Friday 9/25: Emily A. Sprague—"Star Gazing"
Today, we share our thoughts on a new song by the L.A.-based ambient musician Emily A. Sprague.
Welcome to Endless Scroll, the brainchild of Eli Enis (he/him) and Eric Bennett (they/them). Since Feb. 2019, we’ve been a weekly podcast about music, the internet, and where those two things intersect. Now we’re, also a M-F newsletter about songs. Our format is simple: a link to a song and a short take from each of us about what we think of it. Each day of the week has a corresponding genre: Monday is indie, Tuesday is punk, Wednesday is hip-hop, Thursday is pop, and Friday is misc.
Today, we share our thoughts on a new song by the L.A.-based ambient musician Emily A. Sprague.
Emily A. Sprague—"Star Gazing"
Eric Bennett:
Emily A. Sprague is always a go-to for me when I need something simple and stirring. From her work in Florist, which has spawned one of my favorite records, last year's Emily Alone, to her ambient music released under her full name, there’s a peaceful stillness to all that she does. “Star Gazing” from her record Hill, Flower, Fog, carries this same calmness, but is joyful and meek. The little synths (maybe it’s a theremin? I don’t know) sound as though they are playing amongst a vast expanse, whirling past each other. It’s delightful and the record is going to the top of my vinyl wishlist. I, like most people, have a lot of trouble getting out of my head, not able to easily shed stress. This is the sort of music that mellows you at your core—just gorgeous work.
Eli Enis:
In my mind, there are two main schools of ambient music: ambient for active listening and ambient for passive listening. The genre is somewhat vaguely defined and quite broad, but generally I think that an ambient composition, however chill, either grips your focus and pulls you into its mesmerizing bind. Or, staying true to the word “ambient” itself, serves as musical drapery; a score for wandering thoughts and self-imposed meditation. For me, Emily Sprague’s music is my go-to for the latter. I listen to her music all the time when I’m writing, reading, or just need something to throw on while I think. Every time, her music helps me zero into the present while simultaneously taking me to another place: the great outdoors. It never ceases to amaze me how Sprague can capture the indescribable beauty and intangible rhythm of nature with just a handful of whispering moogs. And the video for “Star Gazing” makes it even easier to travel to her landscapes of misty treetops and placid streams. I’ve been listening to her repeatedly for years now and I never grow tired of taking that journey.