20-year-old solo artist Billy Klepper aka Old April‘s, EP Forever, You’re Here is a gentle, acoustic coming of age story, and sees him appearing on our blog for the first time.

By Graeme Smith

From the off, there’s an intimacy to Forever, You’re Here that makes you realise just how special this collection of four tracks is for Billy. Bud features almost whispered vocals against a backdrop of melancholic indie folk. They deliver lyrics that bring a story of youth gone awry. I was immediately hooked.

The rawness of it all is enhanced by the fact that the EP was mostly recorded in Billy’s Penn State University dorm room. It means we learn as much about him through its recording style as we do through the intricate stories in the lyrics. Acoustic guitar provides much of the soundtrack, giving plenty of space to his delicate vocals. Title track Forever, You’re Here is the exception, having been recorded at the studio of RAL Productions, but it doesn’t feel incongruous. The intimacy remains.

Midsummer, 1985 provides a rock twist just as we are getting comfortable, stirring the senses with its jangly edge and emotional vocals. The EP is then closed by Billy’s personal favourite, Utah Money. As he describes it, it’s where he “fully dives into” insanity and we get that through its experimental electronica, languid vocals and heart-breaking minimalism.

I always say that music is at its best when the artist isn’t afraid to make themselves vulnerable, and show us all sides of themselves. It’s clear with this EP that Billy has conquered some fears to do exactly just that. Its four tracks paint a vivid picture of nostalgia and flirtations with insanity. They come together cohesively to beautifully express the drama of being young.

Forever, You’re Here is out now and you can give it a listen below.