Premiere: Flora & The Fauna Embrace Fleeting Joy In Their Debut Release
In the darkest timeline imaginable, it’s the small moments that offer the most steady comfort. Maybe it’s beginning your day with a favorite song or sharing a lighthearted joke with a loved one. Maybe it’s indulging in a special meal just because or surprising a neighbor with a fresh batch of cookies. Anything to let a little sunshine break through the heavy clouds. While the larger work remains, with bigger triumphs and celebrations hopefully on the horizon, these small comforts are something to cling to in the meantime–tiny lifelines that remind us we’re still here, still feeling, still capable of joy. For Richmond band Flora & The Fauna though, these fleeting sparks of happiness are not just distractions but necessities. They’re proof that even in uncertainty, beauty can be found in the simplest of gestures: a shared laugh, a spontaneous dance, a song that makes the weight of the world feel a little lighter.
The band’s debut singles, “Kiss Your Friends” and “Northbound Train,” embrace this philosophy wholeheartedly, turning fleeting moments into something tangible, something worth savoring. They capture the urgency of living fully in each passing second. Because if we can hold onto these moments… seek them out, celebrate them, and let them multiply… perhaps, in the end, they’ll be enough to tip the scales in our favor.
Scheduled for wide release on all platforms on March 14th, Flora & The Fauna have released the tracks early to Bandcamp as a special Valentine’s Day surprise. Today, The Auricular is thrilled to premiere both of these ardent songs today, offering a glimpse into the band’s compelling sound, one defined by heartfelt, unfiltered expression.
Both songs originate from demo recordings released by singer-songwriter Flora Dapena in 2022 and 2023. Raw yet captivating, these early versions highlighted the magic of Dapena’s songwriting–where self-expression is unrestrained and authentic, a sentiment that feels especially vital today. In 2024, Dapena teamed up with bassist Leeah Swift, keyboardist/saxophonist Valerie Jemison, and drummer Alex Almand, who helped bring her songs to a more vibrant reality, each adding their own personal flair. It didn’t take long for the band to build their name within Richmond’s music scene, delivering explosive sets at house shows and familiar venues, each performance defined by unabashed joy and electric chemistry. Smiles and cheers are an abundant commodity at these concerts, where rowdy surprises and poignant reflections intermingle, each hitting with equal emotional weight. In just one short year, the band went from fleshing out demo recordings to crafting a sound that is dynamic, heartfelt, and utterly infectious, all of which is on display in their debut singles.
“Kiss Your Friends” is a lively love song that celebrates the desire to cherish a moment without overcomplicating it. The lyrics stem from pure, unassuming affection seeking to ignite a brief yet radiant joy, one that may last only a second but will linger for a lifetime. (“I see you and I think/ You are a beautiful soul/ And you deserve the whole world/ I can’t give you everything”) Carried by a jangly rhythm, the track overflows with uninhibited emotion–an affectionate offering free from expectations or labels. Love, in its purest form: simple, sincere, and unguarded.
“Northbound Train” continues to explore fleeting moments, embracing an ephemeral encounter with wistful yet fervent passion. While “Kiss Your Friends” celebrates joy in the moment, this track leans into longing and the aching beauty of connections that slip away as quickly as they form. (“Can’t say just why / But the bullets ‘round your neck / Told me I should try / To get to know you, stranger / Can I sit next to you, / On a northbound train with a golden hour view?”) Musically, the song mirrors the rhythmic motion of a train, with stop-start verses evoking the sensation of chugging along an uncertain but compelling path. That momentum culminates in a brief train horn interlude, setting the stage for an explosive final push–an eruption of emotion that mirrors the deep, unshakable yearning at the song’s core.
The short runtime of both songs reinforces a celebration of spontaneous joy, wherever you may find it. Whether the feelings are innocent or complicated, their brevity doesn’t diminish their significance. It only amplifies their urgency. “Northbound Train” wrestles with doubt (“But somehow I already love you / Is my bleeding heart showing?”), while “Kiss Your Friends” surrenders to the moment (“Let myself enjoy this simple pleasure / It doesn’t have to mean a thing”), but both tracks still portray a fearless approach. They celebrate the pursuit of connection, however brief, with an open heart and unguarded sincerity.
This debut release showcases the undeniable melodic core of Flora & The Fauna, a sound fueled by joy even in the face of societal regression. In the face of uncertainty, the band offers the most resolute path forward: pure happiness, unshakable joy, and unwavering love that refuses to be dimmed. It feels like a lot coming from a runtime of just four minutes, but keep piling these small moments up, and eventually, they will be enough to overpower the weight of negativity. Every fleeting burst of joy, every shared smile, every moment of unguarded connection–it all adds up. And in the end, those moments might just be what carry us through.
“Kiss Your Friends” and “Northbound Train” are available now on Bandcamp, where you can stream or purchase them at this link. Both tracks will hit all major streaming platforms on Friday, March 14th–pre-save them now by clicking here. Stay connected with Flora & The Fauna by following them on social media for the latest updates.
