[International] Halfway Harbor: ‘Table Stains’
KATIE BROWN - 21 FEB 2022
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Andrew Wymore of Memphis solo act Halfway Harbor has quite the way with lyrics. Recently released single ‘Table Stains’, out mid-January, is one that captivates from the outset with a bittersweet earthy charm as Wymore sings about romantic recollections triggered by mundane everyday details, like ring stains on a coffee table and the lingering perfume of someone who’s recently ‘left the picture’. Wymore says these details “… exist as mementos of a past that no longer exists, but also as a lovely reminder of what beautiful details often go unnoticed in the present,” and it’s this ability he has of noticing such details along with his way of framing them that makes his narrative especially poignant.
An artist who’s been playing guitar and writing songs since his early teens, Wymore has been involved in many music projects, with his work as Halfway Harbor acting as the culmination of his musical experience to date. ‘Table Stains’ follows ‘Alaska’ and ‘Cherry’ as the third Halfway Harbor single.
In ‘Table Stains’ a distinct nostalgia plays out through the reverbed electric guitar and quiet acoustic, with soft synth sweeps and simple beat patterns as the backbone of the track complementing the lyrics to create a hazy late-afternoon atmosphere where those bittersweet memories seem most often to rise in the mind. The effect is poetic and refreshing, with an understatedly clever simplicity.
Authentically capturing emotion in music can be very elusive, but it’s something that Wymore has mastered in a way that feels natural and unforced through a combination of his songwriting, production, lyrics and distinctive vocal style. Layered harmonies work to build the sense of nostalgia, elements like the polyphonic weaving together of two melodies through the ending evoke the kind of tension held between different layers of memories, while the instrumental sections create reflective spaces between each verse to get lost in before being pulled back in via Wymore’s compelling storytelling.
Reminiscent of those standout Grey’s Anatomy or The O.C. music moments (we all have our favourites!), ‘Table Stains’ is TV drama soundtrack material, and a standout example of an artist with a burgeoning talent and promise. We can’t wait to hear more!
Listen to the single below.