We were immediately struck by the lyrical power and complex aesthetics of Omen Moth's latest single "Smoke on the Bridge," from his debut full-length release "Losing the Names." By combining a dark melodic theme with the trappings of classic indie folk and a hard edge of psychedelic rock, Omen Moth pulls the listener in to an engaging world of brooding poetics and musical surprises. This dynamic track integrates the best of organic performance, roots-driven tones, and inspired imagery.
Songwriter Kurt Schuler draws on elements of 60s folk and psychedelia to weave together stories of heartbreak and the treacherous quest for personal fulfillment. On a fateful day that would change the course of his life and career, Schuler got a phone call from a producer friend about a last-minute studio cancellation—he had one week to travel across the country with a list of songs at the ready. He ended up spending three years in Charlottesville, Virginia, and ran a successful Kickstarter campaign to raise money for the second half of his project. Now relocated to the Central Coast of California, his music is the perfect fit for a thriving underground West Coast scene that stretches from Portland to Los Angeles. Omen Moth got started in the Pacific Northwest opening for Seattle indie pioneer Damien Jurado and local heroes like Pickwick and The Lonely Forest, among many others. His music is both elegant and raw, leveraging a lush production vibe with the kind of ardent songwriting and emotional vulnerability that allows us to learn something of ourselves through the prism of Schuler's rich life experience.