Penny and Sparrow

Let me set the scene: Tornado sirens are blaring, people are texting me asking if I’m okay, my roommate is suggesting we find a house with a basement. As all of this is unraveling, I am uncorking a bottle of cabernet whilst attempting to justify leaving the window open on the premise that if I close it, the stormy night vibes won’t be able to get in. The final touch: Penny and Sparrow is playing in the background.

What you might view as “unreasonable” or “dangerous” on my part, I view as an experience that mother nature and I fine-tuned together. My most beloved moments listening to this band have involved dim lighting, candles, rain...an overall feeling of calm and warmth that’s juxtaposed by whatever the night brings. Their music somehow accomplishes both sweetness and poignance; perhaps an accurate descriptive word that encompasses the former and the latter would be tenderness. Some artists have a way of making you feel comfortable when you listen to them, like how you feel when you put on Sinatra or Fleetwood. Artists like these create music that has an air of familiarity - an element that puts listeners at ease. Penny and Sparrow has accomplished this comfortable feeling with their music effortlessly, and when you listen to them, you’ll feel reposed.

What really stands out about this duo is their dynamic. Together, Kyle Jahnke’s harmonies and Andy Baxter’s impressively wide vocal range are hypnotic. The way their voices intersect and diverge makes you think that there’s some kind of telepathy going on. Simply put, their voices are soulmates. Additionally, they put on a very entertaining and comical live performance, which is strangely complementary to the serious tone set by many of their songs. In the two hours I watched them perform, I experienced a wider range of emotions than one does when watching a Lifetime movie. However, it’s not a rabbit hole; Jahnke and Baxter draw their audience into moments of comic relief and back to heightened sensitivity so fluidly you almost don’t realize it’s happening, and it works.

There are an abundance of memories I associate with their individual songs and, although I have a personal attachment to most of my favorites, I also hold them close because they are remarkably beautiful in sound and meaning. So, without further ado, I’ll give you a few recommendations if you are new to Penny and Sparrow.

Gold: I would put this song in the “utterly heart-wrenching and mesmerizingly poetic” category - oddly specific, only because this song requires (deserves) its own category. I still remember the first time I heard “Gold”. I hung onto every perfect phrase and how each one was rhymed with an even more perfect phrase. “Covered in Gold, forgetting my skin / I recall you, I recall when”. Instant goosebumps. But truly, what’s even more awesome about this song is that it’s inspired by a novel titled Red Rising, and the lyrics mirror the storyline to accentuate the already emotion-rich plot. However, regardless of whether or not you’ve read the book, the song remains intensely meaningful. It’s a labyrinth through a lost potent connection; almost a eulogy. The name “Gold” is appropriate because the song itself carries immense weight. As you continue to listen, it presses down on whatever memories might be branded into your brain, not to crush them, but to push them further into recognition. This song certainly packs a punch, but with a nature that is captivating rather than disarming. It is not only my favorite Penny and Sparrow song, but amongst my top ten all-time favorite songs.

Cult Classically: This song is a nightcap, a morning coffee, an evening in; it’s sweet, and you want to hum it in the shower when you’re happy. It meanders without stumbling, like an unrehearsed speech that draws its coherence from passion, making it all the more sincere and understandable. Their lyrics, like handwritten letters, are nothing short of eloquent, and there is a core of acute intimacy that’s glossed with playful dialogue. From a guitar, some strings, and a bit of keyboard, comes a ballad of serene satisfaction contained by the lyrics “When we’re talking I release serotonin”.

Recuerda: The rhythm rises and falls like a heartbeat, with strums that are held up by snare taps until they collapse into the kick. Paired with a melody that seems to float, this song makes for an ideal romantic slow dance. Throw in a few words in spanish, a shaker, and a vibrato pedal and you’ve got something that rides the line between sentimental and sensual immaculately. “You wanna learn the ones you love / Let everyone you love learn you”. This dedication addresses the connection between devotion and the human condition, and how letting someone in - letting them really know you - is an act that is innately erotic.

White Ferrari (Cover): “I need this song in an IV going through my veins” - this is what my friend (who is an avid Frank Ocean fan) said when I played this cover for her. I’ll admit, covering Frank Ocean is a daring move, but when it’s done masterfully, such an accomplishment deserves recognition. Not only did Penny and Sparrow knock this one out of the park, they reconfigured it into an entirely different mood, sound, and experience. I was ecstatic when they released a live version on their latest EP, because seeing them perform this cover in concert was surreal. I’m not even going to try to describe it. Whether or not you’re familiar with Frank Ocean’s version, check out both and see what I mean when I say that Baxter and Jahnke reworked perfection with complete success.

The Literal Heart: I adore the raw honesty in these lyrics. They wrestle with the self-doubt everyone faces, and they own up to imperfection. They also acknowledge potential and hope. This song begs the question of what we are willing to give up as humans to change and grow. It’s easier to “settle down”, to “sit still and empty”, but is the easier route more fulfilling or purposeful? They address these questions quietly, and as the song crescendos, it indicates that this uncertainty never truly goes away; rather, it becomes more urgent with time and, ultimately, inescapable. Then, there’s a sonic explosion that serves as a resolution, seeming to answer these aforementioned questions, because, with every added instrumental layer, the song doesn’t “settle down” or “sit still and empty”. In fact, the song, like growth, has no real ending, it simply erupts. “The Literal Heart” is the sound of being human. How cool is that?

I would say that’s a decent starter pack. Next time you’re looking for external stillness and internal stirring, give these songs a listen, they’ll likely leave you wanting more. I feel like I discover something new by this band every time I put them on shuffle, and I’m always floored all over again. Their music is versatile, and you’ll find that their sound can mold to your surroundings quite impressively. Sure. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe “tornadic conditions” are not “ideal” or “safe”, but it would be a shame to pigeonhole Penny and Sparrow to a single atmosphere, so you do you.