Band: Payphones
Album: Rioting Hearts
Release Date: January 6, 2023
Genre: Alt-folk
Edmonton, AB-based alt-folk outfit Payphones have unveiled their album, Rioting Heart. The eight-song release explores isolation, illness, queer heartbreak, and personal growth, all written by frontperson Naomi Jichita over the past decade. Rioting Heart is a healing journey with many visceral twists and turns along the way.
Joining Naomi is guitarist Robyn Slack, keyboardist Laena Anderson, percussionist Aaron Addorisio, bassist Andrew Creswick, and cellist Jack Lumayor.
The album features previous singles, “Rioting Heart” and “Can’t Escape It,” which are both excellent introductions to Payphones.
Track two, “Last Year,” immediately caught my attention with the simple yet entertaining beat, followed by the addition of Naomi’s strong, shining vocals. The lyrics “When you say its name it becomes clear, Festering and poisoning my ear, Its slowly growing louder, And after all these years, I’ll just keep rotting” immediately makes me think of remembering a trauma or a bad point in your life. When it comes up, when you mention it, it immediately retakes hold of you.
The album closes with “Closer To You,” which consists of beautiful vocal harmonies and tranquil backing music. The vocals and music meld together with perfection to the point that, at points, you can’t decipher which is which. The lyrics throughout this track resonated with me. “I’ve been feeling like, There is no place worth going to, Nowhere is closer to you” was one set of lyrics that I ended up focusing on. Although I’m not sure what the lyrics are actually about, I immediately thought of loved ones who have passed and missing the physical closeness you can no longer achieve.
I’ve said it before, and I’m sure I’ll say it again, but I have a soft spot for songs that can hold multiple meanings for different people, and many of these tracks do just that. They take you on a path through your memories, hopes, and fears, while somehow leaving you content by the end of the release. Payphones possess incredible songwriting and storytelling while maintaining a strong connection with the listener throughout.