Review
No Depression:
Ari Shine and Adrienne Pierce, the compatible couple that make up the cleverly bannered duo, The Royal Oui,
sing with a a harmony and synchronicity that belies the fact that this is their first effort together. Shine
in particular is known for his ongoing series of solo albums, but here, paired with Pierce, he seems to have
found his natural environs. Both cheery and sublime, this perky duo make music of a harmonious variety,
lithe and lovely on tracks like “True” and “When You Lose Your Mind,” shimmery and filled with folk finesse
on such songs as “Dirty Snow” and “Heart Safe.” It’s a modest effort at best, but also one that clearly
demonstrates that occasionally, more is less. Voices and acoustic guitar are the sole elements in the mix,
and if the combination comes across as a bit dainty and precious at times, it’s the product of a soothing
sound tailor- made for more intimate environs, like a Sunday morning sleep-in or a cuddly moment that blends
heart and hearth. We’ll look forward to more.
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Biography
The Royal Oui could be the soundtrack to a quirky Wes Anderson love story starringJason Schwartzman and
Michelle Williams.It wouldn’t be too far from the truth. Adrienne Pierce and Ari Shine were two individually
successful songwriters. Ari made his name as the co-winner of the John Lennon Song of the Year award (with
Gaby Moreno-2006), as a Grammy shortlisterfor Americana album of the year (2012), and as handpicked tour
mate of Chris Shifflet (Foo Fighters). Adrienne came into renown as the West Coast songstress who toured
with the likes of Jane Siberry and Damien Rice while having her songs exposed to millions through TV (Grey’s
Anatomy), soundtrack albums (Veronica Mars), and commercial (FIAT) placements.
They would meet in an LA recording studio where Adrienne had gone to record with Grammy award winning
engineer/producer Thom Russo (Michael Jackson, Johnny Cash). Ari tried to impressAdrienne with his knowledge
of Canadian bands. Casual Myspace exchanges led to a New Years Eve spent writing a song together. They
married in August 2008 and travelled across the world providing each other with backup support for their
individual albums and live performances. After all this adventure they decided to settle down and become
teachers in New York City. Then came Hurricane Sandy…
With the school shut down along with the rest of the city, the pair fell back on their music and wrote
their first film score. They eventually relocated to Vancouver and once again made music their full time
vocation. While they had written together for years it was only now that the undercover duo found themselves
exposed and writing with a shared voice – that of The Royal Oui.
The Royal Oui unveil that voice on the Forecast EP due October 1st, 2013 on File Under: Music. The familiar
sonic pallet of acoustic and slide guitars mix with the pair’s entrancing vocal harmonies on Aside “When You
Lose Your Mind”, painting a distinctly modern sound. The lyric “You lost your umbrella and the forecast
calls for rain,” evokes feelings of vulnerability in the face of an uncertain future. B-Side “Actual Size”
piles on the layers to build a tale of the one left behind. The single serves as a teaser for The Royal
Oui‘s 2014 full length. Like the best movies, their songs invite you back again and again to become one with
The Royal Oui.
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