forestlike : forestlike

forestlike is the music duo of Jared Myers and Joshua Wayne Hensley. Meeting in the Michiana music scene of the late 90s, the two built a musical rapport playing on porches, dive bars, and DIY shows in various projects. While still remaining friends, Hensley went off to form The Rutabega, while Myers did his own thing. In 2019 the friends started sharing music files, and over the course of four years(and a worldwide pandemic) they created an 11-song debut as forestlike.

The debut, recorded in Myers’ home studio and mastered in Chicago by Carl Saff, is a folksy, acoustic-driven album of subtle beauty and whispered intents. Capturing the feel of early Elliott Smith – as well as everything from Bill Callahan, Phil Elverum, and Damien Jurado – Myers and Hensley as forestlike build songs with emotional depth and quiet contemplation while instilling a homespun warmth and open-hearted familiarity. The songs feel lived in and loved unconditionally.

“all into the day” opens the record on a sunshine-y mood, bringing to mind a band like The Owls with their sugary pop harmonies and head-bopping rhythm. It’s a fantastic entrance into forestlike’s world. Their vocals come together perfectly here, complimenting their indie pop sound. “cosmic danger” has a lilting sway to it. Fans of bands like Fleet Foxes and early Built to Spill will find much to love here.

“sinking stone” was inspired by a health crisis of Jared Myers which turned out to be a false alarm. Still, it scared him into thinking about wasting time and not getting the most out of one’s life. The result was this fragile, finger-picked song with subtle Mellotron to give the song a sort of dreaminess. “let’s get bent” is elevated with some amazing lap steel courtesy of John Barlow and has a Andy Shauf vibe to it. Closer “fighting(peace be with you)” has the dusty soul of a traditional folk pop classic, while this refrain “oh i want to know/is there nothing more worth fighting for?” echoes long after the song ends.

forestlike’s self-titled debut is a miracle in subtle nuance, whispered melodies, and ornate music simplicity. Two friends – decades into a friendship connected by a love of music – coming together to build something with words, chords, and melodies. After a decade of going in different directions, their paths came together once again in order to make music that was both personal yet inviting to any ears that will listen.

forestlike is out now. Buy it here.