brotherkenzie makes ep debut with carver
By Mackenzie Wagner
Brotherkenzie 2016
On Sept. 6, Nathan Stocker released his debut EP Carver on Apple Music and Spotify. After three years of being uploaded and removed from Bandcamp, the EP has been permanently released on major streaming services. Nathan is a Minnesota native and the guitarist of indie pop/rock band Hippo Campus. While the group has been successfully touring and releasing music, Stocker has been working on his own personal project, Brotherkenzie.
Carver is a seamless flow of five songs all written and sung by Stocker. The EP feels as if it should be listened to straight through during every listen because it is so coherent. As a songwriter, Nathan has the ability to write complex lyrics that convey heartfelt emotion. Carver portrays a warm sense of nostalgia and comfort because the lyrics are so raw and sincere. It beautifully conveys the sentiments of falling in and out of love and evokes emotion with every listen.
“Darling Baby Doll” references the seasons changing as it alludes to the changes in a relationship. In this song, Stocker seems to be holding on to a relationship from the summer through the winter even though it just seems to have run its course. While he expresses that he waited around for a while, he sings, “My arms are tired from the weight,” referencing that he cannot carry the weight of trying to reconcile a relationship and not receiving an equal effort. The soft guitar and heart-rending vocals give a melancholy tone and sentiment to the song. “Darling Baby Doll” is the perfect start to the EP because it is so unapologetic and sets the vibe for the following songs.
“Lucy” is a heartbreaking piece about reconciling an old love. The lyrics recall fond memories of a relationship that seems to be falling out of place. The first chorus begins with the lyrics “Remember, my darling / Those summers in Brooklyn” and recalls the time the couple spent dancing in the sun, happily together. The lyrics seem to be asking a partner to stay and make things better. Stocker sings “Lucy, we’ve loved for too long / For me to end this alive” to convey the longing to fix a relationship that he has invested a lot of time in and planned to stay in. The lyrics are accompanied by beautiful harmonies and a harmonica that creates a reminiscent tone. “Lucy” is truly one of the most beautiful pieces Stocker has released and completes this EP in a way that no other song could.
“Treat You Right” showcases a twangy guitar and lyrics that depict Stocker’s go-getter attitude. He sings “I’m a bum, I’m a cancer that can’t be treated / I’ma find a way to treat you right” to show that despite his tendencies, he wants to prove he is capable of treating a girl right.
In contrast, “Rocking Chair” holds a steady beat from a tambourine and a whistle in the background, which is quite different from the rest of the songs on Carver. While the song has a unique sound, it still flows with the characteristics of the work and provides a distinct shift in tone, even for just a brief time.
“Little Rabbit” is a raw and vulnerable piece that completes the EP. Admitting that a relationship is not working out can be harrowing, especially when there is still a connection. Stocker’s mellow voice sings, “There is nothing you’re less lovely than / But I don’t think that I can be your man” to end the EP in a way that encompasses the moral of this song and the EP as a whole. While fans know and love Nathan as a member of Hippo Campus, the songs he has released as Brotherkenzie are so different from anything he has ever been a part of, which allows listeners to see a different side of him and his music. Rereleasing Carver shows how versatile and talented Stocker is as a musician. These songs were written when Stocker was in high school, and after finally being released, they have proven to be worth the wait. After the successful rerelease of Carver, Stocker plans to release an instrumental Brotherkenzie album in January.