Sounds From Another Dimension: A Night with Retrograde88 and Seafoam Walls
Image from Seafoam Walls Instagram // @seafoamwalls
Taken by Dennis Ho
Tucked away between a hardware store and a restaurant in Cambridge, local music venue The Lilypad hosted a night of genre-bending musical goodness with artists Retrograde88 and Seafoam Walls.
Francesca Londono and Maddie Russell of Retrograde88
Taken by Lucy Spangler
Retrograde88 is a local band hailing from Berklee where the members met back in 2021 while studying music. They’re made up of five members: Francesca Londono on vocals, bassist Maddie Russell, guitarist Olivia Monarch, Jack Becker on drums, and Gabriel de Solages on synth/keys. Their inspirations include Beach House and Tame Impala, meaning that their sound is a dreamy, atmospheric blend of ‘70s-esque funk basslines with smooth synths. Lead singer Francesca Londono sings over the instruments with a heavenly voice.
They kicked off the show with a mind-melting set of original music that woke me right out of my post-all-nighter haze. The siren song that is the harmonies of Londono, Russell, and Monarch’s triple threat vocals put the audience into an immediate trance. Gabriel de Solages’ synths provided that otherworldly sound that is a staple of the dream pop genre. My personal favorites from this set were “Falling,” “Into Your Eyes,” and “I Wanna Know.” Regardless of the tempo or the emotions behind it, every song by this band is simply incredible.
Seafoam Walls was next, coming all the way from Miami, Florida to play a wonderful mixture of jazz, shoegaze, indie rock, and hip hop. The four-piece started out as a solo project for member Jayan Bertrand back in 2014 and continues to grow. Bertrand is joined by members Dion Kerr, Joshua Ewers, and Josue Vargas. Each of the songs off their newest record “XVi“ offers a new listening experience, and it is incredibly fun to see them play this record live.
Jayan Bertrand and Josue Vargas of Seafoam Walls
Taken by Lucy Spangler
The highlights from this set for me were “You Always Said,” “You Can’t Have Your Cake and Ego Too,” and “AI.” The audience was completely sucked in. There’s something hypnotic about watching this band perform. I’ll admit I was a bit bummed out that I had to stay focused on my assignment and couldn’t spend the entire performance just dancing to the songs. It was a musical experience that I don’t get to enjoy very often and for that, I’m grateful. I left the show feeling completely revived after a miserable week of late nights and stress. The kind of music that strikes the right chords to put a restless mind at ease.
Both bands make a specific style of music that's best enjoyed just by sitting back, closing your eyes, and letting it wash over you. It’s calming yet energizing all at the same time, lovely for a warm, rainy night. The chemistry between the band members shines through when they play; for me, the genuine joy of performing makes a show so engaging. Their synergy is apparent from the seamless flow into each musical inclusion throughout a song’s progression, but it’s the passion and enjoyment these artists have for what they created that pays off tenfold.
After the show ended, audience members milled about in the open venue, interacting with both artists and complimenting them on their work. It was remarkably intimate; it’s not often that you get to speak face-to-face with musicians as an audience member. That aspect of socialization, connection, and unity between both parties is one of the things that I love most about concerts like this.Thanking the artists who gave me such a heartwarming feeling seemed almost as euphoric as reveling in their alluring sound.