Song of the Day: LOYAL - Moving as One

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of our Song of the day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJ’s think you should hear. Today’s song, featured on the Morning Show with John Richards, is "Moving as One" by LOYAL, from their a 2017 single on IAMSOUND Records.

LOYAL - Moving as One (MP3)There's that old Writing 101 chestnut you must have heard before: "Show, don't tell." For all its mustiness and simplicity, though, it's absolutely true. For a reader, there's nothing like feeling an idea or emotion from the inside, as if it were your own. For listeners, it's just as true with songs. Music can amplify a feeling and give weight to lyrics, but when every element comes together, like in LOYAL's new track, "Moving as One", the feeling is euphoric. The UK quartet has already established themselves as infectious song-smiths, with their "Blue & The Green" single from last year. Like other London-based acts - HÆLOS, The xx and Jungle among them - LOYAL blends pop, electronica, house, and R&B grooves, adding their own breathy soulful vocals and building tunes to a joyous climax. On "Moving as One", LOYAL assembles its song elements most deliberately - quickening sputtering beat to pulsing rhythms and adding individual vocal samples and instrumental parts gradually, combining all disparate parts until, yes, they are all "Moving as One", just as all your own body parts will be by the song's finale.

LOYAL has yet to release an LP, and they haven't yet toured, but when they're ready to do either, you'll be sure to find out about it on their Facebook page.