Versa – Neon EP
Review by Haley Black
VersaEmerge’s Blake Harnage and Sierra Kusterbeck have reestablished their sound as a duo, starting with a clean slate by shortening the project’s name to simply Versa. Fans familiar with the St. Pete, Florida duo’s music have seen quite an evolution of sound from the group throughout the years leading to their current release, Neon. The three song EP is unlike any of their previous works, which includes the solid alt-rock compilation of their debut full length Fixed At Zero, to their anticipated release Another Atmosphere, which was unfortunately left unfinished.
The pair’s first installment under the new brand has allowed for infinite creativity and the chance to start over. They have completely warped their sound into a different genre of music than they first entered. The song after which the EP is named, “Neon” could have a club-like vibe if the tempo were slightly accelerated. It is definitely catchy; probably the best song of the three. Versa’s altered style that they are beginning to put a refreshed stamp on is much more synth-pop infused, containing a lot more unique effects rather than dominated by classic rock instruments.
“Illusion” is introduced by an electric drum beat followed by erratic sound effects that begin to weave in and out of each verse, transitioning into a hushed chorus that is polished and simple. Blake Harnage sings harmonies on all of the tracks, but lends his voice to the second verse of this song, displaying how well-rounded he is as a musician and producer. Harnage and Kusterbeck’s voices fuse together wonderously, adding more depth to each of the tracks.
The band has expressed their infatuation with outer-space, thus drawing inspiration from space related movies and various other works of art, which is highly expressed in “Wanderlust.” These new tracks embody a lot of spacey effects and take full advantage of modern technology. I do applaud Versa for their newfound self-sufficiency.
It is disappointing to a degree that only three songs made the cut for the release day. Neon is on the short end of the stick as far as EPs go with the tracklisting. Also, the vocal range that Kusterbeck is capable of is not fully displayed, making her performance appear a little diminished. However, like many new releases the first impression of this compilation was not everlasting, but there is a likeliness that over time “Neon,” “Illusion,” and “Wanderlust” will grow on whoever listens (especially VersaEmerge fans) as long as they keep an open mind.
Overall Rating: 3/5 Stars
Recommended Tracks: “Neon”
Website // Facebook // Twitter
