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Salt Lake City-based indie rock band the moss is starting their 2023 on an emotional roller coaster with the release of their latest EP, Insomnia. The quartet, comprised of vocalist and guitarist Tyke James, guitarist Addison Sharp, drummer Willie Fowler, and bassist Brierton Sharp, dissect young love, pairing it with uptempo guitar reverb while paying homage to the founding members' island days on Hawaii with warm, sun-drenched instrumentals. 

Insomnia opens with the romantically hopeful title track, which reflects on the blissful uncertainty of new love. The track starts with an explosive countdown that catapults listeners into a world full of dynamic textures. The instrumentation is rife with pulsing kick drums and electric guitar riffs mirroring the pounding heart and racing mind. Sincere and open-hearted lyrics like, "Waking up next to you, it feels too good to be true," expertly convey the complexities of falling in love and the myriad of emotions that come with it—joy, angst, fear, and everything in between.

Listeners then wade through the water of melancholy as the band dives into the depths of romantic loss on "Blink." Dramatic and contemplative, the track is deeply relatable as it examines fear and vulnerability while reverberating surf-rock-nodding guitars blanket the sonic space. James breaks our hearts as warm vocals croon, "Hold me like it's never going to end. Please change your mind. If I lose you, I may never love again."

The energy comes flooding back in again on "Carousel." James opens the song with the question, "Why is everybody so crowded all the time?," hooking listeners in as they manage an impending panic attack. The band's musicality shines as intricate layers of catchy guitar licks and seamless transitions weave a story of how to deal with anxiety when things "won't go the way you planned." The EP then ends with the kaleidoscopic "Chapparal." The instrumental opening is the perfect runway for the song to take off. Blending hallmarks of pop-rock with a hint of surf rock, it settles into a reggae-inspired groove before working through the pattern all over again.

Overall, Insomnia shares elements of the band's 2021 release, Kentucky Derby, in its sound and romantic themes, but explores enough newfound territory to keep it fresh. the moss bring passion to their lyrics, vocals, and instruments and, in doing so, have created space for listeners old and new to relate to love, anxiety, loss, and more, proving they are as open-minded and hearted as ever. 

Listen to Insomnia below: