by Meredith Schneider | Dec 18, 2017 | wolf tracks
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.
by Meredith Schneider | Dec 14, 2017 | wolf tracks
New York-based musician Aaron Taos just released his last single of 2017, and boy is it a doozy. Existing at mid-tempo, the song has that “strutting like a badass” feel to it instrumentally, though the subject matter is a little less suave at its core.
Admits Aaron of the track: “‘Twisted’ is about how stupid we can get when we’re interested in someone. It’s not a revolutionary concept, but it’s the idea of feeling high when you’re in the presence of that person and not being able to think clearly/act normally. I.e. bumbling, rambling, tripping, and fumbling when you see them and start to get that young love head rush”.
So check out your new favorite “puppy love” track below, and dance your way into the holidays.
Keep up with Aaron Taos here.
by Meredith Schneider | Dec 14, 2017 | wolf tracks
Brooklyn-based rock collective Lovehoney – comprised of Alysia Quinones (vocals), Tommy White (guitar), Tom Gehlhaus (drums), and Matt Saleh (bass) – might just be getting their start together, but they have already melted faces at some prominent venues on the east coast. Their recent single “Try to Get Rid of Me” really flourishes in that aggressive rock soundscape, a nostalgic 70s twinge to the vocal recordings throwing us back to a time where leather vests, fringe, and long, flowing locks dominated. Whirring guitars keep the energy consistently badass as Quinones belts out honest and compelling lyrics anyone could relate to.
Keep up with Lovehoney here.
by Meredith Schneider | Dec 13, 2017 | wolf tracks
New York-based art rock collective Heroes of Toolik – comprised of Arad Evans (guitar), Jennifer Coates (violin), Moppa Elliott (bass), John Speck (trombone), and Michael Evans (percussion) – has chosen to take the band in a different direction from their previous two album releases. Not only did they add Elliott and Evans to the lineup, but they’ve also added a noticeably more experimental layer to their work that both captivates and encourages the listener. They’ve really brought that to light with a short film they recently released of a studio performance as the official video for their track “Quincunx”.
The word “quincunx” translates to “an arrangement of five things,” so they take that meaning in the most literal sense just being a band together. The band and the word are simple, yet intrinsically complex. The video itself mirrors this concept, as it is a relatively simple live performance but is built of its own instrumental complexities. Bathed in warm light in the heart of summer – June 22nd, 2017, to be exact – Heroes of Toolik find their groove together in a way that just insists on provoking an ambiance. And it’s absolutely beautiful.
Keep up with Heroes of Toolik here.
by Meredith Schneider | Dec 13, 2017 | wolf tracks
Hinton, West Virginia-based rock phenom Gyasi recently released the intense and fun track “Sugar Mama” for our listening pleasure. The audience benefits from his childhood need to enjoy the classics, as this track sounds like it came right out of the vintage rock n’ roll vault. And that’s an incredible feat, as the instrumental work matches the vocals in talent, wrapping us up in this gorgeous and energetic piece. Check it out below for some fun during your holiday season and beyond!
Keep up with Gyasi here.
by Meredith Schneider | Dec 13, 2017 | wolf tracks
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.
Keep up with Swimsuit Issue here.
by Meredith Schneider | Dec 12, 2017 | wolf tracks
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.
by Meredith Schneider | Dec 12, 2017 | 5 to 7
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.
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Keep up with Hegazy here!
by Meredith Schneider | Dec 11, 2017 | wolf tracks
On the hunt for a feisty, upbeat track to really keep you going while you’re at your desk today? We can’t think of anything better than electro pop artist Madison‘s relatively new – and infinitely inspiring – single “Hustle”. Starting with a bass line that really brings a raw strength to a largely pop-infused electronic track, we’re met with the feeling that there is much more to this song than one spin will lead you to believe. Let yourself get carried away in the trance-like sounds of “Hustle”. It’s fierce, enigmatic, and intense.
Keep up with Madison here.
