Five Letter Word - Siren (2019)

The debut album Siren, from Portland, Oregon based trio Five Letter Word, takes its title from audiences’ oft-guessed origin of their band name. Such speculation is not that far afield, as these three powerful women, with their harmony-driven ‘siren song’ folk/Americana, are vocally alluring, achingly sweet, and known to provide some unexpected dramatic songwriting twists and turns. Taking inspiration from the harmonic tradition of groups like The Wailin’ Jennys, Dixie Chicks, and The Wood Brothers, Five Letter Word add their own special flair, as Vortex Magazine remarks: “the fiery, sweet sounds the three create when they come together is uniquely infectious.”

In the short year and half they’ve been together, Five Letter Word, composed of Audra Nemir (vocals, bass), Clara Baker (vocals, lead & rhythm guitar, fiddle, banjo), and Leigh Jones (vocals, guitar, percussion) have toured close to a dozen states, won the prestigious 2018 Northwest String Summit Band Competition, and individually or collaboratively wrote all 10 original songs on their debut. Recorded by Bart Budwig (Shook Twins, John Craigie, Caitlin Jemma) and Nevada Sowle at The OK Theatre in Enterprise, Oregon, the album features female characters who are imperfect yet embody the many different characteristics of what it means to be a human and a woman: witty, sexy, playful, vengeful, reflective, heartbroken, lonely, angry, poetic, romantic, sassy, and strong.

Throughout Siren, the trio effortlessly trade lead and harmony vocals, playing to each song’s nuance, anchoring every tune with gentle and able picking and solid bass and fiddle lines. The opening track “Cast Iron Skillet” is a skillfully told murder ballad that builds and builds “like the rage she has inside” when a woman finally strikes out and takes vengeance on her deadbeat husband. “Easier To Go” and “Hold Your Own” highlight the trio’s vocal synergy and instrumental deftness, while ever so sweetly tackling the subject of love in all its myriad complexities. “Rumor of the Money” is another perfectly crafted murder tale that can’t help but get you smiling with the absurdity of the story and its catchy phrasing and doo-wop harmonies. The sultry delivery and jazzy swing of “Silent Message” and “Bills in the Mail” shuffle amicably along, with the latter tune bolstered by Bart Budwig on trumpet. In “Siren Will Sound,” a song about love lost and hope for love within a natural catastrophe, ethereal vocals accentuate the dreamy narrative. Straying into the old-time tradition with some easy going banjo picking, are the harmonically intriguing ballad “Still You Stay” and bluegrass-infused “Eight Minute Call.” Ending on a lighthearted note is the humorous and anthemic tune “More Than Your Dog.”

On Siren, Five Letter Word showcase their agility as a band, playing a variety of genres from blues to bluegrass and beyond, while highlighting their gorgeous vocal chemistry in witty, touching, and insightful songs.



Track List:
01. Cast Iron Skillet 03:07
02. Easier To Go 03:20
03. Hold Your Own 04:40
04. Rumor Of The Money 05:11
05. Bills In The Mail 04:22
06. Siren Will Sound 03:49
07. Silent Message 03:30
08. Still You Stay 03:37
09. Eight Minute Call 02:51
10. More Than Your Dog 03:37

Clara Baker - Vocals, Guitars, Fiddle, Banjo
Leigh Jones - Vocals, Guitars, Percussion, Harmonica
Audra Nemir - Vocals, Bass

Guests:
Bart Budwig - Trumpet (5)
Sam Fribush - Rhodes Piano (10)
Nevada Sowle - Percussion (4,7)

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