Occurrence’s new album ‘REAL PERSON’ is an experience rather than a traditional album. It’s an album made of memories and emotions expressed in sound. In this collaboration of three friends (Ken Urban, Cat Hollyer, and Johnny Hager), each track is dedicated to a real person who left an impression on them. These aren’t just songs, they’re audio portraits. The production by Ken is masterful, neither overproduced nor devoid of space, simply full of feeling.
‘REAL PERSON’ starts with a slow, textured intro, setting the scene for what’s to come. “Louise Penny” is upbeat and celebratory, with a looped sample of Louise herself, adding a quirky electronic pulse. “Wayne Feldman” shifts the atmosphere completely—Wayne’s banjo is converted into a bold, glitchy techno track, sunny and weird in the best way. “Romeo Castellucci” has a more dark, moody feel, yet with echo effects and subdued energy, a short, emotional letter in song form. “Olga Tokarczuk” is floaty and swirly, full of synthesizers and restrained volume, a glimpse into a letter you wrote and forgot about. When “John Charles Hager” starts, you can’t help but stop—actor Ryan Spahn reads Ken’s writing to Johnny, it’s a powerful, intimate, vulnerable moment of love.
“Mark Fisher” sounds heavy and dense, perhaps acknowledging Fisher’s reach of ideas and critique. “Catherine Vervaet Hollyer” sounds warm and supportive, a gentle embrace. The ending “Mieko Kawakami” is simple, spare, reflective, and ends with a soft echo. ‘REAL PERSON’ isn’t meant to sound like a pop song or be radio-ready, it’s something else. It’s authentic, artistic, and full of heart. The record invites the listener into the group’s shared world of memory and feeling, never trying to be anything other than what it is.
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