Same Side has announced the sophomore album ’Oh No’ will be set for release on February 2nd, 2024 on Pure Noise Records. Same Side is the solo project of Kevin Geyer, and is yet another entry into his set of far-reaching musical projects: the overdriven alt-rock of underground torchbearers The Story So Far, the indie-meets-pop-rock supergroup Pile Of Love and the ‘90s-leaning jangle quartet Elder Brother. All his endeavors represent distinct parts of his artistic personality, but Same Side’s sophomore LP is perhaps the most authentic encapsulation of the Bay Area singer/guitarist’s musical soul these days: lush acoustic guitars, tempered energy, and wholly vulnerable songwriting.
Produced by longtime collaborator Ben Hirschfield, the songs took shape at Geyer’s downtown San Francisco practice space – the resulting 10 tracks carry with them a sense of artistic purity that springs from first-impulse inspiration, the sound of a songwriter chasing an idea from its earliest noise to its fullest potential. “My gut instinct is to just take whatever comes out and then try to make it as good as possible,” Geyer says. “The innocence stems from not trying to be so serious about everything and instead just let it happen.”
As such, the songs on ’Oh No’ aren’t overwrought, instead warmly colored by place-and-time vignettes: the sort of moments that feel big and important when you’re in them but eventually fade with time. “Thematically, there tends to be some sort of playful dread with my lyrics,” he says. “You sort of feel like, ‘Oh no, here we go again.’ But ultimately, you can’t just sit around and wait for things to get better. You have to get over it and move on with life.”
That commitment to not dwelling on life’s could’ve-beens ultimately underpins every musical decision Geyer makes on the album, intrinsically trusting his instincts and working hard not to overthink any part of the process. If it felt right, it made it into the songs, and this sense of inner peace makes for an album that puts his powerful spirit of self-belief front and center.
“Whether that makes for better art or not is really irrelevant,” he says matter-of-factly about his songwriting approach. “It feels good to have a space where I can do what I want. It’s not meant to be the pinnacle of how good a song can be. Instead, it’s about making a song my own – having an outlet that feels less about the outcome and more about the process.”
’Oh No’ tracklist:
01. Before
02. Now
03. Cruise
04. On & On & On
05. What You’re Missing
06. Static
07. Killing Time
08. Oh No
09. POV
10. Part Of It