Belle of the Fall

“To say that Belle of the Fall lead singer, Julia Autumn Ford possesses the voice of an angel is beyond obvious. Soft, tender and raw all at once; Julia’s vocal delivery is light as a feather yet powerful enough too knock down an entire city block with one turn of a phrase. her partner in crime, bassist Tracy Walton rounds out Belle of the Fall’s folky yet modern sound. You will want to take note of this performance as it’s one of those “I saw them when they were still playing bars” moments.” - Block Island Music Fest

Independent Spotlight is a continuing series on Stewart’s blog. The series revolves around independent artists and bands sending their music to Brett to review. No band is promised a positive review, and all music is reviewed honestly in an effort to better independent music.

In this afternoon’s edition of the Independent Spotlight, we’re going to be delving into Belle of the Fall, a passionate singer songwriter duo with particularly lovely chemistry. Tracy Walton and Julia Autumn Ford, two multi-instrumentalists with broad repertoires, band together in this endeavor to create folksy, but abundantly contemporary music. Let’s explore a few of their new singles off their new album, ‘Earthbound,’ which debuted in March.

Belle of the Fall’s sharp lyrical style combines country folk musings with harmonious tinges of pop writing. One of the lead singles off the new album, ‘Many Worlds Collide,’ exemplifies the duo’s stylistic direction. Walton and Ford croon is spectacularly elegant harmony, accentuating each other’s vocal performances with perfection. Lyrically and vocally, ‘Many Worlds Collide’ sounds like a song written by and for the Everly Brothers.

‘Many Worlds Collide’ has instrumentation that’s wholly acoustic - upright bass, sparse acoustic guitar, and a fleeting, but nevertheless stunning violin all occupy the soundscape the two performers have crafted. I adore that there isn’t actually any percussion; it gives the cut a very intimate feeling. In a contemporary context, it’s probably most similar to Jack Johnson or the Civil Wars.

‘Greatest Day’ is a fantastic single to accent ‘Many Worlds Collide’ due to its drastically different tone. ‘Many World Collide’ is a ballad that feels intensely intimate. ‘Greatest Day’ is more upbeat and poppy. (Hence the peppy percussion and section of whistling.) The track is everything it needs to be. It’s not deeply insightful or thought-provoking, but it doesn’t masquerade as songwriting that wants you to think it is. It’s a two minute jam through good feelings, one that’s so adamant in its convictions that you can’t help but absolutely love it.

Belle of the Fall has done a very special thing - they’ve taken a style of music that I typically find derivative and infused it with an unbelievable amount of personality. Their chemistry as a duo is infectiously fun and immediately apparent. Thus, I’d argue they’re one of the most compelling two piece outfits in the indie scene right now. Belle of the Fall is worth checking out, and you can do so on their Band Camp below.

https://belleofthefall.bandcamp.com/releases - Brett David Stewart

Acoustic folk duo Belle Of The Fall has proven that musical soul mates do in fact exist. Made up of multi-instrumentalist Tracy Walton (upright bass, vocals, drums) and a beautifully rustic singer in Julia Autumn Ford (vocals, guitar, yukitar, melodica). Accomplished solo artists themselves individually, they team up with the idea of bringing the best of both worlds together and it has resulted in one surprising debut album this year in folk.

“Earthbound” is a 9-track result of busy gigging schedules, generous sponsorships and winning over new fans, also giving rise to the partnership’s rousing boost into the industry. With fan-funded albums under the belts of each of the pair, it’s no surprise how anticipated their first album together turned out to be.

The record opens with a brilliant one in “Sweet Harmony” that just sucks you in to their sound with a bittersweet folk tune that bursts into life towards the ending. Just like the easy-going “This Time”, it showcases one unique thing spawned from their team-up; their soothing vocal harmony capabilities.

Belle Of The Fall’s impressive musicianship shows throughout the short-lived album from the country impressions in the upbeat “Crazy Mixed Up World” to the folk pop tune “Fit In The Pocket”, the latter probably being their most mainstream-accessible track. And the fact that “Many Worlds Collide” is the only song to feature external instrumentalists (a violinist and a slide guitarist) just emphasized the acoustic couple’s buzzing potential.

Julia’s consistent singing performance steals the show for me personally. “Don’t Give Up On Me” best displays her soft and exquisite vocal touches while her laziest recording on the carefree “Earthbound” just does enough to send you in to the most nonchalant state you’ve been in in a while. The title track stands out throughout the tracklist with its ambition theme and tasteful vocal delays that shows the distance with regards to her high-flying dreams being sung about in the song. And the little modulated detour just got me off my seat a little, in a wonderful way.

The penultimate “Greatest Day” is just ta happy-go-lucky song about daydreaming, literally dreaming about the greatest day you could imagine. We get another serving of the Tracy and Julia’s vocal chemistry in “We Are Never Far From Alone”, which is a lovely way to end the song. Even though it is a clearly a bittersweet love song, my personal take on the finale is that it is a mutual agreement that their blossoming partnership is a perfectly working one that will be difficult to sink. - Vents Magazine

Belle of the Fall

Posted on August 23, 2016 in Featured Artist by Richie Frieman
We really dig the way Tracy Walton and Julia Autumn Ford (better known as the indie folk duo Belle of the Fall) describe their beautiful sound: “Modern Simon and Garfunkel if Garfunkel was female and the shorter of the two.” Sure, this doesn’t quite tell the whole story, but it certainly paints a picture we can’t stop looking at. Seriously though, there’s a lot more to this band than folk music – even with only an upright bass, a guitar and Ford’s touching vocals, Belle of the Fall finds ways to showcase classic rock, pop, and an impressive number of other influences. The Connecticut based twosome have quickly made a name for themselves here on the east coast, and we’re happy Belle of the Fall1to say that their debut record, Earthbound, has been playing on loop in the PEV offices to start the week.

We asked Belle of the Fall to give us some background on this first musical offering – Julia told us to expect “A complete collaboration between two artists. One thing I love about this group is that even the songs we write by ourselves are so influenced by the other. They may not all be co-written but they are all co-interpreted. ‘Fit in the Pocket’ was a song we played live numerous times, but when we got in the studio to record it, we realized the whole time we were both hearing it completely differently in our heads. After some experimentation, we ended up producing it in a Hawaiian Wild West Folk Fusion light which is something neither of us would have thought of doing solo.” See what I mean about that plethora of influences on sound with only a few instruments? It’s a live show you need to see for yourself – luckily for us all, Belle of the Fall is playing on the regular – just click to http://www.belleofthefall.com/ to keep up. Listen to and download Earthbound while you’re at it. But first, of course, do keep reading. There’s still so much more to jump into in all the answers to the XXQs below.

XXQs: Belle of the Fall

PensEyeView.com (PEV): How would you describe your sound and what makes you stand out from others in your genre?

Tracy Walton (TW): I like to say we sound like a modern Simon and Garfunkel if Garfunkel was female and the shorter of the two. People say we are indie folk. We bring a lot of different styles to the table. Julia has some pop sensibilities to her and I bring in some bebop. Throw in some classic rock, a pinch of reggae from Julia and a bunch of other spices you have our form of unique stew.

PEV: Calling Connecticut home, what kind of music were you into growing up?

Julia Autumn Ford (JAF): Being the baby of the fam, I was kind of bombarded with everyone else’s musical tastes growing up. My mom instilled a lot of classic rock in us; I was a Stop Making Sense over any cartoons kind of kid. I blame my brother and sister for the period of time where Britney Spears was my idol. It wasn’t until I was much older I started winning (or at least was actually in the running to win) the radio, TV, computer, front seat fights and the horizons broadened.

PEV: What was it like trying to break into the music scene when you first started? What was your first show like?

TW: I was in punk band and there was a definite community vibe. My first show was at a firehouse with around 200 people packed into the second floor. I’ve never looked back.

PEV: What can fans expect from your live show?

JAF: Tracy will probably make you laugh at some point. We might make you cry at some point. Throughout all the points though, there will be two people doing what they love and believe in most and music that hopefully you love and believe in as well.

PEV: What is the first thing that comes to mind when you step on stage to perform?

TW: I am always excited to hear Julia sing. Her voice is pure magic. I feel lucky to have the best seat (or spot to stand with my upright) in the house.

PEV: What is the best part about being on stage in front of an audience?

JAF: For me it’s the connection between us and the audience. It’s crossing over into kind of a different realm of consciousness and through music, through a story we can take the audience with us. It’s that humbling indescribable feeling when seeing people react to our music. It’s, as corny as it sounds, bringing happiness to people. Just sitting in a room with strangers and becoming not strangers through the unity of music.

PEV: What is the underlying inspiration for your music?

TW: Nostalgia. I feel like everyone likes to look back on the journey they have. It’s fun to write on universal themes that people can relate to and find their own space in.

PEV: Thinking back to when you first started out – do you ever look back on your career and think about your earlier days and how you’ve arrived where you are today?

JAF: Well, my earlier days aren’t all that far away but still I feel like there is quite a distance between there and here today. I do sometimes mentally take other paths and think about where different routes I had passed would have led me, but ultimately I can’t imagine learning or growing the way I have on any of those paths.

Belle of the Fallunnamed-1PEV: What’s one thing we’d be surprised to hear about each of you?

TW: Julia was a cheerleader. I was on the chess team in 6th grade.

PEV: What happens when you hit a brick wall when writing? What are your methods to get over it?

BF: Funny you ask, I’m actually in the midst of hitting a brick wall at the moment. I just try to keep writing. Not necessarily music, just anything. Stories, ideas, novels, thoughts, anything to seek out and uncover some real inspiration. I feel like being a writer is being a vessel and interpreter to and for inspiration. Sometimes you get clogged and just have to figure out how to open yourself back up. That’s about where I am right now.

PEV: How do you think the industry has changed since you first started out?

BF: (Laughing) My first release was on cassette…It is unrecognizable.

PEV: What can fans expect from your debut album, Earthbound? What was the writing process like for this work?

JAF: A complete collaboration between two artists. One thing I love about this group is that even the songs we write by ourselves are so influenced by the other. They may not all be co-written but they are all co-interpreted. “Fit in the Pocket” was a song we played live numerous times, but when we got in the studio to record it, we realized the whole time we were both hearing it completely differently in our heads. After some experimentation, we ended up producing it in a Hawaiian Wild West Folk Fusion light which is something neither of us would have thought of doing solo.

PEV: With all your traveling, is there one area you wish you could travel around and play that you have not yet?

TW: Europe.

PEV: How have all your friends and family reacted to your career?

JAF: I’ve been really lucky in that everyone close to me is extremely supportive in what I do. Not to say I haven’t been hit with the “get a real job” line now and again.

PEV: What can we find you doing in your spare time, aside from playing/writing music?

TW: I own On Deck Sound Studio in Connecticut so in our spare time we produce records for other people.

PEV: Name one present and one past artist or group that would be your dream collaboration. Why?

JAF: Present, probably David Byrne. He’s always been very intriguing to me, music and personality. I feel like he could blow my mind in a five minute conversation. Past, Ella Fitzgerald if she promised to teach me her scatting ways.

PEV: Is there an up and coming band or artist you think we should all be looking out for now?

TW: I’ve been listening to Violent Mae and The Meadows Brothers lately and think they are both pretty stellar.

PEV: If playing music wasn’t your life (or life’s goal), what would you do for a career?

JAF: I probably would have followed through in studying psychology, becoming an animal and music assisted therapist. Although that still includes music, so if that disqualifies the answer then I’m not all that sure what I would be doing. Probably a writer of some sort.

PEV: So, what is next for Belle of the Fall?

TW: We have tours set up for New England, the mid-west and the southeast this fall and we plan to release our follow-up album this fall so we are really busy, which is how we like it.

For more information, click to http://www.belleofthefall.com/ - Pens Eye View