Fall together babe or fall alone
The visions come but they do not wait
The vision fades
Another takes its place.
In the vast array of musicians, it’s rare to find one with a background as singular as David Van Witt, known in New York City as HNRY FLWR. Born to a Belgian expatriate in an Iowan cult, his formative years saw him crisscrossing the country alongside a clairvoyant mother with the uncanny ability to recall her own birth. For many artists, their origin stories are carefully crafted tales, some tinted with embellishment. Yet, with HNRY FLWR, one can only muse: given such a unique upbringing, was there any other path for him than to evolve into an eclectic songwriter at the helm of a celebrated Brooklyn indie ensemble?
His childhood, a singular blend of the bizarre and the beguiling, casts a long shadow over his present creations, evident in his most recent LP, Visions of the Daytime Moon. In a moment of deep reflection, David was transported to the innocence of his youth, where he found himself once again under the vast expanse of a cerulean sky, eyes fixed on the Moon’s gentle glow.
“That vision seemed to perfectly encapsulate what this album is about, so I named it Visions of the Daytime Moon – the art of letting go, of celebrating The Infinite Void, and embracing the mystique that lies in questions asked with the joy of curiosity,” he explains.
This curious spirit is unmistakably present in the gorgeous single “Moment of Trust.” But instead of regaling you with tales of his past, he nudges you to don your traveling shoes and join him on this unpredictable venture.
“Moment of Trust” unfurls as a pensive piano piece, echoing the lyrical depths of icons like Lee Hazlewood, Scott Walker, Richard Hawley, Father John Misty, and Weyes Blood, with perhaps a sly nod to the inimitable Paul McCartney. The song also carries with it a hint of the Dylan/Cave essence—rich layers that, much like those storied voices of human tribulations and triumphs, hide a deeper rumination on those ephemeral heartbeats of existence. Moments that strike a chord in any soul that’s ever danced with love, grappled with loss, sought an elusive dream, or yearned for more—simply put, anyone who’s truly lived.
The piano’s soulful strains are met in striking contrast by an upbeat bass, grounding us in the warm embrace of Americana. As if this weren’t enough, airy synths float above, reminiscent of a daytime moon’s celestial journey, with a gentle whisper of philosophy.
Listen below:
Van Witt’s musical troupe dubs their peculiar style as ‘sunshine-goth’. Imagine, if you will, celestial synthesizers waltzing cheek-to-cheek with drum beats that take a page from the book of kraut-rock. The affair grows even more intriguing with the infusion of serene, mind-bending moods that flit effortlessly with brisk, spirited beats—truly, a flirtation of the dark with the dazzling. Now, fold into this mix an impressive roster: Mattie Safer (The Rapture), Melanie Chambers, Abdon Valdez, Rosie Slater, Henry Raker, Sam Cohen (Sharon Van Etten), Jared Samuel (The Shins), Connor Grant, and Walter Fancourt (Yeasayer).
The streets of New York City resonate with tales from iconic venues like The Mercury Lounge, Baby’s All Right, Berlin, and the Sultan Room. Each has opened its doors to the almost-spiritual performances of HNRY FLWR. But don’t be mistaken; it’s not any preachy sermon that elevates these shows to the divine. Rather, it’s the promise of transformation and release. Every performance beckons attendees, offering an ethereal journey to another dimension of emotion and artistry.
“HNRY FLWR fans seek an immersive world in which they’re safe to feel deep spiritual connectivity where hometown religions failed them,” Van Witt says.
Visions of the Daytime Moon comes out on the 6th of October. Pre-save here.
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