There’s something about The Ocelots that feels refreshingly real. The twin brothers, Ashley and Brandon Watson, have been carving their own path for years, blending folk-rock with deeply personal stories. Their second album, Everything, When Said Slowly—due out February 7, 2025—marks a huge leap forward for the duo, both musically and personally.

If you’re familiar with their debut, you’ll know they’ve always had a knack for storytelling. But on this new record, they’ve dialed up the sound. Everything, When Said Slowly is a much fuller, expansive affair, capturing the essence of folk but mixing in some new textures, thanks to producers Cillian and Lorcan Byrne (who’ve worked with Ailbhe Reddy, Susan O’Neill). The album’s theme is a compelling one: time, migration, and the fleeting joys of life. It’s a meditation on how time shifts, stretches, and speeds up, depending on where you are in life.

The album’s title comes from a moment with an old Irish man in Wexford, where the brothers grew up. He told Ashley that time feels different depending on how you say it—fast or slow. It’s a beautiful, poignant sentiment that perfectly encapsulates the feeling of leaving a place, or a person, behind. That melancholy yet hopeful tone runs through the entire album.

Musically, Everything, When Said Slowly still carries the signature Ocelots blood harmonies, but there’s a much more polished, complex sound here. You can hear the raw energy of the band’s live performances, but also the intricate details—flutes, harmonicas, and even a harmonium. Recorded at Orphan Studios with Gavin Glass (Lisa Hannigan, BellX1), the album feels alive, like you’re right there with them in the room. It’s not just about hitting the right notes—it’s about capturing a moment, a feeling.

This album is personal for the Watsons. They’ve spent the last few years living in Leipzig, writing and demoing the album on Patreon, letting their fans in on the journey. It’s been a long road from busking in the streets to releasing music independently, with no label backing them. In many ways, their fans are the ones who’ve kept them going. As they prepare for their two-month tour of Ireland and the UK, the Ocelots are returning to where it all started—in Wexford, just a stone’s throw from their old stomping grounds. They’ll be joined by folk singer-songwriter Patrick Ni Hoolihan for the launch show, which will no doubt be a special night.

Everything, When Said Slowly is a reflection of where the Ocelots are now—more mature, more authentic, and more in tune with their own sound. If you’ve been following their journey, this album is a natural next step. And if you haven’t, well, there’s no better time to start.