Virens - “Submitted To Sin”
Photo by Louisa Tratalos
April should not come to a close without another song from one of the nicest duos in the biz: Virens. We feel like we’ve watched Louisa & James grow up, first with the release of “Salut!,” then “Stitch Me Back Up,” and now with the stripped-back and heart-wrenching “Submitted To Sin.” They’ve managed to make quite a splash in the indie scene and once you press play on this new one, you’ll understand why.
Though they released “Salut!” and “Stitch Me Back Up” prior to this cut, “Submitted To Sin” is actually the first song that they ever wrote together. The acoustic guitar that starts this number is simply divine and once Louisa begins singing, it becomes immediately apparent that this song belongs on the mix CDs of yore, as the track would fit snugly among the songs passed between lovers, as well as the music you play when reeling from a relationship’s demise. Then, as James’ harmony joins, it is quite magical and if you’ve ever read a page of our blog, you’ll know that male + female harmonies are one of our biggest weaknesses.
The way that the duo trade verses will cause listeners to play this tragic movie in their heads, with both narrators telling their side of the story, yet managing to come together for those delicious harmonies. The production is otherwise beautifully sparse and it is easy to feel like you’re eavesdropping on the relationship struggles of your neighbors. However, “Submitted To Sin” is a very easy listen– so easy, in fact, that you will not notice it has completely ripped out your heart.
-TM