Her rapid rise shouldn’t surprise anyone who has heard Lucy Dacus. She’s a traditional lyrics-first songwriter with an almost mournful, vocals-forward style who weaves her soothing tones through restrained alt-rock melodies and beats. And her gentle but concrete alto drives straightforward lyrics. But don’t take her straightforwardness to mean simplistic.
Her debut No Burden tackles the “biggest riddles or the heaviest things on [her] mind.” This allows her to explore a bleak world with a refreshingly hopeful outlook. And it’s that braid of the mournful, real-world tones and understated optimism that makes No Burden so intriguing.
Why we love her:
No Burden is a welcome analog in a year of electronic, synth albums. Dacus’ alto floats through tracks laden with mystery.
For fans of:
Mothers, Carseat Headrest Margaret Glaspy