Loma – Loma

Beautiful Beginning, Peaceful End

Emily Cross and Dan Duszynski, husband and wife duo of the band Cross Record, found what they thought would be their key to success in Shearwater frontman Jonathan Meiburg. With Cross’ delightfully whimsical voice, Duszynski’s multi-instrumental talent and Meiburg’s lyrical sophistication, the trio couldn’t go wrong with the debut of their self-titled album, Loma. The ten-track album is a hello and goodbye of sorts to the blissful beginnings of musical endeavors and gruesome goodbyes to relationships. Over the course of months of recording in Texas, Loma created enough content for a debut album but lost parts of themselves along the way. With the release of the album, the split between the married couple followed.

“Who is Speaking” is the first track on the self-titled album and becomes the definition of short, sweet and to the point. “What does the night/ Have to do with the day? I should not ask/ What/ What/ What does the day/ Have to do with the night?” Those seven lines make up the entirety of the song and allow the opportunity to ponder on the true essence of life. Tracks like “I Don’t Want Children” became the beginning of the questioning both Cross and Duszynski faced about their fading relationship. “Black Willow” closes the album with eerie, mesmerizing soundscapes. The disappointing realization is that the track teases just how beautiful this band could be with their uncertain future.

In an article with NPR, Duszynski mentioned that “We never were romantically compatible. We just both liked working on music and we both really believed in the life that we wanted.” The mutual split didn’t interfere with the music masking, instead, it created astounding and powerful lyrics and music the listener can fully emerge themselves into. Love and life are two of the most difficult concepts we as humans come into play with during our time here. To please the masses we must please ourselves first, and Loma does both in their self-titled.