett at the Anthem next week. Julien Baker, originally from Tennessee, with her hit tracks “Blacktop,” and “Appointments,” compliment Barnett in the emotional intensity and captivating female vocals. Baker’s lyricism and messages of internal struggle certainly defy her young age of 22 years old; her 2017 album “Turn Out the Lights” shows growth not only in her production style, but in an emotional capacity as well.
Laetita Tamko, known as Vagabon, is a Cameroonian singer and songwriter from New York, specializing in multi-instrumentalism. Her experience shines through in the combination of haunting vocals and complex beats and sway-worthy breakdowns. Her music brings feelings of joy and triumph, ultimately adding to her commanding presence and vocals. Her track “The Embers” features soaring vocals and a plugging bass, complete with lyrics pertaining to sharks and fish, ultimately creating a female-powered anthem for the ages.
Catch Courtney Barnett, Julien Baker and Vagabon this Tuesday, August 24 at The Anthem. Tickets available here!