Tallies: Toronto Four-Piece Blend Shoegaze & Surf Rock in Dreamy Self-Titled Debut

Toronto-based four piece, Tallies, have just released their self-titled debut album via Fear Of Missing Out Records, on which they navigate an unfamiliar world, blending elements of shoegaze, dream pop, and surf rock into a fresh sound that’s all their own.

Lead single ‘Beat The Heart’ is inspired by dreamy yet straightforward performance videos of the late ‘80s, by bands such as The Sundays and Cocteau Twins. Frontwoman, Sarah Cogan says the infectious and charging track laments, “the lack of empathy that exists so strongly today.” 

Tallies is fronted by Sarah Cogan (vocals/rhythm guitar), who started music lessons at a young age, learning simple piano melodies and guitar chords that she could sing and write lyrics over. Dylan Frankland (lead guitar) has also been immersed in music for most of his life, growing up with a music-obsessed father who introduced him to greats like The Smiths, The Sundays, Aztec Camera, and Cocteau Twins.

Frankland subconsciously carried these influences into Tallies, which is evident in the Johnny Marr stylings of his guitar riffs and the Robin Guthrie-tinged shoegaze textures of his production. “While writing this album, we were listening to The Sundays Reading, Writing and Arithmetic a lot,” says Frankland, adding, “Harriet Wheeler’s soft-spokenly sweet melodies has a major influence on where Sarah sometimes takes her writing to.”

The album was co-produced by Frankland and Josh Korody at Toronto’s Candle Recordings, a hot spot where locals like Metz, Dilly Dally, Austra, and Weaves have made indie classics. It’s also where Frankland works as an engineer/producer. With upbeat percussion, melodic bass riffs, and magnetic guitar leads, Tallies – completed by Cian O’Neill (drums), and Stephen Pitman (bass) – puts one-of-a-kind melodies to the universal impact of adulthood, hitting you square in the face.

Tallies is out now via Fear Of Missing Out Records.

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