IOLA is the alt folk project of Norwegian songwriter Carey Sveen, who moved to the US as a child. Carey was inspired to pursue a career in music by the example of her grandmother, a country songwriter from the deep South, but her sound doesn’t owe much to that region’s twangy tendencies. We are excited to premiere single ‘Virginians’ (streaming) from IOLA’s upcoming debut album. An extremely peculiar love song about falling in love with her husband Charles (whom she just married), the track wonderfully balances tension and release, by alternating a whispered, playfully inquisitive verse (isn’t it love when…?) with a chorus that assertively asks for help ("I need you to tell me ’cause I really don’t know everything!"). The unanswered questions become like some kind of hidden lyrics, reminding us how torturing it is to love without knowing if we are loved back. Quite appropriately, an unexpected, semi-manic breakdown in the middle of the track doubles the tempo – and therefore the tension – only to return to the initial, wondering verse. Don’t miss IOLA at the Slipper Room in Manhattan on July 2nd.
We added this song to The Deli’s playlist of Best songs by emerging NYC songwriters and artists – check it out!