Last we heard from Fort Wayne singer-songwriter Joe Stilwell was with his 2022 release I’ve Got a Song or Two. His breezy, jangly indie rock vibe brought to mind Real Estate, Beach Fossils, and even Mac Demarco when the latter was in a more introspective mood. The album features beautifully constructed songs that are on the ready when you’re feeling contemplative or maybe even a little melancholy. 

A year later, Stilwell has cooked up another batch of tunes, this time prompted by his wife, Casi. Asked to write some songs for her, Stilwell was up to the task. 

The resulting four-song EP ranges from distorted alternative to slow-motion college rock to the longing of folk rock. Four More Songs highlights Stilwell’s songwriting chops in a short but significant shot of indie rock. 

“School Is Over” opens in a cloud of distorted guitar and contemplation. Touches of Beach Fossils come through, while “Don’t Have A/C” lingers in slow-motion emotion with touches of David Bazan coming through Stilwell’s vocals. 

These songs come across a touch moodier and more introspective than what we heard on I’ve Got a Song or Two, but they still carry his indie/pop/folk aesthetic. 

Being married and in a committed relationship carries with it more than stolen glances, romance, and butterflies in your stomach. There’s struggles and hardships involved in sharing a life, but if you’re sharing it with the right person, it all works out in the end. That’s what Stilwell is sharing here, and final track “Best Part of It” sums all of that up quite beautifully. 

Stilwell continues to share short-but-sweet glimpses of his songwriting prowess, and Four More Songs is more proof of that.