Multi-instrumentalist Aaron Christopher and singer-songwriter Lauren Brown are Twin Oaks, a collaborative duo whose doleful, soft-spoken brand of shadowy folk pop conveys a bevy of emotions with minimal resources. The pair recorded their second mini-LP The Lion’s Den in the intimacy of Aaron’s bedroom in Chino, which mosly centers around willowy acoustic melodies locked into Lauren’s brittle, yet evocative vocal delivery. Their sparse approach creates a spaciousness that lets the bittersweet compositions breathe, suffused with the calmness of a sunlit early morning. One could easily describe it as dreamy or blissful, but there’s nary a shrouded note – these are songs that pulsate with quiet emotion and golden-hued translucence. The duo is currently in the process of recording their debut full-length, which should further illustrate their delicate timbre. – Juan Rodríguez
