Geowulf- Complete Artist Review
Complete Artist Review after listening to every record. Here you will find an overview of Geowulf as well as my personal rankings of their first three records. Also, you will find my Top 10 Songs and link to my Essentials Playlist in this pages 1st photo.
Click on other photos for surprise Easter Egg links!
Geowulf
Geowulf is the musical equivalent of sitting on a beach at golden hour—basking in warmth while occasionally dodging a stray seagull or two. What began as a sunlit indie-dreampop duo between Star Kendrick and Toma Banjanin has transformed into something far more personal and complex. Across their career, Geowulf has traveled from dream-pop idylls to raw emotional landscapes, tackling heartbreak, identity, motherhood, and everything in between. Through albums, EPs, and Non-LP singles, they’ve built a discography that feels intimate yet universal—a catalog that says, “Oh yeah, I’ve been there too.”
Geowulf arrived on the scene in 2017 after a tease of Singles and an EP with Great Big Blue, an album that didn’t just gently knock on the door of dream pop but swung it wide open, put on sunglasses, and settled into a hammock. With tracks like Saltwater and Drink Too Much, the record exuded a breezy charm that belied its emotional depth. It was the kind of record that made you want to quit your job and move to a coastal town. Or spend an entire summer out by the pool with your closest friends.
This was Geowulf in their most idyllic form, effortlessly blending shimmering guitars and Kendrick’s airy vocals to create a debut that sounded like it had always existed—timeless yet refreshing.
2018 saw Geowulf flex their creative muscles with Saltwater For Strings, a reimagining of their breakout single. Gone were the sun-soaked vibes of the original; in their place came lush string arrangements that turned the track into something fit for a rainy day montage in an indie film at Sundance.
That same year, Teardrops arrived—a bittersweet cover that showed the duo’s willingness to rearrange poppy dance anthems into something fresh. With its poignant lyrics and understated melody, it hinted at the shift in tone that would define their next album.
By 2019, the sunny haze of Great Big Blue was beginning to clear. My Resignation saw Geowulf trading in dreamy escapism for emotional honesty, resulting in a record that felt like a heart-to-heart with an old friend. Tracks like Lonely and I See Red delved into themes of self-worth, heartbreak, and starting over—a far cry from the carefree sounding energy of their debut.
And then there was the Lonely (Fabich Remix), a version of the song that took a hard left turn onto the dance floor. If Lonely was a reflective late-night drive, the remix was the party you’d go to after deciding you’re done crying in your car.
Geowulf also released their Audiotree Live EP in 2019, a stripped-back session that showcased their ability to bare their emotional core without any sonic frills. It was raw, intimate, and proof that their songs could stand on their own, no dreamy production required.
After a three-year hiatus, Geowulf re-emerged with the Whirlwind EP in 2022, and boy, did it live up to its name. Featuring tracks like I’ve Been Over It, Drown, and the title track Whirlwind, the EP leaned into darker, moodier territory. The songs felt like the aftermath of a storm—raw and deeply cathartic. Gradually venturing away from the sonic palette of their first two records, Whirlwind was a more grounded and introspective sound that didn’t shy away from vulnerability. Kendrick’s voice took center stage, carrying the weight of lyrics that felt heavier than ever.
The Woman EP was the new refresh. Released in 2023, it marked Kendrick’s embrace of her identity as an artist, a woman, and a storyteller. Tracks like Must Be a Woman and Slow Dance explored themes of love, femininity, and self-empowerment with a poetic, minimalist touch. The EP also saw Kendrick experimenting with more modern arrangements, letting her lyrics and vocals shine through new lenses. It was a more experimental chapter for Geowulf, but one that felt every bit as impactful as their earlier work.
Geowulf’s latest album, The Child, is less of a continuation and more of a rebirth. Written during a period of immense personal change—Kendrick was six months pregnant at the time—it’s her most personal work yet. Tracks like Stay Baby and Dreaming delve into the complexities of motherhood, identity, and legacy, blending the personal with the universal. The album also finds Kendrick reflecting on her own fractured childhood, using it as a lens through which to navigate her new role as a mother. The result is an album that feels both tender and powerful, a deeply honest exploration of what it means to grow, to change, and to carry both joy and pain forward.
Album Rankings
My Resignation (2019)
The Child (2025)
Great Big Blue (2017)
Top 10 Songs
(In No pARTICULAR oRDER)
Dolly (The Child)
Saltwater (Great Big Blue)
Won’t Look Back (Great Big Blue)
I Wan’t You Tonight (My Resignation)
Nightmare (The Child)
Memory Serves Like Lightning (The Child)
Drown (Whirlwind EP)
Lovestruck (Women EP)
Don’t Talk About You (Great Big Blue)
I See Red (My Resignation)
Geowulf’s story is one of constant evolution. What began as a breezy indie-dreampop project has grown into something much deeper and more complex, with Kendrick’s songwriting serving as a steady anchor through every twist and turn. Whether it’s the escapism of Great Big Blue, the emotional honesty of My Resignation, or the raw vulnerability of The Child, Geowulf’s music offers something for everyone—if not a hammock, then at least a really comforting cup of coffee. Kendrick’s willingness to take risks and dive deeper is exactly what you want from an artist. If you’re looking for music that’s as emotionally rich as it is sonically engaging, Geowulf’s catalog is a must-explore. Their journey isn’t just theirs—it’s all of ours, told in melodies that will stay with you forever.