{"id":25952,"date":"2025-01-20T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-01-20T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rpmonline.co.uk\/?p=25952"},"modified":"2025-01-16T22:31:33","modified_gmt":"2025-01-16T22:31:33","slug":"long-island-the-freedom-of-being-young-self-released","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rpmonline.co.uk\/?p=25952","title":{"rendered":"Long Island &#8211; \u2018The Freedom of Being Young\u2019 (Self-Released)"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-medium\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rpmonline.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/a2865101643_10.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/rpmonline.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/a2865101643_10-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-25953\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rpmonline.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/a2865101643_10-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rpmonline.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/a2865101643_10-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/rpmonline.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/a2865101643_10-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/rpmonline.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/a2865101643_10-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rpmonline.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/a2865101643_10-1140x1140.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/rpmonline.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/a2865101643_10-65x65.jpg 65w, https:\/\/rpmonline.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/a2865101643_10.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Indie music isn\u2019t the first genre that comes to mind when we think of RPM Online, but there are times a band pops up and leaves such an impression that you want to let others know about them, especially when I know our readers also have diverse tastes. Long Island was a brand-new name for me in the last quarter of 2024. Based in Huddersfield, it appears they released their debut album two years ago which is now on my list of albums to hear. This mini album or EP came out a few months ago. The band had popped up as a YouTube recommendation one night when I was looking for new music. The algorithm on there and I have made some great discoveries over the years, and this has definitely been one of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"LONG ISLAND - want it more (Music Video)\" width=\"1140\" height=\"641\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Xe3WS0ONRIQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The first songs I heard from this release carried a bit more power to them than others on here. Rhiannon Stephenson\u2019s vocals carry a sense of urgency on the rocking \u2018Want It More\u2019 where Cameron Conner lets loose on lead guitar too. That was my first introduction to the band with the follow-up song on this release \u2018Get Up and Go\u2019 the next one. Stephenson\u2019s lyrics hit the soul and remind us of times in the past (for me) when we didn\u2019t feel like we were in the right place in life. She feels like the voice inside your head that helps us push forward when we feel the darkness around us. I love the guitar riff in the song, and this one currently stands as my favorite here. There is a pop sheen in the hook of the chorus and a wash of guitar that provides the perfect sonic backdrop for the vocals. Conner\u2019s production and mix is stellar across the entire release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I would not be recommending this whole EP if the two prior songs were the only standouts here. If we circle back to the beginning, this release starts with the poppy \u2018It\u2019s Our Time\u2019 where the band unleash a lush sounding first track to bring casual listeners in to hear more. Ironically, I would say this has been more of a grower for me. Imagine one of the peppier songs by the Cure if they were having a good day and wanted to share the good news. I know that sounds off the wall but try to imagine it or better yet listen to this album. The backing vocals hit a sweet spot here too. Another of my favorites has grown to be \u2018Just Another Day\u2019 where the tempo is a swirly slower beat providing Stephenson an opportunity to shine. The organic feel across these songs feels very natural with Jan van Beem\u2019s drums driving the songs and making me want to hear the band live. Bass duties have been split on this release between Jack Peters and Paddy Spence-Lewis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you read the title \u2018Daydream,\u2019 you may think of something that has a massive pop infusion, and you would not be wrong. If there is one song that does not fully connect with me, it is likely this one, but I don\u2019t think I would be the primary audience here either. It is a solid song for me and one I would more expect to hear in a club before the lights come back on in full again. Things slow down for the beginning of \u2018Homewrecker\u2019 which is another emotional powerhouse. Emotion and genuineness drip off Stephenson\u2019s vocals drawing you closer to the speaker. I am reminded of the time I was lucky enough to see the band Rural Alberta Advantage live, when they started a song in a similar manner, and you could have heard a feather hit the ground because of how enraptured the audience was. This song then surges forward in an adrenaline rush and another solid hook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"LONG ISLAND - get up and go (Music Video)\" width=\"1140\" height=\"641\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/DFgPGZPJhd8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Those songs lead us back to where we began and then we have the band close with \u2018Young,\u2019 a de facto title track. The tempo is again quicker here with the band closing with another winner that can connect with rockers and probably a younger audience who appreciate the more rambunctious offerings of Olivia Rodrigo. The line in the chorus about \u2018missing the freedom of being young\u2019 connects with an older person like me and also strikes a similar vibe to Tilly Kingston\u2019s song \u2018Youth is Wasted\u2019 in sentiment. I could see the audiences of each artist appealing to the other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A couple months ago or so, I had never heard of Long Island but was pulled right in as a fan of the band and what they are doing here. It might be the slightly harder songs that brought me into the fold, but it is the entirety of the release that kept me listening to this over and over again. Give Long Island a listen and appreciate what this young band is already doing. I look forward to seeing where they go next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2018The Freedom of Being Young\u2019 is available now. Buy <a href=\"https:\/\/longislanduk.bandcamp.com\/album\/the-freedom-of-being-young\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/longislanduk.bandcamp.com\/album\/the-freedom-of-being-young\">Here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/longislanduk\">Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/longislanduk\">Instagram<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Author: Gerald Stansbury<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Indie music isn\u2019t the first genre that comes to mind when we think of RPM Online, but there are times a band pops up and leaves such an impression that you want to let others know about them, especially when I know our readers also have diverse tastes. Long Island was a brand-new name for [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":25953,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[39],"tags":[8687],"class_list":["post-25952","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-review","tag-long-island"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rpmonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25952","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rpmonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rpmonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rpmonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rpmonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=25952"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/rpmonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25952\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25954,"href":"https:\/\/rpmonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25952\/revisions\/25954"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rpmonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/25953"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rpmonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=25952"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rpmonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=25952"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rpmonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=25952"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}