Recommended Tracks: “Honeydew Moon,” “Lunch,” “Nothing New”
Artists You Might Like: Benson Boone, Jordy Searcy, Mark Ambor
When you think about the best parts of life, what comes to mind? Spending time with friends? Seeing your family? Basking in the beauty of a new country? For Theo Kandel, the best of life is “just eating and drinking and being in love,” as he mentions on the intro to his debut album, Eating & Drinking & Being in Love. It’s talking to those you care about the most, making memories with one another, and singing along to your favorite songs. It’s sitting outside, laughing, enjoying the breeze. These are the moments that Theo captures on the album, and they’re moments that he invites listeners to be a part of and enjoy to the fullest.
There is no shying away from the love aspect of this album, as we hear on the first few tracks. On “Honeydew Moon,” for instance, Theo gives us summery visuals that touch on “a little place by the ocean” and “a little secondhand boat.” We are able to construct a quaint life on the beach from the lyrics, one that is bright and colorful and full of “eating cherries by the dozen and laughing until we cry.” A similar feeling is construed on “Lunch,” which pulls from Frank O’Hara’s Lunch Poems collection. Here, Theo is humbled by the way he has found a deep and true love, and he wishes to keep it going. Over the acoustic guitar and plucked banjo, he sings, “Oh, my god / It’s wonderful / To get out of bed / And drink too much coffee / And smoke too many cigarettes / And love you so much / And eat lunch.” The love continues on “The Painters,” which focuses on following your heart. It is an anthemic, upbeat, and blissful song with pop and folk elements throughout, making it impossible not to feel happy when listening. Throughout, Theo mentions how he and his lover can start a life together, keeping in mind that “wherever you go, you know I’ll follow.”
We lean more towards reality in the middle of the album, where Theo further explores the highs and lows of life. He tells us that there will be times when life will get you down on “Fixer Upper,” reminding us that not everything works out in the end. Still, the warm folk feel of the track keeps it from being too downhearted. On “Nothing New,” Theo’s mood picks up as he thinks about spending the rest of his life with someone he loves. Accompanied by acoustic-based melodies and tender folk harmonies, he figures that there will come a point in his life when he has seen and done everything, but that does not make him sad. Rather, he claims, “Oh, it won’t matter when, one day, there’s nothing new / If I got you.” Theo then cherishes a night with friends on the appropriately titled “One More Night (With My Friends in the City).” The wholesome full band sound moves the track along as Theo surrounds himself with good company. We get the sense that his friends keep him grounded, as he is able to both party and talk about “existential dread” in front of them. What more could you want?
The last few tracks on Eating & Drinking & Being in Love really drive home the essence of the stories we have heard so far, as they highlight the importance of life’s small moments. There is much to take from “On My Mind,” a striking mix of random yet specific lines. Theo constructs a whole world through various feelings and memories, which he imparts in lyrics like “It’s like running down the subway steps and knowing you missed the train” and “It’s like driving to the hospital where your grandma should be on the mend.” It’s so interesting to hear how everything works together, and how you can still feel moved by these little vignettes. After the fiery spoken word interlude of “Joshua Tree,” Theo gives us “Romanticizing Poets.” With its sweeping strings, the track transports us to elegant places that would inspire the most gifted of poets. Theo sings, “I think the best way you can help someone is just being where they are / With your head upon my shoulder / Looking out onto the sand / Oh, I’m romanticizing poets again.” We realize how easy it is for Theo to take a seemingly ordinary moment and build it up to be something more. He also does this on “Teeth,” which closes the album. Compared to the first few songs that open the album, “Teeth” is more on the dark side, as it contemplates the possibility of letting someone go, even if your love for them remains. While this can be a heavy subject, the idea of being patient and accepting whatever happens in life also comes through, leaving listeners on an optimistic note.
Overall, Eating & Drinking & Being in Love is a simple yet moving debut from Theo Kandel. The light production makes the songs straightforward, allowing the focus to be on Theo’s vocals and words. His sweet singer-songwriter vocals only add to the power of the words, perfectly enriching the descriptions in the lyrics. We then get such strong visuals from the lyrics on each track, allowing us to see and feel what Theo sees and feels as he sings. A connection is formed, which is precisely what Theo aims to achieve with his music. He previously shared, “I want people to find my moments in their lives. When I find my own life in other artists’ music, it sticks with me forever. I’m just trying to be everyone’s best friend.” With this album, Theo has given fans many opportunities to find their own moments in these songs, whether they’re eating, drinking, or being in love.
You can listen to Eating & Drinking & Being in Love on platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and SoundCloud.
Theo is currently on tour with Jordy Searcy until October 30. You can also find him opening up for The Script on September 30 at Brooklyn Paramount in New York. All tickets and more information can be found here.
Keep up with Theo Kandel: Instagram // X // Facebook // TikTok // YouTube // Substack // Website
