WRITTEN BY CHERRYLLE URBANO
For those who left behind mountain ranges, lakes, and forests for crowded cities and sleepless nights, Laura Mock offers a five-track EP called home//body. This album is a love letter to her childhood home in Maine. Mock's upbringing shaped her folk soundscape, and although she studied at New York University, she maintained a strong connection to her roots. I love painting scenes with music, and Mock’s album is the kind you’d want to listen to while curled up in a cabin as autumn settles in. Imagine the fire crackling, the chill air outside, and her voice filling the space—exactly that feeling.
The EP features five songs: "Acadia," "Landlocked," "Ribs," "CTC," and "Rocky Shore." Each piece evokes a sense of nostalgia and love for the home Laura Mock sings about. Mock's music showcases versatility within the folk genre, blending acoustic elements with her distinctive vocals and vision. In the release, Mock explains, "home//body is about the ways in which we find ourselves settled; it can be within a physical space, with a group of people, or even in your own skin. I think all of that is home, and I think all of that can be difficult to align with the modern age."
As someone who immigrated from the Philippines to a bustling city, I traded an island and tight-knit community for urban life. At times, I feel I've missed out on that upbringing, which makes me feel separated from my roots. Listening to Mock's album rekindled these memories. My favorite song on the EP is "Acadia." Mock's voice is reminiscent of a princess singing in the morning, and her deep connection to her roots makes me feel at home. She sings about her home in such an endearing way that it makes one want to experience the world through her eyes. I feel similarly about "CTC." It captures the feeling of being small compared to the universe, yet reminds us that even in our insignificance, we can be someone's comfort and source of joy. That is special.
Overall, home//body feels like a meditation on home, belonging, and the tug-of-war between the places we’re from and the lives we’re trying to build. Laura Mock’s voice and songwriting are a balm for the soul, reminding us that home is not just a place—it’s a feeling, a sense of self, a comfort we carry with us wherever we go. If you’re searching for something to make you feel grounded, her music is a perfect fit. Thank you, Laura Mock, for sharing a part of your home with us.