Ok Cowgirl - "Not My First Rodeo"
It’s been a privilege to watch Ok Cowgirl grow into the seasoned act that’s currently setting stages ablaze across New York City. Frontperson and principal songwriter Leah Lavigne originally cut her teeth as a member of Fair Visions and Ryan Egan’s backing band, but from the moment Lavigne released her first single as Ok Cowgirl in late 2020, it became apparent that she was destined to tell her own story. That track, “Get Gone,” provided listeners a glimpse into the kind of intimate and compelling songwriting that Lavigne was capable of, weaving together identity exploring narratives with her lush, larger-than-life musical sensibilities. Over a year later, and with several gigs under their belt, Ok Cowgirl are coming into their own at a lightning pace, and Not My First Rodeo is the electrifying culmination of the project’s first full year.
Lavigne seeks to understand on Not My First Rodeo, specifically, herself. These learning experiences mostly come within the context of relationships, as she dissects the associated ups and downs with needle like precision. She unpacks the blissful process of establishing an enlightening connection on the EP’s opener “Unlost,” finding refuge in the comfort of someone who seems to know you better than you know yourself, mirroring this realization against a sonic backdrop that’s ethereal, but burgeoning in intensity at times. The previously released singles, “Across The Room” and “Her Eyes,” make up the EP’s meaty center, adding a bit more rock into the equation to go along with Lavigne's raw and yearning ruminations on heartache and infatuation. The two tracks sit perfectly alongside “Deer In The Headlights” and “Roadtrip (‘til the End of Time),” which are simultaneously heart wrenching and dazzling, as Lavigne gazes inward, coupling the band’s dreamy instrumentation with a more poignant analysis of feeling lost, dejected, and subsequently, gathering the courage and strength to move forward.
During Lavinge’s appearance on Local Fidelity in November of 2020, she shared that she sees Ok Cowgirl as a way for her to experiment and take risks musically, in a way that would free her from any preconceived limitations. The band is doing just that on their first collection of songs, sounding poised, unafraid to be vulnerable, and quite frankly, well prepared to take on whatever comes next.
Not My First Rodeo is available on all streaming platforms. You can also purchase the EP on Bandcamp. Keep up with Ok Cowgirl by following them on Instagram and liking them on Facebook.
