Litvar – “Being Here”

Litvar released their third album, Being Here. Frontman Rex Thurstan wrote these eleven songs on a Gibson J-45 guitar after losing his father. The record deals with grief, hard times, and slowly finding a path forward. Thurstan spent months alone before picking up his guitar to turn personal pain into open, honest songs.

You can hear that heavy struggle in tracks like “I Hate It Here,” which starts with the last words he spoke to his dad. On “Belong,” his quiet voice echoes while driving down dark streets at night. The music does not hide the panic either. “Yeah I Know” captures that terrifying feeling of losing control when anxiety takes over.

But the album does not stay in the dark. Songs like “Real Life” focus on accepting how life unfolds rather than wishing everything went to plan. The final track, “Leaving Seattle,” brings a sense of calm and signals the end of a tough depression. Working with drummer Joe Lemieux, guitarist Violet Falkowski, and bassist John Blues McCarthy, the band traded heavy electronic sounds for raw, stripped-down folk tunes. It is an honest, personal record about moving past tough losses and starting over.

Make sure to follow Litvar on social media to stay updated on new releases in this year.