Braids
Intricate art rock where crystalline synths meet hyper-dynamic vocals. A balance of electronic precision and raw, organic emotional release for deep listening.
Intricate art rock where crystalline synths meet hyper-dynamic vocals. A balance of electronic precision and raw, organic emotional release for deep listening.
Braids creates music that feels like a living, breathing machine. It is characterized by a fascinating tension between the cold, calculated precision of electronic sequencing and the warm, often erratic pulse of human emotion. Raphaelle Standell-Preston’s vocals are the centerpiece, shifting effortlessly from a hushed, intimate whisper to a powerful, soaring wail that demands your full attention.
What truly sets them apart is their rhythmic complexity. While many of their peers lean into steady 4/4 beats, Braids often utilizes polyrhythms and unconventional structures that keep the listener slightly off-balance. The production is lush and multi-layered, often featuring 'breath' sounds and organic textures that make the digital elements feel surprisingly tactile and intimate.
Start with 'Deep in the Iris' for a more accessible, sun-drenched entry point that highlights their songwriting, or dive into 'Flourish // Perish' if you prefer a darker, more claustrophobic electronic experience. Their music is best enjoyed with high-quality headphones to catch the subtle interplay between the layered vocals and the intricate percussion.
Braids (formerly stylized as BRAIDS) is a Canadian art rock band originating from Calgary, Alberta and based in Montréal, Québec for most of their career. Braids currently consists of Raphaelle Standell-Preston, Austin Tufts and Taylor Smith. The band (along with former members Katie Lee and Vince Man) met at a young age and began collaborating in high school. Their debut album, Native Speaker, was released on January 18, 2011, in Canada and the United States to generally positive reviews. The album was shortlisted for the 2011 Polaris Music Prize. The band's second album, Flourish // Perish, was released on August 20, 2013. Their third, Deep in the Iris, was released on April 28, 2015, and was awarded the 2015 Juno Award for Alternative Album of the Year.
Shares art rock, dream pop, electronica (subgenres); layered dense, digital clarity, reverb heavy (production style)
Shares vulnerable, restless, cathartic (moods); reverb heavy, layered dense, studio polished (production style)
Shares vulnerable, contemplative, restless (moods); reverb heavy, layered dense, bedroom production (production style)
Shares layered dense, digital clarity, reverb heavy (production style); dream pop, electronica, indie pop (subgenres)
Shares dream pop, electronica, indie pop (subgenres); falsetto, breathy, vocal layering (vocal style)
Shares layered dense, reverb heavy, digital clarity (production style); solitude, urban night, rainy day (atmosphere)
Shares vulnerable, contemplative, restless (moods); art rock, dream pop (subgenres)
Shares art rock, dream pop, electronica (subgenres); layered dense, reverb heavy, studio polished (production style)
Shares art rock, dream pop, indie pop (subgenres); reverb heavy, layered dense, studio polished (production style)
Shares art rock, dream pop, electronica (subgenres); digital clarity, layered dense, reverb heavy (production style)
Shares vocal layering, liquid, electronica, falsetto (signature)
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