Amistat unveils evocative folk acoustic EP "a moment in the sun"

Amistat (Photo by Glynn Parkinson)

Amistat is an indie folk due composed by twin brothers Josef and Jan Prasil. They were born in Germany and raised in Italy. With influences originating from Czech Republic and Australia, Amistat emerged in 2014. Their 2023 "colour in life" EP gained significant traction amassing north of 5.3 million Spotify streams and counting. At the same time, the musicians have multiple continents on tour and shined on festival stages. During 2023, Josef and Jan recorded what would become "a moment in the sun" in Cologne, Germany, where in the studio, they made a conscious decision to expand their sound. The result is something which is certain to turn heads, and they definitely turned mine! I  was already amazed by the music and harmonies they shared on Instagram, and I'm incredibly happy and honoured to finally feature them on my blog.

Amistat inhale inspiration from life experience and exhale deftly crafted alternative folk anchored by the gentle brotherly back-and-forth of the twins. Together, they explore what it means to be human over breezy soundscapes laced with threads of soft acoustic guitar, organic piano, and intimate harmonies. Amistat make the kind of music that reminds you it’s fine to feel whatever you need to in order to hope once again. The duo sing candidly about all of our ups, downs, insecurities, anxieties, hopes, dreams, and everything in between. In doing so, they allow an unfiltered perspective into their respective personalities and their identity as a collective. Against light soundscapes, the emotion breathes the loudest. These feelings unfurl without filter on their EP, "a moment in the sun". 

The elements that I love the most in their EP are the duets of calming and relaxing harmonies that lay on stripped down instrumentals. They're able to create an evocative and sometimes magic atmosphere. The fingerpicking guitar and very basic instruments perfectly convey a sound that lift the spirit of the listener. The crescendo of emotions, sounds and engagement in every tune of the EP is the core of their music, that has the ability to truly speak to the soul. The masterful production and the authentic and heartfelt lyrics make this EP a must heard for indie folk acoustic lovers (and not only!). My personal favourite is the title track, that really transported me to another space with their incredible vocals, while the standout "still believe" hit me with the uplifting promise "When I am on my knees, my heart will not be weak, though fear now covers me, I still believe". Let's listen to it together!

Born with the closeness and understanding that only twins could share, Josef and Jan produce a unique synergy through the use of tight knit harmonies, shaped by an honest, storytelling vocal tone. Amistat is able to communicate their inspirations, drawn from a life on the road, infusing their sentiments, hopes and ambitions to develop a unique and honest message to their audiences. "a moment in the sun" sees the duo stripping things back to the basics, as they touch on day-to-day problems, with the brothers not shying away from addressing some of the hardest moments in their lives. Check out their European tour dates to see if they're coming near you!

Jan shares: "The new EP is about the struggles with personal life, private life, and mental health that my brother and I have been going through over the last two years" and continues, "We’re showing everyone it’s totally normal to struggle, but there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel. On social media, you only paint an amazing picture of the great times. However, life isn’t always that way. We’re acknowledging every aspect of existence—and still enjoying it".

"This is a reminder it’s okay to go through whatever you go through", they both agree. "We all have experiences that shape who we are. We all have our baggage. It’s important to understand what’s going on emotionally inside, be connected to yourself, talk about it, and not pretend everything is just great. Be vulnerable, show your emotions, and share them with your close friends. The moment you open up is real healing. It’s okay to be a mess. Not everything is always rainbows and sunshine. The EP acknowledges the bad times, but reminds there are good times ahead. We’re all in the same boat".

"We were definitely experimenting with our sound", Jan reveals. "In any partnership or relationship, you have to be the one who’s strong and holds it all together sometimes. There were times when my brother and I were struggling, so we’d look to others for support. It’s about admitting you need family, friends, or partners. You say, ‘I’m here for you if you need me, and I hope you are too when I need you".

Amistat (Photo by Glynn Parkinson)

Instagram: @amistatmusic

Linktree: Amistat

[Info provided by LPR Agency]

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