Photo by Adam Alonzo

There’s something that’s genuinely earnest about the way Hovvdy do indie rock. Just two dudes who began with just a drum kit, a guitar, and vintage keys going from making balmy, wistful slowcore out in ‘burbs of Austin that has since brought them both to Nashville where they’ve evolved into a small joy form of indie-pop (“pillowcore”, for the heads) that goes along with adulting and young fatherhood. “Try Try Try”, the lead single from Charlie Martin and Will Taylor’s new album, Big World, packs as much of that into a tiny space — no slick studio tricks needed, despite the Bleachers seats they’ve been brought onto following their ambitious self-titled double LP. If anything, they find — er, joy — in the smallness, as the listen maintains the pair’s lo-fi preferences punctuated with a grinning hook and sentimental melody about not giving up on each other. “You sleep, I drive, you laugh, I cry / You count, I hide / You’re done, I’ll try, try, try,” sings Martin. It’s music that makes you feel like it’s got your back.

Directed by: Michael Rees

Hovvdy’s Big World will be released August 14th on Arts & Crafts.