Doris Club started with the titular artist going into every studio session last year saying, “I don’t care what genre we do, it just has to be a song my mum would like.” Superficially it was just a fun writing prompt; subconsciously a way to unearth what her most natural instincts were, which over time made her realise how much of what makes her an artist, inherited from her mother.
Los Angeles-based artist Doris Club emerges from the shadows with her latest EP, “There’s Still Time,” a spellbinding journey that defies genre constraints and showcases the artist’s prowess as a soloist, producer, and visual storyteller. Doris Club, shrouded in mystery, refuses to be confined within the boundaries of any singular musical or lyrical label, presenting an enigmatic yet captivating force destined for musical prominence.
“It feels fulfilling in a way that no other record I’ve made has felt,” Doris Club expresses to Eat This Music. “Using something else other than my own preferences as my north is new to me, and I think it’s revealed to me such a sweet and fun dimension to music when I’m not using it to further my own needs.”
This musical endeavour is not merely an auditory experience but a visual storytelling masterpiece. The Side A EP is accompanied by an intimate essay, ‘Doris Club is a Daughter, Trying to Keep Her Mother Alive Forever.’ This reflective piece pays homage to Doris Club’s ailing mother, who has battled trigeminal neuralgia for decades. The EP, divided into two parts, offers a poetic collection of pensive, melodic pieces that orbit around existential lessons learned from her mother – a woman whose name is intricately woven into the artist’s moniker.
“I learned that I do my best and am at my happiest with the support and understanding of the people around me. I had a lot of help from my friends Jordan Blackmon and Josh Wei, which made every second we put into making this record so enjoyable.” — Doris Club
With this EP, Doris Club lightened up a lot since making There’s Still Time – there’s so much gravity to the source subject matter with her mother’s illness informing the emotions she has detailed in these songs, “but I think the joy of making them has made me feel less sad about the passage of time,” she says. “Confronting it has made me treasure it more, made me more determined to live through it with lightness, somehow.”
“Wake Up (If I Was God),” the opening track, is a synth-infused outpouring of empathy for Doris Club’s mother, who has grappled with a deeply incurable and painful disease for almost four decades. The song captures the struggle, serving as a testament to a mother’s resilience and the daughter’s unwavering love. Meanwhile, “The Movie” unfolds as a hooky, harmonic soundtrack, featuring punchy breaks in percussion and light synths, creating a cinematic soundscape. This earworm of a track is dedicated to the complex emotions tied to prolonging pain, a poignant exploration of helplessness and self-discovery.
Doris Club’s Side A is more than just a musical offering; it’s an introspective journey into the delicate dance between life and time. In the artist’s own words, “Side A looks back and is an offering to the source of my sentimentalism.” The EP lays the foundation for the forthcoming Side B in 2024, promising a more personal, sprawling, and philosophical account of the artist’s intricate narrative.
“It’s really just a collection of songs that my mother enjoys listening to, at its core,” Doris Club says. “There’s a song about a dream I had walking through a supermarket, another about a toxic best friend. It’s pretty easy and enjoyable, something Doris always appreciates.”
Doris Club’s reflections on the passage of time and her mother’s profound influence are intricately woven into the fabric of “There’s Still Time.” The artist’s sensitivity to the ephemeral nature of life manifests in each track, creating a cohesive and emotionally charged sonic landscape. “I didn’t think at all about what I wanted to say; I really just wanted to feel my way through it,” Doris Club continues. “I do think we did that.”
As Doris Club navigates the realms of indie-pop, experimental textures, and lush production, listeners are treated to a multi-faceted experience that transcends conventional boundaries. The EP is a testament to Doris Club’s ability to seamlessly blend genres, creating a sound that is both sonically rich and emotionally resonant. “It felt very limitless and low stakes,” Doris Club adds. “I think that always helps with authenticity; you create fewer obstacles between the instinct and the plated dish when you’re not overcooking things.”
Doris Club’s There’s Still Time is split pretty naturally in two parts, so everything that’s not in Side A is on another record. “I think The Sea, The Ocean is a fun first song,” Doris Club says on which song to listen to off the album – besides the others, of course – it’s got two outros, which is exciting…” In an era where music serves as more than mere entertainment, Doris Club’s “There’s Still Time” EP stands as a poignant exploration of love, uncertainty, and surrender. The artist’s unique blend of vulnerability and experimentalism cements her as a formidable force in the musical landscape, leaving audiences eagerly anticipating the philosophical revelations promised in Side B.
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