The San Francisco-based Harlow’s Monkeys is led by frontman Tommy P. on guitars and vocals, with Amanda Salguero on bass duty, Lucas Sobiel on drums, and Zeke Ketcham on even more guitar. You Don’t Have To Change is the reaffirming and responsibility-bringing newest single of theirs. Set to release right on New Year’s Day, this tune is about to reaffirm thousands of resolutions, or totally destroy them. Jamming on a solid 2-chord groove throughout the tune, Tommy argues that change is not a must. Through all the devices and contraptions designed to keep us safe and comfortable within our spheres, cutting us off from reality, and reinforcing our modern state of loneliness and depression, a desire to change must come from within, without peer pressure or any external influence, ultimately placing the responsibility within our hands, and totally removing it from any party that we’re used to lay the blame on. 

This is entirely done on a solid jam. A 2-chord composition that feels endlessly sprawling and dynamic, with riffs starting and stopping, rhythm changes, voice ebbing and flowing varying in intensity and intention. The bass plays a vital role in making those 2 chords sound fresh and exciting, playing various inversions in different spots to amplify certain emotions and convey different messages, cautious at times, pining at others, and excited mostly throughout. 

This last Harlow’s Monkeys single is charming and quite unexpectedly deep and smart. Drawing from numerous inspirations, from Wilco to Big Thief, this song ably displays this wide range, with its simplistic composition and intricate arrangement, making it a quirky musical delight, and a lyrical declaration that you have never known you needed.

1 of 3

You’ll know you’re upon something special right from the intro of “Pleasure”. The mesmerising classic guitar followed by dramatic electric guitar and groovy bass will get you right into the Harlow’s Monkeys zone. Things get even more dramatic at the verse with keyboard melodies and groovy enjoyable vocals that lead us slowly to an easy going playful bridge and then into the singalong simple fluid chorus. I loved how new lines were added like the use of drums at the 2nd verse that hyped the mood up and the careful effective use of classic guitar every now and then, and the overall guitar work is pretty significant and well-written in great harmony with the keyboards both engaging in a melodic conversation. 

“Pleasure” is a dynamic, energetic and multi-layered tune that keeps growing and evolving with each added layer, melody and dynamic shift turning into a bigger sound, making it one of the most interesting tunes I’ve listened to lately. If you are a fan of indie rock, it has everything you like about it and if you are not, give it a shot I’m sure you’re gonna fall for it. Looking forward to more, cheers!

Harlow’s Monkeys is the musical project of Bay Area artist Tommy P, with Amanda Salguero on (Harmonies, Bass), Zeke Ketcham on (Additional Guitar), and Cory Harlin on (Drums). Their latest single, “Gravity,” has relevant lyrics to move your heart and a bouncy melody to move your body with its fingerpicking approach and the ear-gem of a dubstep drop.

The single kicks off lightly with bright guitar chords, and once Tommy’s soothing vocals enter, you’d think that this song was going to continue like the slow-tempo love song that you could sway slowly with your partner to, but it’s not! It progresses with superb guitar riffs, lush harmonies, upbeat drum-kicks, and the early mentioned dubstep drop that started as a joke from a friend, yet it adds tons of gravity to “Gravity.” Plus, you’re going to dance solo anyway, as the single portrays the sensation of being caught in someone’s magnetism with flawless storytelling that makes you visualize a cinematic scene, and Tommy’s passionate singing embodies the lyrics and the shaking from nervous feelings. 

Blending folk with rock, Harlow’s Monkeys produced “Gravity” to vibe with and relate to. And maybe a sign that it’s time to make a move! Start your technique by listening to the single below and sending it to the one who makes your heart skip a beat.

Follow Harlow’s Monkeys on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Spotify, and Bandcamp.