On Friday, Sept. 27, American folk and alternative indie artist Kate Bollinger released her debut album, Songs From A Thousand Frames Of Mind. With a breathy sound that induces dream-like states of mind on listeners, Bollinger’s new album highlights her signature sound. Similar to her previous works, Songs From A Thousand Frames Of Mind lacks an overly produced and polished tone, instead employing a miscellaneous feel reflecting the outwardly sensitive tone of a coming of age.
Starting out as a local talent in Richmond, Virginia, Bollinger kicked off her career releasing on SoundCloud self-made bedroom pop hits while in high school. In recent years, Bollinger significantly gained popularity, releasing more EPs and singles onto larger scale music platforms including Spotify.
Bollinger released her first EP in 2017, titled Key West, followed by her second EP in 2019, I Don’t Wanna Lose. She recorded her second EP in a single day. Much of Bollinger’s charm and uniqueness shows through her songs’ lack of productional bravado. Both Key West and I Don’t Wanna Lose have a surrealist and vulnerable quality that she has continued to develop throughout her musical career.
Songs From A Thousand Frames Of Mind leaves behind some of the pop tones that Bollinger conveys in previous work, instead taking on a folksy and melancholy feel. Evoking imagery of sheer minimalism with paired back descriptive reflections, Bollinger’s 11-track album displays a classically vinyl sound. Some of her tracks veer into psychedelic lyrics and instrumentals that can feel equally out of place and exciting to listeners, drawing from 60s music inspiration.
The fifth track off the album, “Lonely,” originally released Aug. 28, definitely draws inspiration from Joni Mitchell, with its soft sound and dramatically enticing piano instrumentation. While Bollinger sings melodramatically about the effects of solitude, this somber ballad adds a diluted feel to the song’s lyrics.
“Lonely starts to fit you / What will you be when it is gone?” Bollinger sings in the song’s second verse. While “Lonely” grasps tight to a melancholy mood, it also alludes to a more optimistic message about overcoming loneliness. “Let your worries fade to grey,” Bollinger repeats in the song’s chorus, encouraging listeners to stay positive despite occasional cases of the blues.
“Running,” track six off the album, originally released as a single Sept. 7, 2022, utilizes a comforting and uplifting tone. Bollinger takes her time to build up to the song’s eventual chorus, but the song would have better kept listener’s attention with the use of a pop feel to keep listeners’ attention. However, the song’s dialed-back tone provides the perfect atmosphere for a study session.
The allure of “Running” mostly lies in the poetic lyrics. “You know you’re bound to fall / Win the war and shake the hands / I’ve grown this tall / Not knowing how to stand,” Bollinger sings during the song’s second verse.
Track seven, “In a Smile” is the perfunctory upbeat and playful song on the album. With reassuring lyrics and whimsical sounds, “In a Smile” offers a necessary break from the disheartened nature of many of the songs on Songs From A Thousand Frames Of Mind.
“Tell me what you mean / Don’t hide it in a smile to me / The only thing that does is lead us to the end,” Bollinger sings to close out the song’s chorus. While Bollinger sings about the importance of honesty in relationships, the redundant nature of the song’s optimistic instrumentals seem to reference a hidden message. Several of the lyrical choices reflect on how many relationships end due to a lack of communication.
Many of Bollinger’s tracks start to blend together due to their similar muted tone and 60s-inspired instrumentals that give them a collective vintage feel. But while much of Bollinger’s album brings out eclectic qualities, it leans into repetitive territory. Each track takes on a personable and timeless feel, but they fail to venture into enough musical genres to capture listeners’ attention, leaving them wanting more versatility.
With Songs From A Thousand Frames Of Mind being Bollinger’s debut album, listeners can hold out hope that she will further discover her voice and venture into new directions on future projects. Despite Songs From A Thousand Frames Of Mind the album’s open-hearted and folksy feel, the redundancy earns the album two and a half out of five feathers.
