Silverdeer – Open Mouth
Warm, flirty, and playful – just a few words that capture the kinetic energy of Los Angeles duo Silverdeer. The project of friends Nika Fazeli (guitar/producer) and Halsey Bousquet (singer/songwriter) first launched in 2019 under the name saturn 17, quickly gaining fans and early streaming success, amassing over 10 million streams on their breakout single “could this be love?”.
By 2024, the pair found themselves facing unexpected challenges. Bouts of writer’s block and an overwhelming urge to explore new sounds and genres led to a creative hiatus. Both Fazeli and Bousquet recognized they were undergoing a personal and artistic metamorphosis, one that called for a new name to match. Over the past couple of years, Silverdeer has been carving out a distinct voice within the indie and shoegaze landscape, melding the raw spirit of ’90s alternative with lush dream-pop textures. Today, they share their magnetic new single “Open Mouth,” an enticing preview of their forthcoming EP House of Devotion out March 20th, which also features previously released tracks “Montauk” and “Drift.”
“‘Open Mouth’ is our most addicting song on the EP,” the duo shares. “It exists as a celebration of sexuality, a snapshot of desire and almost-caught moments.” Coy synths swirl beneath the surface as Bousquet’s hushed vocals linger with desire.
Enlisting the help of producer Casey Lagos (Cold War Kids, Moira Della Torre), the world and sonic vision behind Silverdeer came to life. “Meeting Casey was like finding the missing puzzle piece. We had been trying for so long to explain our vision to people, and it was so refreshing to find someone who immediately understood it and had the tools and the creativity to push us where we wanted to go. He is such a supportive and sweet person too, we feel so safe being vulnerable and creative with him.”
“House of Devotion is inspired by the beach house in Eternal Sunshine — a place meant to feel safe and intimate, but one that starts collapsing the moment you step inside,” explains the band. “It’s built from memories, desire, and the fragile structures two people create together, and it begins to fall apart under the emotional weight of devotion.” The walls of each track keep the house standing, as the songs explore themes of love, nostalgia, and longing.
The EP’s visuals are just as essential as the music, brought to life by friends and Creative Director Emma Holabird. Each track represents a room in the house, allowing listeners to explore the story as if walking through House of Devotion itself. “House of Devotion invites you to reflect on connection — how we relate to people who have entered and exited our lives.”
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