This winter, New York singer/songwriter Girl As Wave released another piece of her thus far incredible introduction to the music world. Her latest single, “Houdini”, takes you to a world full of dreampop vibes and and stunning, ethereal vocals. With driving percussion and surf rock-meets-James Bond feels to the guitar, the song maintains an edge that would otherwise be astray if driven just by the lightweight vocals that almost envelope you in their delicacy.
“Houdini” is a must-listen, so check it out below!
Nina Lee is clearly not just your average 17 year old. The New Yorker is a talented singer/songwriter who belts out lyrics with so much soul that she belongs along the ranks of Amy Winehouse, Adele, et al. If you don’t trust us, take a listen to her latest, a five track EP titled Snapshots. Curiously enigmatic – though she does a really amazing job at explaining the intent and direction of the work -, the EP does nothing if not floor you with her incredible talent.
As someone who seems to have been born with music coming out of her, Nina Lee is an impressive, well-spoken, vibrant human being. And we know all of this because we got a moment to ask her a few questions leading up to the holidays. So here she is, unfiltered and incredible as ever.
What was the first album or song you remember ever listening to, and who introduced it to you?
Growing up I remember listening to Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons among others from that generation all the time in the car with my grandpa. My sister and I were the only little girls who knew every word to “Big Girls Don’t Cry”, and “Sherry”. Some of my fondest childhood memories are driving in the car with him and belting out “Oh What a Night”. I am the first grandchild, so the two of us have a very special bond, and he is such a huge supporter of my passion. Having such a strong family unit helped me to be the person that I am today. Music during my grandpa’s era seems like it was more authentic than what we now hear every day on the radio. There was just a voice and instruments, which made me appreciate it even more. That’s why in my own music I like to focus on having as much authenticity and rawness as I can.
Was there a moment that you realized you had the talent and the drive to pursue music?
I was always told from a young age that I was a very musical person, and I was not afraid of being in the spotlight . . . in fact, I thrived on the spotlight. My parents saw that performing was when I was my best self. When I used to get overwhelmed as a little girl the one thing that always calmed me down was the ocean. My mom would sometimes just pack the car up and drive to the beach when I needed it because the cold rush of water was exhilarating for me. When I was in the water I would float looking up at the sky, humming melodies and feeling peaceful. I knew that singing gave me that same adrenaline rush, but a million times better.
So, the way I think of it is that the ocean calmed me down, but the music drove me. My music has pushed me through every difficulty in my life because, like my family, it is a constant. I know it sounds like I am personifying music but really, even though it is intangible, it is something you feel all around you. As I have grown older, my hunger and drive has just increased. That’s how I know that it is what I am meant to do with my life.
Your voice is absolutely stunning. Did you have professional training at all?
Thank you! I guess I was born with a natural ability to sing, which I am so grateful for. But I’ve also worked really hard to condition it and make it even better. When I was younger, and even now, when I feel insecure or unsure of myself I know I have my secret weapon up my sleeve. No person sings exactly the same, so when I surprise people with my voice it makes me feel more confident of myself. Since I was a toddler, I had taken music classes and performance classes and started vocal lessons at the age of 5. I currently have a great music coach, Kate Baker, who helps me to use my voice in a healthy way, and maintain my sound. She was with me through the whole process of recording “Snapshots,” which was so beneficial for me. I just have a really strong support system that is encouraging me, which makes me even more excited for what’s to come.
Your latest EP “Snapshots” follows in the same footsteps of your previous releases, leading us on a narrative about your family members. What made you choose that theme for your EP? Was it a concerted effort?
Yes, “Snapshots” is a series of pieces of my life and my family history all entwined in an EP. I am beyond proud of this work of art and I had amazing people to work with to make my vision a reality. “Snapshots” stems from my incredibly strong bond with my family. I am so lucky to have parents who are always supporting what I do, and a little sister who could not be more reassuring and encouraging. My sister made the painting that is the cover of the EP. The single from the EP is called “Airborne”, which is about my late great grandfather and my great grandmother who is now 94. He was a paratrooper in WWII in the 101st Airborne, while she always held him up at home. When he passed away, I didn’t know how to convey my feelings to my great grandma, and how to tell her how much I admired her and how heroic she was. I think that from that idea of family and love, I was able to make all the songs have that sentiment within it. I had so much help from my vocal teacher, musicians, and my producer Steve Greenwell. It takes a village, and it really took a lot of people to create what you can listen to now. I am so grateful for everyone who has taken part in making “Snapshots” and everyone who has listened!
What is your writing process like? Do you start with a melody, start with concept, brain dump lyrics? Take us inside it all!
Writing is never the same for me. I don’t sit down at a set time and force myself to do it. It is really an organic thing, sometimes I have a melody with nonsense words that I will switch out later, and sometimes I have a chord progression I want to put lyrics to. Sometimes I work with co-writers and sometimes it’s all me. When I was younger, I would just make up melodies with words that did not fit together but it is just what came out, so I went with it. Now I am more precise on the message that I am trying to get across. Lyrics usually come with a melody or after the melody, not by itself because I like to have the idea in my head first. Also, it depends what instrument I am writing on because the baritone uke gives a different vibe then the tenor uke, and definitely gives a different vibe than the piano. The instrumentals usually start out pretty simple as a skeleton for me to expand on and get more intricate as the process moves forward. A lot of the time I will write part of a verse or the chorus and sit with it for a while to make sure that I really like it. I want each line to mean something and not overall just have a loose meaning, because it doesn’t sound as important to me. Everything in my life, I like to be planned out in advance, and I am not a fan of being spontaneous because the unknowns are scary, but with music I am the exact opposite. I tune into everything with no predetermined method, which allows me to make even better music when I don’t overthink it and question the process.
How did you choose which family members to write about?
It is all organic, because some songs don’t even start out about someone, but then I realize when it’s finished that it does represent someone in my family. For example, in “I Got This Light,” I wrote it not having any particular person in mind. When I sang it full through and was able to hear every word I realized that it was my interpretation of my mom. I subconsciously explained everything that my mom is to me; she is my rock, support, and go to person. I also write about friends and the way I feel about them. Sometimes people can be disappointments and not only positive which also makes for very good song ideas. I heard someone say once, “That you shouldn’t date a songwriter, because you know when you break up you will have a pretty bad song written about you.” I think that’s true! I have so many songs in progress about members of my family including my mom and dad and how they met, my sister, etc. I think that with family you never can run out of stories to write, so I have an unlimited supply.
What was studio life like for this one? Did you have go-to snacks, a strict schedule, brainstorming time? Immerse us in the experience!
I don’t eat right before I sing, so I eat breakfast and then sing until we are finished. When instrumentals are being done though my go-to is always sushi. I had an amazing studio experience with my producer Steve Greenwell and great musicians including Aaron Comess on drums, Nadia DiGiallonardo on piano, Richard Hammond on bass, and my dad on guitar. My favorite part was when we did the backup vocals because it was just me and Steve and we found a groove and went with it. For me, making music is the magic of it all so whatever way works is what I go with. Whenever I am recording, I always tend to have a cup of hot water and honey to coat my voice and try not to speak so much in between takes. I usually feel like I sound different at different times of the day so in the morning is when I hit the low notes, and throughout the afternoon I can get to the higher ones. It’s just something I love to do and it’s fun for me to be able to experience it in all different ways, with all different people.
How do you imagine people listening to this album?
I imagine people listening to my album in any way they want. Everyone can interpret this EP differently and that is the beauty of it. When I wrote each song, it connected with me in a specific way, but the connection someone else feels may be totally different than mine, which is what I was hoping for. I want people to connect to my songs on all different levels. I would love people to be able to jam out at the top of their lungs on a long road trip, or listen while decorating the house for the holidays with my songs playing in the background. I only imagine this because these are the times that are most memorable for me when I listen to music. The beauty of music and art is that everyone can see things differently, which is something that is really beautiful. If I can reach people through my music, however they listen to it will make me happy.
We get the impression that you might be more of an old soul, especially considering the grace with which you conduct yourself and the music you write. Would you agree with that?
Thank you, that’s so nice of you to say! I guess that’s true in the sense that I do not act like a normal 17 year old. I am not caught up in the petty things of high school even though they can be tough waters to navigate. I connect with people who are more mature and relate with them. A lot of people I’ve met have told me they think I’m an old soul because of the way I write my music and how I sing. It makes me think of this time when I was younger and my parents found an old Renoir painting that looked exactly like me. It was from the late 1800’s, and it was a dead ringer for me, so I can’t help wonder if I have had past experiences and past lives which make me an old soul! I like to connect with people not only on a surface level, but I invest a lot into making a strong relationship. That is why when I love, I love so deeply and fiercely and when I hurt I feel the pain so much more because of the love I once felt.
You sing about a lot of very strong women in your life. Why do you think it’s important that their stories, in particular, be told?
For me, I write about strong female role models that I believe have shaped me into the person that I am. My family has always been such a strong outlet for me, and my mom especially has played a very important role in my life. She is the person I always look up to, and my best friend. When I was little, I wanted to grow up to be my mom. Everyone in my opinion should have the opportunity to thrive and be their best self and no matter what have support to do it. My goal is to be that person for others who feel as if they don’t have that support, and through my music hopefully there can be some comfort for them.
Who is your favorite superhero? Substantiate your claim.
I don’t know if I have a favorite super hero but I definitely have a favorite Disney Princess. As a little girl, they were the superheroes that I watched on television. I connected most with Ariel. I love The Little Mermaid and knew it back to front. When I was little, I had bright red hair like Ariel and I loved that she sang all the time, just like me. I also to this day have always loved the ocean, and the idea of living in the ocean seemed magical to me. Whenever my sister and I dressed up as princesses I always insisted on being Ariel. Then, I saw it on Broadway and I was blown away. I thought all of the theatrics were amazing and I loved every part of it. I saw the set afterwards and I was in awe of how they made this movie come to life. I always thought I was a princess like Ariel and wanted to be a singing mermaid when I grew up. I guess I fulfilled the singing part, but I’m pretty sure I will never be a mermaid!
What is the best piece of advice you have ever gotten?
The best advice I have even gotten was from my mom. She always told me, “There is no need to push people down because they will fall down on their own.” That actually is a line in one of my upcoming songs. This advice allowed me to see that mean people will destroy themselves on their own. There is no need for me to point it out. Eventually what goes around comes around and it catches up with you. That’s why I always try to be nice to everyone so no one ever thinks of me in that way.
The holidays are coming up… any special traditions you’d like to share with us?
My mom is Jewish, and my dad is Italian Catholic so we celebrate both Hanukah and Christmas. Every year my grandma (my dad’s mom) sends us zucchini bread, which is a family recipe and something I always look forward. When I think of the holidays, that is one of the things that always comes up. Also, for as long as I can remember, my family has always gone on a horse and buggy rides through Central Park during the holidays. The whole city is full of lights and the holiday spirit is in the air.
Doing anything fun this year for the holidays?
This year will be spent with family. Wherever we go for the holidays my mom and dad always make sure that we have family close. That is one of the best lessons and values that I think a parent can instill in a child. Understanding and not taking for granted the family that you have no matter what the situation may be. I am lucky enough to spend it with a very loving and supportive bunch that I wouldn’t trade for anything.
If you could perform with any artist, who would you perform with and what would you perform?
Hands down Billy Joel. He is my favorite storyteller of all. All his songs resonate with me for one reason or another and singing with him would be singing with my idol. I would sing any song with him because I believe he makes each song so powerful. My family and I went to see him perform at Madison Square Garden and I turned to my mom and was like, “Imagine what it would be like to sing with him.” One of my favorite songs of his is “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant” so I think that would be a really fun song to sing with him because we could make some really cool harmonies!
What is your favorite word?
I like the word “humuhumunukunukuapua’a,” which is a type of reef triggerfish. I just think its fun to say and fun to spell. The name originates from Hawaii and I think that it sounds very tropical!
Anything else you’d like to add?
I am just so glad I was able to share this stuff with you guys, and hopefully I can come back soon and talk about more upcoming projects that are in the works. Thanks so much for taking the time to talk with me!
New Jersey-based indie psych rock band Speed The Plough – comprised of John, Toni and Mike Baumgartner and Ed Seifert, joined by former STP bassist Dan Francia and drummer Ken Meyer – released their latest full length on December 8th. The album, titled …And Then, is comprised of ten tracks that dare to drag you into a soundscape that doesn’t altogether make sense in one grouping. From one track to the next, the group displays their musical prowess and keeps the listener on their toes with the variety of sounds they are able to create together.
Take “Crossing the Tizsa” for example. The lyrics are almost like a fairy tale or a beautiful children’s story, set over dark instrumentals that eventually lighten into a Renaissance-like tranquility. This makes sense, as it was found in a songbook of Hungarian folk songs. (John’s mom is the one who can be heard in the spoken word section, by the way. Props to her!) “Take Me” allows the album to take on a whole different persona, introducing itself with bass that would rival the best oughts’ pop/punk tracks. And while “Azimuth” has an unmistakable 70s vibe, perhaps driven by the keys that make up the melody, “The Bitter End” feels abrupt and intense in its disposition. By the time we reach fifth track “Marina”, we’re not sure what to expect, as Speed The Plough tends to switch up the sound on us from one track to the next. For example, “Marina” brings back that beautiful renaissance-meets-rock feel to it, almost as though it should be on an A/B Side with “Crossing the Tizsa”.
“By This River” is light as a feather, largely driven by simple and delicate piano chords. Its sound is slightly different from its predecessors as well, if not only for the fact that it is a cover originally done by Brian Eno. While we might expect “Why We Fall in Love” to be some sort of intense love ballad, it’s more of a quirky indie track with percussion that feels primal, and perhaps groups it back in that “far-off places, daring sword fights, magic spells” territory. (Guess that reference in the comments and you’ve got a new bets friend!) “The Bird Has Flown” is almost theatrical in its presence, notable for its robust piano chords and delicate guitar.
Last two tracks “Running On” and “Dark Continents” happen to have been originals from an earlier iteration of the band called The Trypes. These tracks hadn’t gotten the studio attention the band thought they needed to thrive, so these tracks happen to have a different, low-key, “vibing out” feel to them that really tends to invigorate as the last track fades out beautifully.
…And Then is available now. Keep up with Speed The Plough here.
With Bohnes‘ new music video comes a new sense of badassery to alt-pop. The musical project mastered by Alexander DeLeon (The Cab) continues to impress, maintaining the same versatile, soulful vocals he’s been dazzling us with for years, while putting a new spin on the way they are delivered. His most recent release – a music video for his track “My Friends” – is dark and brooding, yet somehow incredibly inspiring in that it prompts you to evaluate your own “demons.” While DeLeon really draws that raw, rock feel into the track with hard guitar riffs and solid, impactful percussion, we find ourselves drawn to the subject matter with brilliant visuals of a life in the dark, DeLeon’s skeletal makeup at the forefront.
Los Angeles-based duo Swimsuit Issue – comprised of Miles Garber and David Gagliardi – may have based their name from the fact that Garber’s initial introduction into the entertainment industry was as a relatively prominent model in the fashion world, but that’s not the initial takeaway from their art. In fact, as good looking as both guys are, their career has the ability to stand on its own based purely on their talent. It’s obvious to see why if you just listen to their debut single, a mid-tempo indie pop/rock track whose guitars give it edge while the vocals reside in more of a Kurt Cobain-meets-Sting ethereal sphere, replete with reverb.
The song itself is about addiction, the lyrics melancholic and sensitive, as one would expect. And though the duo has admitted to having a more somber tone to their music, we’re thrilled to hear what’s to come from their upcoming record.
Los Angeles-based rock quintet We’re No Gentlemen – comprised of Amanda Gabel (vocals), Rikki Juarez (rhythm guitarist), Daniele Boneddu (bass), Vince Gudino (drums), and Dan Schiz (lead guitar) – debuted the official music video for their track “Night” just today. This song wraps you up in intricate guitars while Gabel’s vocals claim a Kelly Clarkson-meets-Amy Lee sound to them, dragging us into this rock ballad with its ferocity and beauty.
The video is no different, directed by Henry Arres and shot with a dim and intense feel to the visuals, as we follow each member of the band through times of stress and turmoil. Between visually stunning shots of each individual’s distraught facial expressions, we get a look into the band’s live performance chops as frames of them playing the song together in a dark room almost hold each story together like a thread of escape from this twisted world and the issues we face.
We’re No Gentlemen is out now. Keep up with We’re No Gentlemen here.
Though they started their respective musical endeavors on the same page – they began writing music together at the age of 11, only to pursue different paths beginning in high school – twin sisters Leila and Omnia Hegazy were on opposite ends of the spectrum as they explored music careers independently of each other. But after graduating college in 2012, they chose to combine Leila’s R&B influence and Omnia’s pop rock intensity to create a unique and wonderful sound in a collaborative effort. It was years later, in 2016 shortly after their father passed, that the project now known as Hegazy – their surname chosen in honor of their father – .was born.
Hegazy’s debut EP Young is due out in early 2018. In honor of that news, we fired some questions at the budding stars to get their thoughts on mindfulness, the writing process, and the upcoming release.
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What was the first album or song you remember ever listening to, and who introduced it to you?
Most likely Billy Joel, although we can’t remember which album/song we heard first because our Mom was a super fan and she played ALL of them. We also heard a lot of Oum Kalthoum growing up (renowned Egyptian singer) thanks to our Dad. He was Egyptian and played her music all the time. There’s a classic song called “Alf Leyla Wa Leyla” that every Egyptian knows.
Was there a moment that you realized you had the talent and the drive to pursue music? What is the origin story of Hegazy?
We were both super young when we started singing, probably around five. We were band and chorus geeks all throughout elementary school and beyond, playing clarinet in school band and then taking up instruments outside of school (Omnia learned violin and Leila learned piano). We were eleven when we started writing songs at our great-grandmother’s piano, singing gibberish until it sounded like something. We wrote our first songs together and when Omnia started playing guitar a year later, we started writing separately. Creating on our own made a lot more sense logistically as we got older because we went to different high schools and colleges and weren’t together as often. Leila studied jazz and got into R&B and soul music, while Omnia wrote angsty pop/rock songs on acoustic guitar and flirted with singing in Arabic here and there (our Dad was the language coach throughout that process). So needless to say, we became very different people as we grew up, in personality and musical style. When Leila moved back home from college after graduation, we became roommates again and continued to work separately until at some point our styles started to meet in the soul/pop realm. We started collaborating again, co-billing at shows and sometimes even playing together. After our Dad passed away in late 2015, we decided to officially become a duo under his last name, Hegazy.
We know you work together in homage to your father, and that’s such a beautiful and unique thing to offer. But we do wonder, as twins, is it difficult working together? Are there any quirks or rules to the relationship?
That’s a great question! Twin relationships are really intense, and probably even more intense than that of normal siblings. There are no secrets, and there’s no filter because you’re so comfortable with each other, so it requires a lot of mindfulness to express disagreement constructively, without being too blunt. And because each of us participated in differing musical genres before we became a duo, we definitely have artistic differences when we write songs together. So if one sister doesn’t like the other’s idea, the rule is to sleep on it before ruling it out. A lot of times, one of us will be so opposed to the other’s idea in the beginning, but after sitting with it, she’ll realize that the idea was actually pretty darn good, even if it’s not what she would have opted to do on her own. The power of the pause is real and compromise is so important in order to make any kind of partnership work! We’ll be real with you guys and admit that we are still working on this.
What is your writing process like? Take us inside it all!
Our songs almost always start with melody and chords first, with the understanding that everything is subject to change. Even though we’re a duo, we rarely start writing a song in the same room. We still work on our own, and after coming up with a song, one sister takes those ideas to the other for feedback. Very often, one of us starts a song, and the other finishes it. Sometimes finishing it means completely reimagining it and sometimes, it just means tweaking it, either lyrically or in terms of form. Both of us agonize over lyrics – it’s probably the one thing we argue about most. Regardless of ego, two heads are almost always better than one and we know our music is better for it.
Your debut EP is expected in early 2018. What have you been learning through the production process? Any fun memories or anecdotes?
We had so much fun recording this past summer with such a kickass band and producer. Our producer Jon Seale of Mason Jar Music in Brooklyn did an amazing job of taking our differing influences and bringing them to life in a way that represents both of us. We recorded most of our vocals the same way we practice: facing each other and watching each other’s mouths so that we could match each other with precision. We have of course learned, that everything does take longer than you think it’s going to. Creativity takes time and patience is key. Fun thing: While we were recording, our producer Jon had just gotten an adorable Australian Shepherd puppy. She wasn’t there most of the time because obviously puppies make noise, but seeing her always made our day.
What do you think is the most important advice you have ever gotten regarding your music?
Our Dad was the one who constantly suggested that we work together and like typical teenagers, we didn’t listen at the time. But he is the reason we are a duo today. We know he’s up in the clouds somewhere saying he told us so.
Anything else you’d like to add?
We released two singles with music videos this Fall called “Alive” and “Here to Stay” and we are so passionate about both of them. “Alive” was written about quitting a day-job to pursue music, and for the video we actually followed around 5 real people with a camera crew as they went about their jobs and their passions. We wanted to show that how people pay their bills isn’t necessarily who they are. This video is so New York, and so us.
Our recent single “Here to Stay” is political satire about xenophobia in America and the video features the most adorable child cast. As Arab-American women, we have a lot to say about what is going on in the US right now in terms of the Muslim Ban, the removal of DACA, and anti-immigrant sentiment in general. We felt a moral responsibility to speak up through our music, and couldn’t have made a record during these crazy times without acknowledging the hateful rhetoric that has been normalized in the past few years. But the song/video is actually really uplifting and playful, despite how serious this topic is. We had a small, but amazing film crew for both videos, and we need to shout out our director Steph Ching, who took our concepts and ran with them in the most beautiful way. These projects truly came from our hearts and we’re so proud of them.
Alternative rock/pop punk collective Valencia isn’t the only musical project Shane Henderson is lending his talents to these days. (That’s right. For those of you residing under a rock, Valencia is BACK!) In fact, his solo alternative/acoustic project Promise of Redemption found its start back in 2004 and happens to have just followed up 2016’s “Where You Ought To Be” with a new EP titled Before & After. The 6 track collection takes you on a mellow, beautiful journey that actually began a decade ago, as the songs were all written during and immediately following When The Flowers Bloom… was released in 2007. Explains Henderson of Before & After:
‘Before and After (Demos and B-Sides)’ came together as a celebration of the 10 year anniversary of WTFB. We took some B-sides from ‘When The Flowers Bloom…’ as well as some newer reworked demos from over the years. The six songs on ‘Before and After’ are ones that I think any fan of the album WTFB will love and even fans who have never heard of POR will love. They are six songs that were songs written for a purpose just like the album we are celebrating. I am excited to share these songs with the world in celebration of an album that really let me explore my love of playing music and creativity.
We’re absolutely captivated from beginning to end, especially since we realize we’re basking in the glow of Henderson, who many of us grew up with in our music sphere. And we’re thrilled that he continues to make such heartbreaking and intense music, songs we can relate to as we travel along with him on his musical journey. This one, though? This release is for the books, as it holds both a piece of nostalgia as well as this excited feeling of newness to it all. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the ambiance that will fall upon you while listening to Before & After.
Promise of Redemption will be playing two holiday shows, December 29th and 30th, in Philadelphia, PA in which they will play When The Flowers Bloom… in full to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the album. Upcoming shows and tickets are available here.
Before & After (Demos and B-Sides) is available via Know Hope Records.
Austin-based experimental musical collective Thor & Friends – comprised of Thor Harris (multi-instrumentalist), Peggy Ghorbani (marimba), and Sarah “Goat” Gautier (marimba, vibraphone, xylophone, organ, and more) – released the next chapter in their musical journey – an entrancing 9-track full-length titled The Subversive Nature of Kindness – just this month. Taking us on a musical journey that feels enticingly primal and exotic, Thor & Friends puts its unique blend of talents to the test – and passes with flying colors – to capture an ambiance that isn’t quite describable.
Whether the entirety of the material in this album was created as a source of relief or distraction from feelings of political unrest following the 2016 election – Thor is a very lively activist and often takes to Twitter to discuss politics and controversial topics – there are songs that we know to be directly inspired by recent events, some of which boast titles as obvious as “Standing Rock” and “Resist”. We choose to believe – after enjoying this album uninterrupted, from start to finish – that it does provide some of the peace necessary during this time of social and political unrest. Tracks like “Creepy Carpets” and “Dead Man’s Hand” set the pace with percussion, developing into almost eery soundscapes – the latter slightly more soothing, as though in the presence of death there’s nothing left to fear – before falling into oblivion. Our favorite track on the album just might be “An Escapist Theme”, as there are aspects in the soundscape that make you feel like you’re wandering through a sparsely populated dystopian society, and equally as though you’re adventuring through Neverland with Peter Pan and his Lost Boy cronies. But perhaps that was the intention, as any type of escapism is caused by a stressful situation in which you feel abandoned or alone in some way, driven by the lust for adventure.
In that way, if the experimental themes and confines within which Thor & Friends delivers their art provide existential questions or unsolved mysteries, the trio takes the time to find and provide closure with that thought. The songs themselves are these questions and answers, making the release feel complete in a very real way.
If you haven’t gotten a chance to experience Thor & Friends live, check out their upcoming tour dates. They take the time and make a concerted effort to really speak with their fans, hug and greet newcomers, and make the entire audience feel like they are a part of the show.
Upcoming performances
12/1 Austin, TX , Lemon Lounge w/ Bill Converse
12/8 Rennes, FR, Les Rencontres Trans Musicales, Parc Exposition, Hall 8
12/9 Rennes, FR, Les Champs Libres
Born! Music presents
12/11 Castellón, SP Teatre del Raval – Sons Castelló
12/12 Barcelona, SP Fabra I Coats
12/13 Madrid, ES, Centro Cultural Galileo – Ciuda Distrito
12/14 Lisbon, PT, Galeria Zé Dos Bois
12/15 Vigo, SP, Museo Marco – Sinsalaudio
12/17 Zaragoza, ES, Centro Civico Delicias – Bombo y Platillo
The Subversive Nature of Kindness is available now. Keep up with Thor & Friends here.
