Nashville/West Virginia folk-rock outfit Coyotes in Boxes celebrate the release of their YOWLER EP with a free show Friday at The World Famous, where attendees will also receive a free download of the new release. We asked the band to explain the inspiration behind each song on the EP. Plus, check out an exclusive stream of “Astrid,” the record’s second track.
We’re proud of the work on our first album, and Curtis and Fox, but for our new, six-song EP, we wanted to capture a more eccentric side of the band. YOWLER represents our move to East Nashville from Huntington, WV nicely—the production is slicker and weirder. The songs were inspired as much by cultural archetypes and our own invented mythology than any particular artists that we’ve been listening to lately. Here’s our track-by-track run down on what gave life to YOWLER.
1. “And the Sun”
Human experience teaches us that there are moments when everything is equally dark and light—moments in time that are as frustrating as they are hopeful. We recorded this song hoping it would sound both anxious and excitable. Our goal was to use throaty guitar tones and distorted bass lines to paint a picture reminiscent of these instances. [Kyle Baughman, drums/vocals]
2. “Astrid”
The closest thing we’ve written to a heartbreak song. Stuart was a fish out of water—that was, until he met Astrid, who made him dance on his bones. She was all talk, all whispers and yet all thumbs and all the fingers. She was all the things he loved and then a punch to the gut. [Steven Holland, vocals/bass]
3. “Argus: All Eyes”
This one is a swirling, underwater neo-Bossanova jaunt through pillowy textures of crackling electric fuzz obscuring mythological tales of an all-seeing primordial giant. That optically-enhanced freak is just trying his hardest and doing his best in every situation—a beast not unlike you and me. [Chris Miller, keys]
4. “Swanky”
Another character study. Swanky was once a panda-man with hope-filled eyes, taking his world by the horns. Now, he’s yowling at the moon and scribbling his grievances onto the back of Comcast receipts. His story staggers along to the choppy rhythm of his (and our?) innermost meanderings. [Sean Knisely, guitar/vocals]
5. “Sheepskin”
This song was born from a few new chords I had just learned and hours of wasting away in front of a cash register. I thought it would be cool to write a song from the point of view of a heathenish character, like the villainous Snidely Whiplash (yes, the cartoon character that appeared in “Dudley-Do-Right” segments on “The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show”) that ties damsels in distress to train tracks. We wanted to have the rhythm and pace of the song emulate a train barreling down the tracks. [SH]
6. “Ark Song”
The song continues the story of a young man and the neighborly creatures from a song onand Curtis and Fox called “Little Beasties.” The debate over what is man and what is beast has brought both sides together on a dock to board a ship. The man and beasts sing songs of freedom until the young man is whisked away by the shade of slumber. The animals lovingly release the young man to the wild, waving from the docks. [KB]
Friday, Aug. 22. 8 p.m. FREE! www.theworldfamousathens.com
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