Alternative Rock from first known use

Coming out of Burlington in Vermont, newcomers first known use is the musical project of Izze Kaukonen and Ethan Fitzpatrick, a duo that views songwriting with a philosophy that challenges the idea of artistic creation.By not seeing themselves as the originators of their music, they believe songs exist independently of the people who perform them, waiting to be discovered, captured and translated into something tangible.

It’s an outlook that informs both their creative process and the music itself, resulting in an artistic endeavour that embraces experimentation while remaining tethererd to sounds that feel familiar and inviting. The act of making music becomes an exercise in exploration for first known use; their name reflects the belief that musicians are not necessarily the source material behind a song, but participants in a process of bringing something already present into the world.

Writing, recording and performing are therefore less about inventing something from nothing and more about recognising an idea, finding its shape and communicating it through sound. This perspective gives the duo an inquisitive element to their work, allowing their music to move beyond familiar sphere while retaining the warmth that makes it accessible.

At the centre of the project is the interplay between Izze’s vocals and lyricism and Ethan’s guitar work and arrangements. Izze brings a silky vocal delivery alongside lyrics that are at once delicate and assertive, creating space for reflection while Ethan complements this with a laid-back guitar style and dynamic arrangements, providing a musical setting that can accommodate subtle shifts and more exploratory ideas. Together, their contrasting qualities form a collaborative language that feels attentive to detail, with each element contributing to the atmosphere of the whole.

Having captured their sound in the studio, first known use made its entrance last month with their debut single titled “Semantics,” before quickly following it with their first EP, Yielding. Together, the releases introduce a project built around curiosity, collaboration and an knack for understanding of what it means to make music. Offering the perfect display of their shared sonic vision, “Semantics” presents an epic musical voyage that gradually builds from a delicate acoustic intro towards a consuming, shoegaze-inflected climax.

Brought in by the breezy flicker of acoustic guitar, mellow taps of drums and Izze’s tender vocal delivery, the pair cast a dreamy scene that glides with lilting rhythmic sway and intricate melodic layers. Building with the crunch of crashing drums and stacks of distorted guitars, Izze’s voice takes flight above the alternative rock arrangement, resulting in a gripping surge of sonic energy before simmering back down to the soothing tones of mesmeric instrumentation and soft rhythms. Brimming with dynamic shifts and rousing bursts of intensity, “Semantics” serves up a thrilling debut outing from an exciting new duo.

Marking their arrival in spectacular fashion, first known use firmly plant themselves on the map of must watch acts on the rise in the rock music sphere. Izze and Ethan come at each song as something to be uncovered and translated, using their combined voices and arrangements to bring its possibilities into focus and having already followed up with their debut EP, they’re showing no signs of slowing down on their exciting musical adventure and we can’t wait to see what this captivating duo has in store next.

Listen to Semantics below

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