Brooklyn Queer Duo Outer Shapes release Debut EP “Senses”
“Senses” is a 5-song exploration of the ways in which our senses inform the ways we experience life. With lyrics rooted in the body, Senses is a lyrical and sonic adventure, deep with personal meaning, from the lead singer Laura's experience with a diagnosis of epilepsy this year (Muscle Memory) to the band's memories of being a queer couple in high school and wanting a song that related to that young love (Chocolate Milkshake, which already has a released music video). Laura creatively and relatably sings of the senses of taste, touch, self, space, and hearing. The EP solidifies Outer Shapes as a distinctive new sound in the NYC music scene, as songs bounce from thick vocal stacks, soft raps, guitar solos, synths, and much more. Simply put, we are passionately ourselves.
Lead singer and bassist, Laura Shkouratoff, explains the first track on the EP: "Small World was written about the day I lost myself. Hip hop beats and mesmerizing synth patterns bring the listener into a tale set in space, my soul searching for a way back home amidst the floating sound. In the last anthemic chorus, the song melts into a slowed pool of sampled vocals and guitar, distorting the raw, unsure voice, and ultimately spinning itself back in a series of hums and chants, leaving the listener in a setting of hope towards making one's way back– or finding a new home."
Independent queer duo and couple Outer Shapes formed during the pandemic, consisting of lead singer and bassist Laura Shkouratoff and guitarist and drummer C Santos. They began doing live shows in 2023 and quickly became known for our high energy live set, complete with costumes and both of them playing multiple instruments. They’ve played 23 shows in NYC in 2023 and plan to play even more this year. The bands motto is "feel all your feelings," and our music seeks to paint the full complexity and depth of emotion.
C Santos speaks on the EP, saying that “This EP takes Outer Shapes into planetary sound contrasted with deep roots in the body, what it means to live in our senses and feelings while exploring our places in the universe. The collection of songs are also a reflection of what it means to be queer and contextualize the space we take up through the bodies we live in."
Catch the band at their next show is on January 27 at Bar Freda, and we will be playing at New Colossus Festival this March.
The music making process is a long and intimate experience, as the duo write, produce, and mix all of their work in their home studio. Both are entirely self-taught and seek to create art that is uniquely ours, exploring a new area of the queer voice as well as breaking barriers between pop, rock, and alternative music. Laura illustrates all of the cover art and merch as well.
Website // Instagram // Youtube // Chocolate Milkshake Music Video
