A Bands and Brews Session With Overcoats

If you still don't know, Overcoats is a New York-based duo that consists of Hana Elion and JJ Mitchell. Their harmonies blend together to make indie electro-pop music that not only sounds pretty on the surface, but permeates a true sense of self-empowerment. Earlier this summer, the duo made a stop at Industry City for a Bands + Brews session, presented by Baeble Music.

The two performed songs off of their debut album YOUNG. Before going into the first song, "Smaller Than My Mother," the two shared a hug, as if this was the last performance of their entire career -- or they were just really happy to be there. Probably the latter. Elion was in a white dress while Mitchell wore black, and, with no other members but themselves, the performance as a whole was minimalistic, which put their nearly perfect vocals on display. As they dove into "Hold Me Close," the two broke out into an endearing little dance - something they peppered throughout their performance - not choreographed, but in unison.

"The Fog" was a bit of a darker cut. Right before Mitchell called out "the future is female!", the two sang, "freedom is when I'm without you / when the fog lifts, I'm the only one I see." Siren-like synths screech, and as they sing those lines, something about it just feels so damn good. It's one thing to preach about being independent, but it's an entirely different thing to show it. Here were two legitimate best friends right before us -- two women who were friends before they were musical partners, and as they sang about not needing a man to feel complete, they truly proved that as they cheered each other on. Through the relationship of two best friends, we were exploring the journey through womanhood.

Sure, Overcoats' voices are sweet and their beats are sultry, but on the night of Bands + Brews, they brought something much bigger to Baeble. They proved that it is possible to lift each other up. Experience the positive vibes in full, with our newest Bands + Brews.

to our Bands and Brews sessions here in Industry City.
He makes me smaller with every embrace that I ask for
Sit between the sheets of paper he writes on and I,
I keep on shrinking and he stays the same
I keep on shrinking and he stays the same
Keeps every dollar he earns under his pillow while he sleeps
Fits me in the palm of his hand and I'm restless, oh
I keep on shrinking and he stays the same
I keep on shrinking and he stays the same
He's gonna make me watch him leave
Done all the things that he asked of me
He makes me fall, makes me fall to my knees
Smaller than my mother, he looks down on me
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Used up all of my words
Used up all of my words
I can't read him anymore
I can't read him anymore
Used up all of my words
Used up all of my words
I can't read him anymore
I can't read him anymore
Good to be home.
His words don't mean a thing
It shows right through his teeth
He walks the world like I should know what it means
He's a man of armor Don't blink, no need to please
But he still looks to me to cuff his sleeves
So hold me close 'til the night turns gray
Different faces but the song's the same
So hold me close 'til the night turns gray
Different faces but the song's the same
He looks different now He hides beneath his clothes
But he knows what he is wherever he goes
He's a man of warnings Talks like I need to know
But he'll always on the ground, I walk alone
So hold me close 'til the night turns gray
Different faces but the song's the same
So hold me close 'til the night turns gray
Different faces but the song's the same
I'm not the one who's been doing you wrong all this time-ime
I'm not the one who's been doing you wrong all this time-ime
So hold me close 'til the night turns gray
Different faces but the song's the same
So hold me close 'til the night turns gray
Different faces but the song's the same
So hold me close 'til the night turns gray
Different faces but the song's the same
So hold me close 'til the night turns gray
Different faces but the song's the same
- Thank you.
They don't, they don't understand what I got
They don't, they don't understand what I got
They watching me, but I'mma do what I want
Freedom is when I'm without you
When the fog lifts, I'm the only one that I see
Freedom is when I'm without you
When the fog lifts, I'm the only one that I see
Oh, I'm the only one that I see, see
He yanks me like he can move me
Don't he think I have my own needs?
Use me up when he feels weak
Take my strength from me like a bad dream
Talks me down till I'm sitting silent
Wants me to ask before I speak
As I hold my tongue all I taste is his bitter greed
Bitter greed
Freedom is when I'm without you
Freedom is when I'm without you
Freedom is when I'm without you
Oh freedom is when I'm without you
Freedom is when I'm without you
When the fog lifts, I'm the only one that I see
Freedom is when I'm without you
When the fog lifts, I'm the only one that I see
Oh I'm the only one that I see, see
- This is 23.
Honey, you're a full-time job And I'm tired of rescuing you
I need you to be strong No I can't be the only one lovin' you
He won't look at himself in the mornin', in the mirror as he brushes his teeth
No he won't look at me anymore 'cause he knows who I expect him to be
Forever's a long time when it doesn't feel right
And being his wife's like one long sleepless night
I'm exactly where I said I would be With my man before 23
And the only truth that I, I can see is he's the only one who knows
how to love me
He's the only one
- Hey.
Well, honey would you look what we've done
Dug our graves before we had any fun
Back and forth we fight
What difference does it make who's right? This is how we spend our days Lookin' for the love we misplaced
Lookin' at the choices we made And how with time they become our chains
Forever's a long time when it doesn't feel right
And being his wife's like one long sleepless night
I'm exactly where I said I would be with my man before 23
And the only truth that I, I can see is he's the only one who
knows how to love me He's the only one
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah Ah, ah, ah, ah,
Ah, ah, ah, ah
I miss him more than I should
I miss him more than I should But when I hear his name I go blind
Oh, it happens all of the time I just fall into darkness
And there's no more light
I'm supposed to leave him alone
I'm supposed to leave him alone
But I wanna walk in a room Look in his eyes, and tell him the truth
That I don't think it's supposed to feel like this
Walk on I don't wanna remember your name anymore
Walk on I don't wanna remember your name
I wrote this down for you
I wrote this down for you I hope it lets you rest your head
Even though there are words left unsaid
Don't you know that I loved every part of it
I have to let you know
I have to let you know that I used to walk on my own
Now I'm scared of being alone I begin to wonder, is this worth fighting for?
Walk on I don't wanna remember your name anymore
Walk on I don't wanna remember your name anymore
Walk on I don't wanna remember your name anymore
Walk on I don't wanna remember your name
Nighttime hunger eats at me like I'm supposed to be alone
Wish that he could fill me up so that I could feel whole
Now there's something keeping me from falling asleep
Then each morning pulls me from the deep
When the darkness comes, w-w-w-when the darkness comes
When the darkness comes, w-w-w-when the darkness comes
When the darkness comes, w-w-w-when the darkness comes
Nighttime hunger and all the fears that it brings tend to fade in the light
In daytime I build a new me but still dread the night
I try to keep moving but I can't seem to chase my monsters away
When the darkness comes it takes everything from me
When the darkness comes, w-w-w-when the darkness comes
When the darkness comes, w-w-w-when the darkness comes
When the darkness comes, w-w-w-when the darkness comes
When the darkness comes, w-w-w-when the darkness comes
When the darkness comes, w-w-w-when the darkness comes
When the darkness comes, w-w-w-when the darkness comes
When the darkness comes, w-w-w-when the darkness comes
When the darkness comes, w-w-w-when the darkness comes
When the darkness comes, w-w-w-when the darkness comes
- Thank you.
I feel the weight of many worlds on my shoulders
Live the broken dreams of all the others
Please don't pull me down, I think I'm drownin'
This is not my burden to carry
Girl, let him go, let him go Wash away the dirt he covered you in
Girl, I should know, I should know when he sails away, it's for your own good
When the sirens call, get ready for the fall
When the sirens call, you're gonna lose it all
When the sirens call When the sirens call
I feel the weight of many worlds on my shoulders
Lay your dreams and fragile things down on me
Please don't pull me down, I think I'm drownin'
I can't keep you safe when they come for me
When the sirens call, get ready for the fall
When the sirens call, you're gonna lose it all
When the sirens call When the sirens call
Girl, let him go, let him go Wash away the dirt he covered you in
Girl, I should know, I should know
When he sails away, it's for your own good
When he sails away, it's for your own good
- Thank you.
I've been feeling down I've been feeling restless
I've been feeling tired of this life
You were made for me But will you wait for me?
When the party's over Will you take me home?
How did I lose myself in everyone around me
But, oh God, I have never felt alive like this
Starin' at my face in the mirror Are you coming back to me?
Are you coming back to me? Starin' at my face in the mirror Are you coming back to me?
Are you coming back to me?
Starin' at my face in the mirror Are you coming back to me?
Are you coming back?
I've been changing faster than the weather
You're the only one who'd say a thing But you've been keeping
your eyes to yourself
So don't lie to me I know you don't like what you see But I'm not going back to how I used to be
How did I lose myself in everyone around me
But oh God, I have never felt alive like this
Starin' at my face in the mirror Are you coming back to me?
Are you coming back to me?
Starin' at my face in the mirror Are you coming back to me?
Are you coming back to me?
Starin' at my face in the mirror Are you coming back to me?
Are you coming back to me?
Starin' at my face in the mirror Are you coming back to me?
Are you coming back?
- Thank you.
So we've got a couple more for you, but we just want to give a huge thank you to Baeble Music for putting on this event.
And thank you to Industry City for hosting it.
This next song we're going to play is called "Mother.
" Mama don't you love him so? Just wanna the light the way
wherever he goes
And kiss his forehead when he needs to know
He'll have a home with you, you won't be alone
Mama don't you love him so? Just wanna the light the way
wherever he goes
And kiss his forehead when he needs to know
He'll have a home with you, you won't be alone
Oh, oh, oh, oh
- Thank you.
- Thank you, guys, so much you've been incredible audience.
We're Overcoats.
Come say hi, we'll be over there.
We've got one more for you.
Get ready to dance, Brooklyn.
This is "Leave the Light On.
" - Thank you to Shawn and Dino in sound.
For myself when I come home For myself when I come home
For myself when I come home For myself when I come home
For myself when I come home For myself when I come home
For myself when I come home For myself when I come home
For myself when I come home For myself when I come home
Leave the light on For my, my, myself
Leave the light on For my, my, myself
You don't know me at all You don't know me
Leave the light on
For myself when I come home
Leave the light on
For myself when I come home
Leave the light on
For myself when I come home
Leave the light on
For myself when I come home
I may break down if I let you look at me
I may break down if I let you look at me
Now you see me, now you don't
Now you see me, now you don't Going, going, fast as I can
Going, going, fast as I can
We don't know what we are running from
We don't know what we are running from
- Clap your hands.
What if I don't make it home? You're not there and the light's not on
What if I don't make it home? You're not there and the light's not on
What if I don't, what if I don't, what if I don't, what if, what if
What if I don't make it home? You're not there and the light's not on
Leave the light on
What if I don't, what if I don't
Leave the light on
What if I don't, what if, what if
Leave the light on
What if I don't, what if I don't
Leave the light on
What if I don't, what if, what if
Leave the light on Leave the light on
Leave the light on Leave the light on
Leave the light on Leave the light on
Leave the light on
For myself when I come home
- Thank you.
- Thank you.
- Goodnight.
Stick around for Transviolet.

Hana and JJ started Overcoats while they were college roommates and they co-wrote all twelve songs on 'YOUNG. The two were drawn to each other when they first met as teenagers in 2011, finding connection in a love of diverse musical styles, and forging a closeness that verges on sisterhood. Both members of Overcoats describe the first time hearing each other sing as an epiphany: the harmony of their voices leading to personal, individual discovery.