Last updated on December 18, 2015
Funded through a Kickstarter campaign, Casey Dubie’s latest EP Strangers highlights Dubie’s strong voice through the backdrop of varied instrumentation. Every song sounds slightly different yet does not wane in quality. Strangers highlights Dubie for what she really is– an overall solid artist.
Think back to Vanessa Carlton: she began her career by walking “A Thousand Miles” but found a slightly darker sound by her album Harmonium. Dubie’s voice reminds me of Carlton’s steady voice in how she can belt high and low notes without strain, effortlessly transitioning through a rather large range. Dubie demonstrates this in opener “Motion Sick,” where the verses are comprised of much lower notes than the ones she transitions to during the chorus. This pattern repeats itself in many of the other tracks (“Ghost,” “You Make Me Feel”).
The instrumentation of Strangers varies from subdued instrumentation (“Ghost”) to a more high-energy sound (“Motion Sick”). “Fugitive” starts out particularly subtle, with the instrumentation eventually rising as the song progresses. “Ghost” highlights Dubie’s voice through its slightly eerie acoustic guitar performance; the delivery remains consistent throughout to allow Dubie’s voice to soar towards the end. “Stranger” also begins with simple, repetitious guitar strum before the sound eventually explodes at the end with Dubie powerfully singing her “Ooooohhhhh”s. “You Make Me Feel” has the most unique instrumentation of the EP, as the electric guitar contributes harmony alongside the constant acoustic guitar strumming and unique percussive elements that gradually rise and then slowly fade out.
Casey Dubie’s powerful indie pop/folk sound makes Strangers a strong EP.–Krisann Janowitz