Music as a Polaroid

Let’s talk about the Belgian band, BLUAI, for a sec. (pr. “Blue Eye”) And if someone asks how they sound? You say, “The love-child of Big Thief and Boygenius.” Not a cute baby, but a beautiful baby. Notes of Americana, country-pop and indie folk—SXSW vibes, ya know? Just a quick listen and you’re on a ranch in Texas. Galloping horses, wide open spaces, bittersweet memories — but from that front-porch looking out, everything is as it should be: It’s a great day to be alive.

The Antwerp-based band was put together by Catherin Smet, who uncoincidentally is also a photographer. Her work together with Mo Govaerts (drums) and Caitlin Talbut (bass) looks and sounds like a polaroid photo: nostalgic, warm, visual, infinite. The trio immediately won three important Belgian music awards: Humo’s Rock Rally, Sound Track, and De Nieuwe Lichting from Studio Brussel. And now they’ve got their debut album, Save It For Later. BLUAI begins their Dutch album tour with us here in the North before traveling to Rotterdam, Nijmegen and Amsterdam. Believe us — it’s gonna be marvelous.