Wilmah’s Year of Yearning: A New Era for Hopeless Romantics
Getting out of a relationship never fails to leave you in a weird limbo. The love we reserve for people in our lives is hard to let go of, even when we tell ourselves we are completely done with it. For the rising New York duo Wilmah, conveying this feeling is no issue. Living in the lines somewhere between indie-pop and classic rock, bandmates and hopeless romantics Matt Connoly and Will O’Connor craft catchy songs for the biggest yearners out there.
“All of the Time” is the latest track from Wilmah, and it serves as a perfect example of the weird state that exists only after a relationship is over. Throughout the song, we hear a handful of lyrics describing how “he” is not thinking about “her” except for, essentially, “all of the time”. When “he” walks past where he left her behind, or when “he” smells “her” perfume on a waitress, or when “he” is trying to fall asleep at night, “he” cannot shake “her” from his mind. The chorus perfectly explains this idea, expressing “No, I do not think of you, except all of the time. No, I just will not love you, besides the rest of my life”. Although the subject matter is nostalgic and filled with longing, Wilmah’s Matt Connoly and Will O’Connor have instrumentally created an entirely different landscape.
The song is very upbeat and groovy, almost as if it was created for the sole purpose of screaming out and dancing to the lyrics. Connoly and O’Connor’s ability to create yearning lyrics describing the mysteries of relationships expressed through a colorful and cheery sound is revolutionary. In “All of the Time,” Wilmah achieves this by layering vocals and the use of various instruments. The song starts spaced out and blurred, like when your mind drifts somewhere without you knowing. There are some keys and a little bit of saxophone, and as it begins to build up, we get a cleaner instrumental that ultimately leads us into the first verse and a focused sound. There is a steady groove with the rhythm section as the drums hold the base ground and the guitar plays a simple but effective riff. The guitar is catchy and immediately infects the listener. Wilmah’s minor changes throughout each verse, like pitched-up ad-libs, pedal-steel guitar, and a maracas/shaker-like percussion, completely transform the song into something new without overcrowding it. It is nearly impossible to press play on this song and not immediately start moving to the rhythm.
Photo by ALEC ILSTRUP
The ultimate build-up begins as we move towards the chorus, and the drums and guitar are left alone to build the anticipation of what’s to come. The chorus of this song feels like it is meant to be shouted out in a place as small as the shower or as big as a stadium. Wilmah keeps the energy high throughout the song, making it hard to feel down about the subject matter. This is especially true for the big saxophone solo after the second chorus, and at the end of the song, where the duo switches into double time. The track finishes on such a high note that you get there and almost forget you were singing along to lyrics about how much you cannot forget someone and stop loving them.
Wilmah is, without a doubt, a musical act you do not want to miss out on. Their music is perfect for any hopeless romantics who like to dance and scream their feelings out. The duo released an EP titled "On Being Young and Confused" in November 2024, but “All of the Time” is their first release in the new year. Their music is available on all streaming platforms, and you can follow them on all social media platforms as well. You can further support Wilmah by heading to their April 11th show at the Sultan Room in their home state of New York.