Indie Folk became panoramically baroque in Jarel Domer’s ‘Ball & Chain’ –

Jarel Domer knows exactly how to conjure dusky psychedelia through chord progressions and emotively kaleidoscopic lyrical proclamation. That much is undeniable in Ball & Chain, his seminal single that sets a precedent for the introspective depths waiting to be unearthed in his forthcoming debut album, Sleepwalking.

If you can imagine Fleet Foxes reviving a baroque folk ballad, you’ll get an idea of the imagery waiting to greet you in Ball & Chain—a title that may not sound like the most amorous starting point for an indie folk number, yet it’s effortless to feel spirited away by the escapism offered in the panoramic vignette. The single could soundtrack a Maypole dance or an emotional reckoning at Midsommar Festival with equal sincerity.

The warmth in the lo-fi textures serves as the perfect foil for the gentle unease laced through his songwriting. As an artist with a firm grasp on the atmosphere he wants to create and the emotional clarity he’s willing to expose, Domer doesn’t hide behind polish or platitudes. He lets the song unfurl on its own terms.

After studying history and journalism, the Sandpoint, Idaho-based multi-instrumentalist began writing songs in his mid-twenties. He’s since honed a style that quietly radiates the depth of lived experience and literary awareness. Ball & Chainmay only scratch the surface of what he has to offer, but the view already cuts deep.

Ball & Chain is now available on all major streaming platforms, including SoundCloud. 

– Review by Amelia Vandergast