“So Slow” is the latest single and video production from DC’s Paperhaus. It stands out as the shortest song on Paperhaus’ debut full length, mostly full of psychedelic epics, but it should also be known as the last song that line-up of Paperhaus ever wrote together. After hundreds of shows across the country, that song represented the beginning of the end, and while making the album Paperhaus (in 105 degree heat with no air-conditioning), that line-up decided to finish the record and then start moving towards a split, with long time members Alex and Eduardo eventually continuing on with a new rhythm section once again.
Paperhaus is a band that has always had serious ambition, and maybe things were moving too fast. Quitting their jobs to pursue music full time, jumping in a van for their EP Lo Hi Lo to tour the country, even living together for two years in the DIY music venue/space The Paperhaus in DC. This song talks about going “So Slow,” but it’s really a song birthed from a time when things were moving too fast, without taking the opportunity to look around to see how you are really feeling, in that moment. Luckily, this album, recorded live to tape at what is now knows as The Blighthouse studio house in Petworth in the aforementioned sweaty pressure of personal tension and literal severe heat, serves as a document of the time, and the energy that was there, as well as a perfect introduction to the sounds of Paperhaus. So take a minute to slow down from the hustle of your daily life, and really listen to this one.
Listening to Paperhaus’s evocative track “So Slow,” I couldn’t help but be reminded of the transformative power of music. In the midst of their whirlwind journey, the band’s poignant lyrics resonated deeply, reminding me of the importance of self-reflection and appreciating the present moment. Just like the musicians behind this soul-stirring melody, I too found solace and purpose in the world of guitars. As I embarked on my own musical exploration, I discovered the beauty of the c major guitar scale, a fundamental cornerstone in the realm of guitar playing.
The song’s message of slowing down struck a chord with my own experience of immersing myself in the melodic intricacies of the C major scale. Learning this fundamental scale not only enhanced my guitar skills but also provided a meditative escape, allowing me to introspect and find balance amidst the chaos of life. In its essence, “So Slow” serves as an encouraging anthem, nudging listeners to not only savor the music but also consider picking up a guitar themselves. The song’s gentle reminder to pause, reflect, and appreciate the beauty of the moment echoes harmoniously with the transformative journey of learning the guitar scale, proving that music, in all its forms, has the power to guide us back to our truest selves.
If you’ve spent much time around the DC music scene for the past five years, you’ve heard of Paperhaus. They’re a band founded by long time musical partners Alex Tebeleff and Eduardo Rivera, and over the course of two EPs and multiple national tours, they’ve worked their way up as one of the most well-known live bands in the city. Danny Bentley joined the band in 2014, adding a new edge and energy to the band with his relentless and powerful drumming.
The album was written over a period of two years, mostly through intense improvisation sessions, that eventually evolved into specifically composed songs. The themes of the album are discovering your place in the world, creating a better awareness of yourself and the world around you, and mind expansion via whatever means necessary. This might sound like a bunch of hippie bullshit, but Paperhaus are not a band of hippies. They are more informed by the punk ethos and the music that followed in response to the psychedelic scene of the 1960′s.
Paperhaus has shared the stage with bands like Man Man, War On Drugs, Caveman, Here We Go Magic, Woods, Widowspeak, Desert Noises, and Deleted Scenes, over the course of hundreds of shows around the country over the past few years.
““Cairo” almost has the structure we would expect from classical movements, except the payoff is an intense, fuzzy climax of post-punk.” – DCist
“Tracks such as ‘Cairo’ are a perfect summation of the band’s psychedlic kraut-pop.” – NME
“A few scatty power chords at the start and OHHH I wasn’t expecting that! Erratic guitars alarming everywhere – you’ve definitely got my attention, Paperhaus. Those serene backing vocals, the rumbling kraut drums, the criss-crossing rhythms… I’m struggling to even string a sentence together. Just listen to the fucking song.” – Three Beams
“It’s a scorching piece of lively guitar rock that is smart and assured. It knows where its going and doesn’t beat around the bush. If you’re in any of the cities that they still have yet to come to, you’d be smart to check these guys out live.” – We All Want Someone To Shout For
