“Still Above” expectations for indie music: mark william lewis at Empty Bottle

^{Article and photos by Bri Guntz}

With one single guitar strum, the chattering crowd at Empty Bottle was immediately silenced when opener Samba Jean-Baptiste took the stage Nov. 16. His soft and mellow vocals seemed to mesmerize the audience. The room fell to a palpable silence, quiet enough that the soft popping of cans opening and bottle caps jingling could be heard at the bar.

Indie, bedroom-pop artist Jean-Baptiste sang like he was reciting poetry, creating an intimate feel despite limited interactions with the crowd. At one point, Jean-Baptiste joked that his 30 minute slot didn’t leave enough time for stage banter. 

Despite the reserved feel of his music, it sounds like a confessional as he sings on ideas of relationships and communication. 

After Jean-Baptiste left the stage, the crowd clamored for mark william lewis to take the stage. The stage turn over felt like an eternity , as the stage was already set up for mark william lewis’ band, they walked out with beer in hand. 

Lewis, a British indie-pop artist, stage presence inverted the reserved and private vibe of Jean-Baptiste’s earlier set. Equipped with a drummer, guitarist and harmonica, the band’s upbeat sound brought a new atmosphere to the venue. The crowd immediately matched the funky energy of the band, dancing and swaying along.

Lewis’ music blended genres, pulling on dream pop, indie rock and folk. The electronic layering on lewis’ vocals created a pensive atmosphere, while the wheezy harmonic added a folk-y twang to the music. 

The sound, while unconventional, showcased themes of reflection and uncertainty that seemed to resonate with the audience as they sang along.

The band played works primarily from their sophomore album, self titled “mark william lewis.” The twelve track record features transient works that at times sonically blur together with a rare quickened beat breaking up some of the monotony of lewis’ wafting baritone vocals. 

Despite the canned feel of the recorded album, lewis brings a heightened sense of connection at the live performance. Featuring a live trumpet on some tracks instills a level of excitement into the music as the musician blared his metallic notes against the steadiness of lewis’ voice. 

He exhibits complexity by singing about vulnerable and intimate moments without creating a truly vulnerable space. Some points in his live show featured him playing towards his band with his back entirely to the audience. 

The disjunction in sound, soul and staged elements of lewis’ music ultimately show a musician who isn’t afraid to stray from the norm and provide a space for an audience that uniquely reflects his individual musicianship.
mark william lewis can be streamed on all listening platforms.