Gray Dens - Gray Dens (2023) Hi Res

Filled with a sense of self-discovery and longing, Gray Dens is an honest exploration of one’s identity and what it means to be queer in the digital age. Recorded throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Gray Dens was created digitally by two friends separated by thousands of miles and blends their distinct musical styles into a swirling amalgam of acoustic and electronic sounds. From the lilting, ethereal atmosphere of tracks like “Artificial Womb” and “Fade Away” to the propulsive drums and humming bass of “Digital Sky”, the EP never commits to a single set of tones or ideas, but rather, embraces subtle experimentation to uplift the otherwise undemanding pop song structures. The intricate production layers bright live instrumentation with a cold underpinning of digital flourishes and alien synthesizers to create a detailed sonic landscape.

The record’s themes trace a wide gamut of emotions and situations and span an entire journey of searching and acceptance in just five songs. There are moments of struggle and of feeling trapped (“Unable”), and memories of once intimate relationships now slowly disappearing behind the veil of social media (“Digital Sky”), but also more optimistic portrayals of new love (“Fade Away”) and looking inward to find the confidence to finally take a step forward (“How Can I Know”). In the end, Gray Dens is nothing more than an invitation – an outstretched hand for anyone in doubt of themselves and their worth to let them know they aren’t alone.