Honeylark

by Shawn Underwood in Acoustic, Alternative, Americana, Folk, Indie

This time of year the shadows stretch long across the frozen landscape, adding a lightly brushed undercurrent of foreboding to everything. It’s always there, lurking, feeding the darker human emotions, even when the event of the moment is a totally enjoyable holiday celebration. When you put that feeling to music, you get what Honeylark calls folk noir, which is the exactly right description for their debut album, Heavy.
The first cut on side 1 of the album (that’s right, it’s vinyl or download only, no CD) is Widow, a musing about the black widow spider on the window sill, with a gothic chorus that makes the song kind of creepy beautiful. Riverbed is a brassy, bouncy, light-hearted song about…death. Hospital carries more of an indie sound in the early going, but builds a Wagnerian crescendo that’s practically oppressive. Yours & Mine features the Ryan Houck half of Honeylark’s husband and wife songwriting team on banjitar, and similarly builds to a crescendo at the end, though not perhaps so Teutonic as Hospital.
A number of tunes on the album take the much lighter approach I mentioned earlier, with the noir a much subtler bit of the background. Afternoon is a bitchy fun song about being either a morning person or a night person, I’m not sure which. Love Is Red is mostly bluegrass, but singer Natalie Houck puts a bit of steaminess to it. The final cut of the album is Big Red Alarm Bell, with a Celtic lilt that laments, “I wish I was stupid enough to be happy.” I’d like to hear The Pogues or Flogging Molly do a cover of it.

Heavy is my first album to review this year and it’s a great place to start. It’s full of texture and melody and emotion–the perfect answer for what to do if you’re stuck inside because the weather outside is frightful. - Twangville

Americana songbirds Honeylark leave their nest with a Heavy celebration.

Heavy, the debut album of Oklahoma folk-rockers Honeylark, will premier to much fanfare with its Saturday release show, featuring a rare performance from Oklahoma music legend and the Queen of Rockabilly herself, Wanda Jackson. Other collaborations include local favorites Fiawna Forte, The Wurly Birds, Em and the MotherSuperiors, Feathered Rabbit and a three-piece horn section.


The year and a half it took Honeylark (helmed by husband-andwife pair Natalie and Ryan Houck) to finish the record and the burden being lifted with its completion felt like a worthy cause for a hell of a Christmas party. “It’s very gratifying to finally release Heavy,” Ryan said. “We’ve been playing most of these songs live for quite a while, but it’s nice to have them on a record. It makes them feel more finished.”

Heavy is the first recorded material to see the light of day since the Houcks (and several other Honeylarks) split from fellow alt-country outfit Green Corn Revival, and the new dynamic demanded Natalie approach songwriting in a new way.

“We wrote what we wanted to write,” Natalie said. “I limited myself less and trusted myself more than I have in the past. It’s a growing process, and I’m glad I went ahead and threw myself out there. It’s scary, but at the same time, it would have been worse in the long run if we were to over-censor our ideas.”

That methodology led to a sultry and moody but largely genre-less collection of songs that recall everyone from St. Vincent to Neko Case.

I don’t think we could write a genre-specific album if we tried.

— Natalie Houck

“It isn’t limited to a single genre or even an idiomatic sound or production style, yet it’s a very cohesive record,” Ryan said.

“I don’t think Honeylark could write a genre-specific album if we tried,” Natalie said. “I listened to the oldies growing up — my parents’ records — from ’60s and ’70s folk, Motown, rock, and then I soaked in what happened in the ’90s, too. Then there’s the fact that two-thirds of Honeylark’s members went to music school. I think that formal music background reveals itself at times.”

The band expects to tour in the early half of 2014 — no small feat with lots of little Honeylarklings back at home — amidst some summer festivals and more writing that will likely be born from a less solemn place than Heavy was.

“Meditating on the dark stuff in life can make you angry or even depressed, so I was lucky to have my closest friend to chart those waters with,” Natalie said. “These songs reflect that general darkness, and that’s something everyone can relate to. I might feel alone, but the isolation is chosen … it’s all in my head. In reality, we’re all going through the same crap in this weird, post-digital revolution time we live in. I want to connect with people in real, non-virtual ways. That’s why we write. That’s why we perform and put our songs out there — to share the human experience in a physical, tangible way.” - OK Gazette

The Oklahoma City music scene has been abuzz about Honeylark the past couple of weeks. Once you listen to their latest release, Heavy, you realize the hype is deadly justifiable.








The Americana outfit, led by Natalie Moore Houck and Ryan Houck, captures that unique Oklahoma Red Dirt sound, but in this case, the red is ominously stained crimson and the dirt is ready to be thrown on top of a coffin. This is the soundtrack of Okie-noir pulps and backwoods eulogies, left-for-dead lovers and dying dreamers.


The album openers “Widow” and especially “Love is Red” set the tone of things to come as the listener looks down and starts to see the aural blood on their hands. The speakeasy jazz of “Afternoon” is a smoking gun, but “Alas” is the upbeat, poppy bullet aimed right for the heart of those who’ve been “feeling sorry” for themselves. True crime meets true love for a truly original soundscape.

But even after you’re long dead and buried, the mystery continues as Natalie’s sultry, smoky vocals seduce the freshly deceased like a siren on the river Styx. “Cold and still is the lake tonight,” she coos on the Lee Hazlewood-esque “Bones,” and you sure as hell better believe it and be ready to follow her into the underworld.

It’s fitting that the best track on the album is “Hospital,” with the lullaby-like saunter of “tell me where it hurts” calmly delivering the listener into Death’s cold but welcoming arms. Good thing he has great taste in music. — Louis Fowler -

We already know that Fiawna Forte always brings a great show, so Friday night at Soundpony is undoubtedly a safe bet. what really makes this show intriguing, however, is the Tulsa debut of Honeylark, featuring Natalie and Ryan Houck (formerly of Green Corn Revival). The new project's initial single, "Afternoon", strikes a fine balance between country and Americana roots and indie-pop sensibility, promising this could be one of the most intriguing and creative projects to come out of Oklahoma this year. The song is also a duet with Forte, which all but guarantees this pairing will share the stage for at least a song - and likely be one of the best nights of music that the Soundpony crowd experiences this fall. As an added bonus, Kyle Reid opens the night. - tulsamusic.net

Two married members of alt-country’s Green Corn Revival now pursue ‘folk-rock noir’ as Honeylark.

Joshua BoydstonJuly 25th, 2012
Honeylark with The Town and County War
10 p.m. Friday
VZD’s Restaurant & Club
4200 N. Western
vzds.com
524-4203
$5
Divorces can be messy, but married couple Natalie and Ryan Houck’s split from Green Corn Revival to form altcountry act Honeylark was as amicable as possible, with both sides citing the ol’ “irreconcilable differences.”

“Ryan and I had been writing our own stuff for a long time,” Natalie Houck said. “You know how artists are: We don’t want to give up control of our own work. It was a lot of tension, and we felt it was mutually beneficial for us to have our own project.”

Honeylark drummer Kenny Holloway, who also performed in Green Corn Revival, gave all parties involved the proper perspective as the two bands move forward.

“[He] said no one should be disappointed, because now there’s two great bands out of one,” Natalie said. “That’s one good way to look at it.”

To call the two carbon copies, despite the alt-country roots and similar personnel, would sell Honeylark short; the new tunes are a breed of their own.

“It’s country-influenced, still, but this has more of a folk flair to it,” Ryan Houck said. “It’s also a darker, heavier feel. The Green Corn stuff was pretty accessible and ethereal. This has a Nick Cave and Tom Waits-esque vibe.”

Death Cab for Cutie, St. Vincent and Natalie Merchant also come into play.

“It’s a depressing playlist, but I love it,” said Natalie Houck, who steps into the spotlight as lead singer. “I like to get in touch with my dark side.”

She can dive into that darker realm as deep as she wants to go, formulating the early beginnings of “folk-rock noir” songs that her husband helps refine. Providing the finishing touches are Caleb Creed (keys, accordion), Justin Ransford (mandolin) and Wally Tarkington.

“I’m not going to lie and say it’s always easy,” Natalie Houck said of working more intimately with her spouse. “We have our conflicts over it, arguments over silly little details, but that’s just life. When you bring art into it, it can be tricky, but it’s also so rewarding.”

Friday at VZD’s marks Honeylark’s debut performance, with a slate of shows booked through fall. The Houcks aim to deliver their first album next year. Until then, the new arrangement feels like the perfect marriage.

“The change of energy and scenery has got everyone excited again,” she said. “We all thrive on change now and then.”
- OK Gazette, J.Boydston

Two married members of alt-country’s Green Corn Revival now pursue ‘folk-rock noir’ as Honeylark.

Joshua BoydstonJuly 25th, 2012
Honeylark with The Town and County War
10 p.m. Friday
VZD’s Restaurant & Club
4200 N. Western
vzds.com
524-4203
$5
Divorces can be messy, but married couple Natalie and Ryan Houck’s split from Green Corn Revival to form altcountry act Honeylark was as amicable as possible, with both sides citing the ol’ “irreconcilable differences.”

“Ryan and I had been writing our own stuff for a long time,” Natalie Houck said. “You know how artists are: We don’t want to give up control of our own work. It was a lot of tension, and we felt it was mutually beneficial for us to have our own project.”

Honeylark drummer Kenny Holloway, who also performed in Green Corn Revival, gave all parties involved the proper perspective as the two bands move forward.

“[He] said no one should be disappointed, because now there’s two great bands out of one,” Natalie said. “That’s one good way to look at it.”

To call the two carbon copies, despite the alt-country roots and similar personnel, would sell Honeylark short; the new tunes are a breed of their own.

“It’s country-influenced, still, but this has more of a folk flair to it,” Ryan Houck said. “It’s also a darker, heavier feel. The Green Corn stuff was pretty accessible and ethereal. This has a Nick Cave and Tom Waits-esque vibe.”

Death Cab for Cutie, St. Vincent and Natalie Merchant also come into play.

“It’s a depressing playlist, but I love it,” said Natalie Houck, who steps into the spotlight as lead singer. “I like to get in touch with my dark side.”

She can dive into that darker realm as deep as she wants to go, formulating the early beginnings of “folk-rock noir” songs that her husband helps refine. Providing the finishing touches are Caleb Creed (keys, accordion), Justin Ransford (mandolin) and Wally Tarkington.

“I’m not going to lie and say it’s always easy,” Natalie Houck said of working more intimately with her spouse. “We have our conflicts over it, arguments over silly little details, but that’s just life. When you bring art into it, it can be tricky, but it’s also so rewarding.”

Friday at VZD’s marks Honeylark’s debut performance, with a slate of shows booked through fall. The Houcks aim to deliver their first album next year. Until then, the new arrangement feels like the perfect marriage.

“The change of energy and scenery has got everyone excited again,” she said. “We all thrive on change now and then.”
- OK Gazette, J.Boydston

read online only. - NewsOK, Look at OKC, G.Lang

read online only. - NewsOK, Look at OKC, G.Lang

Honeylark is a new music project from former Green Corn Revival members Natalie Moore Houck and Ryan Houck. - OKlahomarock.com

Honeylark is a new music project from former Green Corn Revival members Natalie Moore Houck and Ryan Houck. - OKlahomarock.com

Honeylark is a new project from Ryan and Natalie Houck (formerly of Green Corn Revival).

The husband and wife pair has released several demos of songs they are working on for their upcoming debut album.

Listen to "Chlorophyll" below, or stream more of their songs on their their website and Reverbnation pages.
- Playful Prairie

Honeylark is a new project from Ryan and Natalie Houck (formerly of Green Corn Revival).

The husband and wife pair has released several demos of songs they are working on for their upcoming debut album.

Listen to "Chlorophyll" below, or stream more of their songs on their their website and Reverbnation pages.
- Playful Prairie