The new Local Motive full-length album "Slice of Life," released in late December, doesn't pull any punches. With a poignant voice memo from Arlington Heights native Mike Vinopal's late grandfather as a gateway, the 10 tracks take listeners on an emotional journey through anguish, growth and, eventually, joy.
"Slice of Life" explores deep emotions, while the album artwork aims to elevate moments from band members' families and upbringing. - Courtesy of Local Motive "Slice of Life" plays out on a few different levels, he said, referring to the sometimes devastating cuts and pains of life. But it also looks deeper at a cross-section of existence. It plays with surface emotions, but also examines the layers beneath, exposing the deeper feelings we don't always express.
Local Motive -- Alex Willhite, left, Todd Gutner, Matthew Sypherd, Alex Subak, Mike Vinopal, Elijah Medina and Paul Aplington -- celebrated the release of"Slice of Life" at Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights last week. - Courtesy of Erin Dunbar "In it I am reflecting, and I think we all are trying to make sense of the last couple of years and trying to move forward," he said."I think the record ultimately begins in this place of anguish and grief.
"They're very different palettes that you're working with. Local Motive is the band that I frequently write the songs that come from my soul. And it's very much more rhythm and blues," he said." is like a whole different set of paints to work with because it's Alex's songs. ... Darker, more alternative rock sounding music that I really love just as much because the outlet serves a different kind of function. It allows different feelings to come out.
Mental health and self-expression have been paramount in his life, through his career as a special-education teacher for the Chicago Public Schools and as a mental health advocate and educator for Hope for the Day, teaching suicide prevention techniques through music.