PAPER ELK is the project of New England-native Bill Gaffney, channeling life’s vulnerabilities and joys through a captivating mix of indie guitar pop and the dreamy haze of shoegaze. PAPER ELK’s sound has evolved from raw post-rock beginnings into a more refined, yet equally emotive, dream pop style. The latest singles — “the city” (released Oct 1), “every word” (released Oct 14), and “run ramona run” (released Oct 21) — highlight this evolution.

With shimmering guitars, reverb-laden atmospheres, and introspective vocals, these tracks reflect Gaffney’s ability to craft mood-driven music that feels both intimate and expansive. “run ramona run,” with its urgent, swirling guitars, creates an immersive sonic landscape, while “the city” presents a more ethereal, urban-inspired dreamscape that captures the essence of modern indie rock. “every word” adds another layer, blending melodic richness with raw emotion, allowing listeners to lose themselves in PAPER ELK’s atmospheric textures.

Self-produced and unapologetically vulnerable, PAPER ELK is an indie project that thrives on the tension between clarity and distortion, creating a sound that is both haunting and deeply evocative.