Premiere: ØZWALD’s Catchy “As the Crow Flies” Is an Existential Beacon of Light

ØZWALD © Erick Frost
ØZWALD © Erick Frost
Combining the talents of Blondfire and Lifehouse, ØZWALD’s catchy “As the Crow Flies” takes us on a hazy psych-tinged rock journey through life’s big questions of purpose, place, and meaning.
Stream: “As the Crow Flies” – ØZWALD
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Why are we here? What is our purpose? Songs often ask big questions, not necessarily in search of answers, but in order to express the many underlying emotions and thoughts driving such rhetorical conundrums. It’s so easy to feel like a fish out of water when you don’t have an anchor to the ground or a guiding light to illuminate the path ahead, but through music we can not only express these feelings, but also connect with others and in doing so, become a part of something greater than ourselves. Combining the talents of Blondfire and Lifehouse, ØZWALD’s catchy “As the Crow Flies” takes us on a hazy psych-tinged rock journey through life’s big questions of purpose, place, and meaning — leaving us with a sense of conviction and self-confidence that we can lead the way for ourselves.

As the Crow Flies - ØZWALD
As the Crow Flies – ØZWALD
And I don’t know
I don’t know what it means
And I don’t know
And I don’t really mind you see
I’ve been over here
I’ve been over there
I’ve been everywhere and in between
And I don’t know
And I don’t really mind you see

Atwood Magazine is proud to be premiering “As the Crow Flies,” the new single off ØZWALD’s upcoming debut album Sweet Delirium (out April 5, 2019 via ALLSWELL Records). The duo of Blondfire’s Steve Stout and Lifehouse’s lead singer Jason Wade, ØZWALD are a self-described California sunshine rock band and their music reflects as such. Their debut single “Technicolour Sky” (released November 2018) is a bombastic indulgence of bright guitars and feelgood vibes that marries MGMT’s psychedelic haze with Wilco’s hearty alternative rock.

In the few months since their introduction, this dynamic duo have made a point of showcasing different parts of their varied artistry. Sophomore single “These Days,”a cover of the Jackson Browne classic, is a somber acoustic-guitar led rendition (ØZWALD also released a heartwarming rendition of Queen’s “We Are the Champions” just last month). Meanwhile, the band’s second original track “Dream Child” is a pulsing, upbeat and forward-moving song featuring big vocal harmonies and a warm, believe-in-yourself attitude.

ØZWALD © Erick Frost
ØZWALD © Erick Frost

ØZWALD’s third original single, “As the Crow Flies” emerges out of a forlorn piano song to become a heavy, hazy, and passion-fueled rock song.

And I won’t stop trying to climb
Digging my way through the found and lost
Got a thousand more miles of life to cross
As the crow flies
I won’t stop trying to find
I’ve been chasing down the answers until I drop
Got a thousand more miles of life to cross
As the crow flies

ØZWALD describe “As the Crow Flies” as “a circuitous exploration of that age-old question, ‘What is life all about?‘ The lyric touches on a childlike curiosity of why the World is that way it is.” While this song is very much the band’s opportunity to question the meaning of our existence, it’s also a testament to the sheer talent shared between two music world veterans. Both Wade and Stout know a thing or two about making music that moves people – and though they’re no spring chickens, their collaboration rings out with the fresh energy of a true debut.

Sweet Delirium - ØZWALD
Sweet Delirium – ØZWALD

What’s more, the twelve songs gracing Sweet Delirium were produced in only twelve days – making this album an authentic encapsulation of a specific period in time. Its songs, while different, move with the kind of similar sonic craftsmanship that makes an album cohesive, yet constantly full of surprise.

And I don’t know
I don’t know what it is
And I don’t know
If it’s somethin in my heritage
I don’t know if it’s the chemistry
And I don’t care, gonna rewrite my history

Of course, it helps that “As the Crow Flies” is so incredibly catchy. How better to get the deepest life questions stuck in your head, than through the lyrics of a wily, delirious song?

Stream “As the Crow Flies” exclusively on Atwood Magazine! ØZWALD’s debut album Sweet Delirium is out April 5, 2019 via ALLSWELL Records.

Stream: “As the Crow Flies” – ØZWALD
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/523922832?secret_token=s-T2Vo0″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&visual=true&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”300″ iframe=”true” /]

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As the Crow Flies - ØZWALD

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