Vermont Arts’ Notable EP Vermont 2021 | Tactical

Here’s a look at five EPs from Vermont artists who stood out in 2021, in order of release date.

Sarah King: “The Hour”Relatively new to the Vermont music scene, Ripton-based singer-songwriter Sarah King is no stranger to music. Originally from Maine, she moved to the Deep South over ten years ago to pursue a career in music and develop her bluesy roots sound.

“The Hour”, released in March, is King’s debut solo, and it’s a doozy. Produced by Simone Felice and David Baron (The Lumineers, Jade Bird), the five-song EP finds King shooting all cylinders after a year-long hiatus from the music after the death of several loved ones.

Armed with a new conviction to delve deeper into a more gritty and introspective country gothic style, King is a serious force to be reckoned with.

Kat Wright: ‘Trio Sessions Vol. 1 ‘

With a three-piece format that suits them well, extraordinary Burlington singer-songwriter Kat Wright and her tight-knit trio – guitarist Bob Wagner and bassist Josh Weinstein – delve into their acoustic roots during the session. of four self-recorded songs.

The results are simply magical on “Trio Sessions Vol. 1, ”released in March, which whets the appetite for more Kat Wright Trio music.

“The Glorious Leader and the Mystery of the Analog Booth”Glover-based indie-folk singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Glorious Leader aka Kyle Woolard released his second EP, “Glorious Leader & the Analog Cabin Mystery,” at the end of March – with a glossy, hardcover miniature book. which includes a separate chapter for each song with a score and an accompanying story.

The creative presentation is a compelling companion to the music, which captivates with pleasant simplicity and vivid images that evoke the physical and emotional landscapes of Woolard. The six-song EP shines with Woolard’s singular writing, honest lyrics and understated yet skillful musicality.

Omega Jade: ‘Elevate: The Rise of Mama MC’

Born in Arizona and raised in San Diego, Omega Jade – who moved to Vermont in 1999 – has generated a growing buzz in Burlington hip-hop and comedy circles over the past five years.

The 43-year-old Queen City MC and comedian released a stellar EP “Elevate: The Rise of Mama MC” in May on Equal Eyes Records. Jade is seriously one of Vermont’s most enjoyable and powerful releases of the year, delivering dope rhymes to old-fashioned hip-hop grooves.

Dwight + Nicole: “Further”

One of Vermont’s most established and compelling bands, acclaimed blues-soul-pop group Dwight + Nicole – guitarist Dwight Ritcher, singer / bassist Nicole Nelson and drummer Ezra Oklan – takes it up a notch with his five-song EP “Further”. Released in October, this is one of the best EPs ever to be released from Green Mountain State.

Recorded two years ago at Studio G in Brooklyn and produced by Grammy-nominated producer Joel Hamilton (The Black Keys, Mavis Staples), “Further” shines on the solid foundation of the tight-knit trio of vintage blues and soul while expanding its sound with pop and electronic elements for great effect.

It’s a wonderfully diverse batch of tracks that seriously whets the appetite for a full album, which Dwight + Nicole are recording with Hamilton.

thomaswhuntington @ hotmail.com