At the helm of Calgary, Alberta, Canada’s Stonehocker is Mark Stonehocker who has been making music for a while now. Currently Stonehocker is backed by Vince Musaka on drums. Together the duo makes emotional and exciting music mostly in the indie rock and ballad form. With harmonies and expansive melodies that will remind you of big and wide-open spaces, on his latest album Ups & Downs, the artist says that the record chronicles the ups and downs of life. He sees life as a seesaw, inevitably going down, but most importantly, it also serves as a reminder of the effort required to go up again!

Ups & Downs gets started with “Flash Flood 2,” which is layered with synths and piano. Gradually, some driven guitars and drums came into the recording. Once Stonehocker’s vocals arrive, you can feel the expansiveness of the track. This was a highly melodious and atmospheric song. Packed with mood and feeling, I really got the sense that Stonehocker highly valued ambience and this showed on this number. Some percolating beats gain traction on “Unfinished Love.” Eventually, some piano and Stonehocker’s vocals enter. Next, the music swells up for a dramatic crescendo. The dynamics of the music changes up from soft to hard-hitting at a drop of a hat. It definitely kept me on my toes. Synths and piano come in for a retro feel on “The Walk.” The balance of organic and synthetic instrumentation made this an interesting track. Once Stonehocker’s vocals arrive, the ‘80s vibes become more apparent. This was another atmospheric song from the artist.

“You Gave Me Love” is a total 180 from the previous tracks. With simply the acoustic guitar and keys, the sounds here felt very warm and sentimental. Next, some beats enter for a more pulsating sound. I loved how melodious and searing this number was. More electronic beats come in on “Missing You.” Next, some guitars and synths follow-up for a compelling vibe. Stonehocker’s vocals are immediate and captivating as he belts out with emotional emphasis on this song. “Lost Art” begins with a jangly beat. The band comes right out of the gates with high-tail energy.

On “You Matter To Me (remix),” some piano, synths and percussive beats gather together on this recording. Next, Stonehocker’s eerie vocals add an ominous edge to this track. On “Coronation Revisited,” a drumming beat and piano lights up the start of this song. The melody meanders for a bit. I was getting some lullaby-like vibes from this number. Dramatic synths and piano right away highlight the start of “Running Away.” I felt the immediate sounds drawing me in closer to the music. Next, the serious sounds of the music changes up for a catchy chorus. This seemed to be a memorable way for the artist to end the album.

​Layered with tons of ambient instrumentals, I thought the sound that Stonehocker manages to get across is very atmospheric and emotional. I also felt moved by the airy notes from these numbers. Stonehocker definitely has the voice to carry out these sprawling indie rock numbers with Christian undertones. If you’re a fan of Christian and indie rock, then this should be right down your alley. Be sure you give this a spin today! Posted: Jul 26, 2022 Originally Published: Jun 29, 2022