Hovvdy’s Will Taylor and Charlie Martin have occupied a distinct corner of the modern-day indie landscape for more than a decade. Having evolved from their understated slowcore beginnings in Austin, Texas, they’re now seasoned veterans of the scene. Across their first five studio albums, the duo established their trademark sound of twangy indie rock, 2000s-inspired pop-country, and emotional acoustic ballads with strong pop sensibilities. Their last two records saw them processing life’s most intense emotions more openly than ever before, from declarations of love in its many forms on 2021’s True Love, to grappling with loss and personal change on their latest self-titled album, Hovvdy. But the songs of Big World have them trading in overt emotional directness for subject matter that leans enigmatic, contemplating their place in the world through a mosaic of songs that sees the band at their most secure and self-aware.