Silo Hill is the moniker of reclusive singer-songwriter D.L., an artist based in Laramie, Wyoming, drawing on a unique blend of folk rock and indie influences. Originally hailing from the Philadelphia area, D.L.’s musical journey began as a teenage pursuit to impress girls with guitar skills, but soon evolved into a lifelong passion for songwriting and self-expression.
Inspired by a diverse array of artists spanning decades and genres, Silo Hill’s sound is woven from the threads of 60s folk rock, late 90s and 2000s indie and a touch of psychedelia and baroque pop. Drawing comparisons to iconic acts like Elliott Smith, Andrew Bird and The Shins, Silo Hill writes clever lyrics accompanied by acoustic fingerpicking and jangly electric guitars all captured in his self-produced sound.
In 2021 he unveiled his sound to the world via the debut album Neither Here Nor There and put himself on the map of must-watch singer-songwriters. With recent influence from artists such as Belle and Sebastian, Neutral Milk Hotel, Phoebe Bridgers, Camera Obscura, Soltero and more, his own sound reflects the diversity of the musical inputs he looks to.
While on camping trips in remote parts of Wyoming, Utah and Nevada, inspiration struck the artist and he penned most of the material that would form his follow up release, his brand new sophomore full-length record. Recorded and produced entirely by himself, the self-titled LP, Silo Hill, serves up another twelve original songs, captured via his DIY approach in a his small home studio where the walls are lined with sound treatment made from scrap wood and insulation, under the water-stained ceiling.
Opened by “Here Goes Nothing,” lively acoustic guitar strums kick off the album as Silo’s bright vocals spin playful melodic leads above. The uptempo shuffle of drums and groove of bass lines fill out the arrangement as the artist applies his catchy songwriting style to deliver a delightful acoustic rock sound cut with memorable power pop stylings.
“You’ve Got To Pull Yourself Together” injects an infectious pop rock vibe via bouncy rhythm and lightly fuzzy guitar tones. Airy vocals drift above the pulse of the bass lines, twang of guitar chords and strike of drums to craft an engaging and subtly moody sound capped by slick lead guitar flourishes.
On “Waltz,” Silo slows the tempo with a laid back country-tinged arrangement of delicate guitar work, mellow tapping percussion and elegant vocal lines. Offering a charming folk piece with warm string tones, it’s another display of his appealing songwriting and knack for bringing his composition to life via graceful instrumental work.
Other highlights on the record include songs like “Planet Earth 1999” where buoyant rhythms, intricate plucked lines and soft reversed tones converge to form an upbeat backdrop for Silo to stitch radiant melodic threads into the musical fabric. “Trail of the Ancients” casts an intimate acoustic spell of lilting rhythms topped by hushed vocal work and cut with experimental flickers of instrumentation and samples to create an alternative folk pop sound.
The album closes with “Start of Something” where lush vocalisations layer up to form a stunning a cappella piece to provide a superb finale to the album. From start to finish the artist offers an epic run through of his highly original sonic vision, brought to life with assured performance, production and variation throughout.
Listen to Silo Hill below
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