Artschool "Mother Joan" Single Review

"Mother Joan" Album Art

Magda Kanecka | April 2026

Virginia’s Richmond-based band Artschool formed in 2023, and currently consists of Griffin Smalley (vocals, guitar), Noah Brown (drums) and Erin Dakota (bass, vocals).

They recently dropped their debut album and the final single from it, titled “Mother Joan”, celebrating with local album release shows played in local venues, such as The Camel.

The post-punk band shares a member (Noah on drums) with another Richmond-based band, Dayfiction, which we at BRUIT. had the pleasure of interviewing in October last year. The track was also produced by Evan Solomon, the lead singer of Dayfiction.

Upon the first listen, “Mother Joan” reminded me of the shoegaze genre, such as that of, for example, Slowdive. The strong opening lines, a heavy but meaningful bass that remains consistent throughout, and the repetition of the song’s title in the chorus are all elements reminiscent of the named sub-genre that linger particularly on this single.

Compared to their previous releases, this one remains more dreamy and catchy due to the elaborate repetition and calm vocals from Erin Dakota on the majority of the track. Other tunes from the band’s debut album, such as “I Saw I Saw” and the closing “Seen the Blind, Heard the Deaf”, are much heavier than this one, reminiscent of heavier rock and classic punk influences, both in vocals and instrumentals alike.

Still, “Mother Joan” feels like a calmer break from the heavier influences reflected in Artschool’s music, keeping an instrumental-led production that remains emotive and almost eerie throughout. 

Upon listening to their debut album, this track stands out to me the most – conveniently placed in the latter half of the album’s tracklist, as if easing the listener down before picking the pace back up towards the end.

For lovers of occasional shoegaze, but mainly post-punk and heavier tracks, Artschool’s debut album, “Nuclear Sons”, is available on all streaming platforms now.

Listen to “Mother Joan” here!

Follow Artschool here!