Pond Diver

Born of the legendary Muscle Shoals, Alabama, music scene and boasting contributions from Southern luminaries John Paul White, Dylan LeBlanc, Thad Saajid, and The Pollies, Pond Diver’s debut EP Flashbacks is a promising entry in the region’s deep and eclectic musical canon. 

Flashbacks arrives on the heels of debut single “Racecar,” a jangly fuzz-tinged indie-rock number showcasing clever, precise guitar work in the vein of The Strokes, all complemented by a horn section sourced from the nearby University of North Alabama. It’s a potent nod to the region’s gilded musical past. 

The soaring vocals of lead singer Daniel Lewey (son of “Shoals sister” Marie Lewey) are at the forefront of each track, perhaps most notably on the forlorn “Look Around” and “Over the Hill.” Melodically, the latter leans more indie-folk than the rest of the offering, but the sonic dreamscape of reverb-laden guitars interlaced with layered vocal harmonies is a clear and consistent throughline for the EP. 

“‘Look Around’ is a reflection on the last breath of a relationship,” Lewey says. “The slow fade from passion to indifference. Wondering where it went, and if the other person still thinks about you as you think of them. It’s a call to be noticed and also a question—do they still see you, or are they looking elsewhere?” 

Flashbacks began to take shape as a series of demos tracked at The Pollies’ Studio 144 in Greenhill, Ala., the summer of 2018. The band tapped producer Austin Motlow shortly thereafter for the final recordings, which went down at Single Lock Records’ Sun Drop Studio on off days between booked sessions. The EP was then mixed and mastered by Chris Bethea (Penny and Sparrow) of Muscle Shoals Mastering. 

Pond Diver began sprouting their musical roots together long before the band took shape, as each member was born and raised in the Shoals area and performed in the same circles throughout their formative years. Lewey and guitarist Collin James were founding members of surf-rock outfit Willis, and guitarist Luke Wright has played in a half-dozen Northwest Alabama bands, including his enduring project Isaac, while bassist David Marsh’s jazz and classical background has scored him gigs as far beyond the Shoals as Italy and Costa Rica, along with drummer Hudson James, who has traveled on musical missions to Eastern Europe—all valuable experiences the band members continue to draw from in Pond Diver. 

Wearing their influences on their sleeve while maintaining a fresh and heartfelt urgency, Pond Diver proves more than capable of carrying the torch for a region that has seen a musical renaissance in recent years. Flashbacks—out Jan. 24—is a sign of good things to come for this seasoned-beyond-their-years collective of Alabama musicians.

Vocals / Daniel Lewey

Guitar / Collin James

Guitar, Glockenspiel / Luke Wright

Bass, Vocals / David Marsh

Drums / Hudson James