Whim – Press Kit
“What is this silence about? We are the people who shout!”
In October of 2013, 17-year old Sarah Isabella DiMuzio walked into Fluff and Gravy Studios, armed with an acoustic guitar, a banjolele, and a wistful voice that was impossible to ignore. She was there to record tracks for her first independent EP called Small Infinity, released under her stage moniker, Whim. John Shepski and Juniana Lanning of Fluff and Gravy Records were there, and it’s a day they won’t soon forget. They immediately realized that they were witnessing an extraordinary artist. The songwriting was mature beyond her years, the hooks were unshakeable, and Sarah’s voice was singular. She was soon writing music for film and TV, moving to Galway, and then to New York.
Fast forward to 2018, and Sarah had moved back to Portland. When she approached Fluff and Gravy Studios about recording another record, John and Juniana jumped at the chance, and eventually became her backing band for the recording.
Abuzz in the Abyss is an album of impossibly catchy indie-pop gems, shoulder bopping singalongs, and tender ballads. From the jaunty piano intro of album opener, “Oh! Society!”, to the closing notes of the achingly beautiful “Irish Rain”, Sarah wastes no time drawing the listener in. This is pop music at it’s best, played with real instruments. The 13 tracks clocking in at just about 3 minutes each are a case study in economical songwriting. They get right to the point, and leave you wanting more.
The first single “Somebody Else’s Tongue” , was digitally released on 1/31. It’s a raw pop-rock track about a devastating moment of realization, set to a driving beat, crunchy guitars, and jangly percussion. It will draw you in from the opening guitar riff, and by the time it gets to the chorus you’ll be singing along before you even realize what it is you’re singing…
“Feels like I’ve swallowed a tongue, But not mine, Somebody else’s tongue, Maybe the wrong one”
Abuzz in the Abyss will be released on Fluff and Gravy Records on 4/24/20 on Limited Edition Color and Classic Black vinyl and digitally.
Stream the Singles
“Somebody Else’s Tongue” (released 1/31)
“Oh! Society!” (release date 2/21)
“Brick Walls And All Their Secrets” (release date 3/20)
Full Album Stream (private)
Press Materials
Press Photos (photos by Shabnam Ferdowsi)
Credits
Sarah Isabella DiMuzio – vocals, guitar, piano; Juniana Lanning – drums, percussion, vocals; John Shepski – bass, guitar, synth, organ; Anna Tivel – violin, octave violin; Flip McGuire – trumpet, saxophone
Produced by Sarah Isabella DiMuzio, John Shepski and Juniana Lanning
Engineered and mixed by Juniana Lanning at Fluff and Gravy Studios
Additional engineering by John Shepski
Mastered by Jon Neufeld
All songs (c) 2020, Whim, (p) 2020, Fluff and Gravy Records
Find Whim Here