Friday, July 28, 2017

Big sounds from a garage in Los Angeles: Tree Machines sets Sept. 22nd release date for long-awaited debut album “Up For Air.”

Latest single “Fade On,” music video “Weights and Stones” (starring Sonic!) from band’s two-year labor of love, streaming now.

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Tree Machines (L-R): Douglas Wooldridge, Patrick Aubry. Photo by Kasia Nawrocka.

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Tree Machines – In The Press

“Anthemic.” (The Wild) | “Gleaming placidity.” (BlackBook) | “Some LA soul that indie pop needs.” (Popdust) | “Viciously human.” (Atwood) | “Emotionally staggering.” (Diffuser) | “Best new rock song of the year.” (BULLETT) | “Beautifully brutal.” (Innocent Words) | “I’ve been unable to stop listening.” (Gold Flake Paint) | “Hope and illumination.” (The Vinyl District) | “Heart-quickening sentimentality.” (MAGNET) | “Best thing I’ve heard all week.” (Daytrotter)

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“Theirs is a big, urgent, liberating sound, outsized indie-rock with pop choruses and churning electronics, a soundtrack to being unleashed from their former lives.” – Buzzbands.la with the premiere of “Fade On” by Tree Machines. Listen here or at the links below!







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“The video showcases a beautiful dance piece while the song tackles the idea of breaking free from anything holding you back.” – Substream with the premiere of the “Weights and Stones” music video by Tree Machines. See it here or watch and listen at the links below!







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“To me, this track is a sister song to our very first single ‘Fucking Off Today,’” says Doug Wooldridge of Tree Machines referring to the track that launched the band in 2015 with a blunt declaration of what it’s like to be caught in a uniquely Midwestern malaise. “‘Fade On’ is another visceral look into the party culture – too much booze and too many drugs.”

Wooldridge continues, “What draws these people to congregate in rundown warehouses and fields across the world with minds blown and bodies stuck in seemingly perpetual motion? It’s the music, the vibes, the feeling of being surrounded by strangers that are just like you; faded and confused.”

Wooldridge had “Fade On” half-written when he left on a trip to Ireland, and had the unfinished version with him as he hopped the flight back home.

“I’d just settled into my seat with a drink in hand and a pencil tucked behind my ear when I look up to see Thom Yorke walking past me,” he remembers. “I worked up enough courage to go shake his hand and tell him he’s an idol of mine, and then I went back to my seat, downed my drink, ordered a second, and finished ‘Fade On’ by the time we were over the Atlantic.”

The band’s latest music video is for the song “Weights and Stones.”

Woodridge says, “First and foremost, I gotta say that our dancer, Sonic, absolutely killed it. I really wanted her to come off as fierce, like take no shit from nobody fierce, and she nailed it.”

He continues, “The basic story of ‘Weights and Stones’ is about empowering anyone to break free and brush off the weights that keep us locked in place, whether that’s a bad relationship, or a job you hate, or even a city you can’t stand to live in anymore. I got the inspiration for this video from Flume & Chet Faker’s video for ‘Drop The Game.’ Something about having movement and expression out in the wild really stuck with me and I had to give it a shot.”

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Relocated from Lawrence, Kansas, ​​​Tree Machines built a safe room in Los Angeles. Not for security of the conventional kind, but for a place to unleash, and make the kind of music that is at once vulnerable and strong, without fear of consequence. Anthems for times that don’t make sense, but carve a path forward. Call it a studio, if you have to. But you don’t have to.

Here, ​​​Douglas Wooldridge (vocalist, lyricist), bandmate ​​​Patrick Aubry, and producer ​​​Mike Giffin (all three contribute to the various instrumentation and music) have been creating Up For Air, the debut ​​​Tree Machines full-length album, scheduled for release on the band’s Man In The Machine label on Sept. 22nd, 2017.

The upcoming album follows-up 2015’s debut ​​​Tree Machines EP, which contained the single ​​​“Fucking Off Today,” a difficult-to-ignore opening salvo that expressed Midwestern malaise (which these former Kansans know all too well) in a new way. Three more ​​​Tree Machines singles appeared during the summer of that year.

Up For Air, the debut album by Tree Machines, is scheduled for release on September 22nd, 2017. Members of Tree Machines are available for interviews. Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic for more information.

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Tree Machines Links


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Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic Promotion


Friday, July 21, 2017

San Antonio’s The March Divide gets Major on almost-grim “Don’t Let Me Die In Arizona,” his fifth EP, among three LPs, since 2013.

Songwriter Jared Putnam’s latest tunes take a percussion-focused turn with At The Drive In, Coheed and Cambria producer, Mike Major.

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Jared Putnam of The March Divide as photographed by John Glover

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Hear the “clever lyrics and undeniably catchy hooks” of “Cherry Bomb” at Glide Magazine or the links below!






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The March Divide – In The Press

“Impressively hooky.” — American Songwriter

“There’s something wonderfully Fountains Of Wayne about it.” — MAGNET

“Bittersweet beauty.” — Impose

Big Star-informed, strummy acoustic reverie.” — BLURT

“Completely clever.” — Performer

“His work is uniformly intimate and thoroughly emotional.” — Nooga

“Quality pop at its best.” — Popdose

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The March Divide has released three albums and four EPs of original material since 2013. Listen to the singles here.

“I’ve had this song ‘Cherry Bomb’ for a number of years, and after talking with my producer ​​Mike Major about the direction of the EP, I knew it fit the mold,” says ​​San Antonio-based songwriter Jared Putnam, ​​The March Divide’s non-stop workhorse and sole permanent member.

​​“Though the songs came first, we wanted it to feel like they were built around the percussion. This whole approach is something I’ve been working on, so for the initial pre-production of the EP, I made some very quick demos of the songs, that ​​Mike programmed percussion to. Cherry Bomb’ was the first song he sent back to me, and I remember thinking, ‘Holy shit, he did it!’”

Thankfully, the upcoming EP (Putnam’s fifth, along with three full-lengths and a warmly received recent batch of 80’s-era covers, all since 2013) is not posthumously titled “I Died In Arizona,” but it came close.

“I was in Arizona for a week, and I got sicker than I’ve ever been in my life,” Putnam explains. Putnam just so happened to be listening to the final mixes of the new songs at the time, as well. “For the rest of my life, I’m always going to associate these songs with how sick I was that week. I actually remember listening to the final mixes and saying out loud, ‘Please, don’t let me die in Arizona.’”


Major, best known for his work with ​​At The Drive-In and ​​Coheed and Cambria, is also a percussionist, which makes his contributions to “Don’t Let Me Die In Arizona” an essential piece of the puzzle for this percussion-focused group of songs.

“This was a different sort of release for me,” Putnam says. “I’ve been experimenting a lot with my approach to percussion, hoping to find a new balance between rock and pop. I explained what I had been hoping to do to​​ Mike, and he really seemed to get it.”

​​Jared Putnam is alive and well and living in San Antonio. “Don’t Let Me Die In Arizona,” the latest EP by ​​The March Divide is scheduled for release on ​​August 4th, 2017. Pre-orders are live now at http://smarturl.it/DLMDIA. Jared Putnam of The March Divide is available for interviews. Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic for more information.

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The March Divide – Live

8/04/2017: San Antonio, TX @ The Point Park & Eats
8/05/2017: Fort Stockton, TX @ The Garage
8/06/2017: El Paso, TX @ Westside 3rd Tavern
8/09/2017: Amarillo, TX @ The 806
8/10/2017: Dallas, TX @ Adair’s Saloon
8/11/2017: Wichita Falls, TX @ Gypsy Uncorked
8/12/2017: Tulsa, OK @ Red Brick Bar
9/15/2017: Galveston, TX @ MOD Coffeehouse
9/28/2017: New Orleans, LA @ Checkpoint Charlie’s
9/29/2017: Lake Charles, LA @ Luna Live

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The March Divide
“Don’t Let Me Die In Arizona” EP
(S/R)
August 4th, 2017
  

Track Listing:

01. Tired Voice (SOUNDCLOUD | SPOTIFY | APPLE | MP3)
02. I’m Not Sorry
03. Cherry Bomb (SOUNDCLOUD | SPOTIFY | APPLE | MP3)
04. Someone Else’s Problem
05. Make Me Trip

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The March Divide Links


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Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic Promotion


Thursday, July 20, 2017

J Hacha de Zola further focuses his “reductive synthesis” method of music-making on upcoming third album “Antipatico.” Translation: “Wicked.”

Rahway-based “urban junkyard” artist joined by Dana Colley of Morphine, Tom Waits collaborator Ralph Carney, Frank London of Klezmatics.

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J Hacha de Zola as photographed by Miguel Peralta Jr.

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Hear the “mutant blues rock” of “No Situation” from Antipatico via Treble Zine or at the links below!





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J Hacha de Zola – In The Press

“The kind of alluring character found in old children’s books.” — UTNE

“The main influence is that of Tom Waits. But if Zola has influences, he also has talent.” — VOIR (Canada)

“To say that De Zola’s creative process and musical style are unique is an understatement.” — SLUG

“Cranks and curdles and clomps around his slithery croon tunes.” — CMJ

“A twisted, dystopian narrative straight from the mind of John Carpenter.” — Elmore

“Visionary.” — BLURT

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“I write creepy songs or songs for creeps, but this one is a bit more light-hearted,” muses Rahway, New Jersey’s ​​J Hacha de Zola about “No Situation,” the first single from his upcoming third album Antipatico, arriving ​​October 6th. Hear “No Situation” now via Treble Zine.

​​“No Situation” is one example of the voodoo to be found on the new album, which follows-up ​​Picaro Obscuro, the second of Hacha de Zola’s two “urban junkyard” albums of 2016. At the time of that record’s release, ​​Hacha de Zola insinuated that he might not continue on to make a third, but with Antipatico, he allows listeners the opportunity to hear an artist confidently gaining ground on his own vision and voice. Some artists change immeasurably over the course of three records, whereas Hacha de Zola is actually becoming who he set out to be.

“It has been an interesting exercise making the last two records (Jan., 2016’s ​​Escape From Fat Kat City and Aug., 2016’s ​​Picaro Obscuro),” ​​Hacha de Zola says. “I wasn’t sure what I’d end up with or how I’d feel about what I’d done. It took time for me to become a ‘believer’ in what I’ve been doing, but with this record it’s become something that I feel is truly a reflection of my voice.”

As with his previous albums, ​​Hacha de Zola (and his gaggle of cohorts and underground legends including Dana Colley of Morphine, Tom Waits collaborator Ralph Carney, Frank London of Klezmatics, and “Psycho Mambo” collective, Gato Loco) is practicing Hacha de Zola’s “reductive synthesis” method of, as he elegantly says, “shooting the arrow first and then painting the bullseye around it.”

​​Hacha de Zola explains, “I never go to the studio with songs written. I allow the musicians to be themselves and throw all they’ve got at it. Then I’ll go and peel back the various layers to fashion a song from it all. It’s a pretty risky way of making an album because when it’s all done, you may have something that isn’t agreeable to you. Other times, you arrive at something truly magical and the songs take on a life of their own. There’s a certain kind of voodoo there that could not be planned.”

Antipatico, the latest album from J Hacha de Zola, arrives October 6th, 2017. Hacha de Zola is available for interviews. Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic for more information.

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J Hacha de Zola
Antipatico
(S/R)
October 6th, 2017
  

Track Listing:

01. Antipatico
02. March of the Hollowmen
03. Lightning Rod Salesman
04. No Situation  (YOUTUBE | SOUNDCLOUD | MP3)
05. El Desgraciado
06. On a Sleepless Night
07. Eigengrau
08. That Same Thing
09. Amaranthine
10. A Fanciful Invention

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J Hacha De Zola Links


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Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic Promotion


Monday, July 17, 2017

Austin-based songwriter, guitarist, producer Stephen Doster celebrates lives of legendary friends on “New Black Suit,” out August 25th

New full-length follows-up 2014’s “Arizona” comeback, hailed as a “masterpiece” by Austin Chronicle. Hear “Something Good” now.

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Stephen Doster as photographed by Melinda Doster

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Hear “Something Good” from the upcoming Stephen Doster album New Black Suit at the links below!




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Stephen Doster – In The Press

“Stephen Doster should get the recognition he deserves, finally, with this masterpiece.” — Austin Chronicle (2014)

“One of the best records our city has produced this year.” — Austin American-Statesman (2014)

“His stories flow with masterful clarity.” — KUTX 98.9, Austin (NPR)

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“Many of the songs on this record are speaking about friends of mine that have passed, but taught me a lot while they were here,” Austin-based songwriter, guitarist and record producer Stephen Doster explains of New Black Suit (Atticus Records, Aug. 25th), his second album after an 18-year release hiatus that ended in 2014 with the comeback album Arizona, which went on to be described as a “masterpiece” with “one charmed melody after another” by the Austin Chronicle.

“I will always be grateful we were able to get it done,” Doster says, alluding to the practical impact that the album’s subject matter of friends who have passed can have. New Black Suit poignantly includes some of the last recorded work of legendary Austin session bassist and friend to many, George Reiff, who lost his battle with cancer on May 21st, 2017. Doster has dedicated the album to Reiff.

“For me, this is the most exciting and meaningful musical experience I’ve ever been a part of,” Doster says. Other departed friends that inspired New Black Suit include Doster’s mentor, Townes Van Zandt and the legendary late comedian, Bill Hicks.

The opening lines of “Shooting For The Stars” came from a conversation I had with Townes Van Zandt on December 16th, 1994 about my pal Bill Hicks,” Doster explains. “It would have been Bill’s 33rd birthday that day.” Hicks is further immortalized on another of the album’s tracks, “William Melvin Hicks”.

Despite the recurring lyrical theme of loss that is woven throughout the album, New Black Suit isn’t a downer. Its songs serve more as loving tributes and celebrations of their subjects. In fact, Doster considers “Something Good,” the track that he's sharing today, to be one of the most optimistic songs he's ever written.

“Strangely, it was written at a time when I was feeling great despair at the divisiveness that I was seeing all around me. Many of my friends were shaken by the political climate, and fear and anger seemed to be winning the day. So, I decided I wanted to write a song that was the opposite of that. I wanted to write a song about hope, and ‘Something Good’ is my way of telling every man and woman that your positivity can make the world a better place."

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Over the course of his long and varied career, Austin-based songwriter and Texas Music Legends Hall of Fame inductee, Stephen Doster has worked with Willie Nelson, Dr. John, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, Joe Cocker, and Nanci Griffith among many others. More recently, he has enjoyed watching the rise to fame of Grammy Award-winner Maren Morris, whose debut album, Walk On, was produced by Doster.

New Black Suit, the latest album from Stephen Doster, arrives via Atticus Records on August 25th, 2017. Doster is available for interviews. Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic for more information.

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Stephen Doster – Live

09/9/2017: Austin, TX @ The Townsend (Record Release Show, 8PM)
11/9/2017: Tucson, AZ @ Monterey Court (w/ Bob Cheevers, 8PM)
11/12/2017: Pasadena, CA @ Old Oak Cellars (w/ Bob Cheevers, 3PM)
11/13/2017: Burbank, CA @ Cody's Viva Cantina (w/ Bob Cheevers, 8PM)
11/16/2017: Carmel, CA @ Barmel By The Sea (w/ Bob Cheevers, 7PM)
11/17/2017: Sacramento, CA @ Luna's Cafe (w/ Bob Cheevers, 8PM)
11/21/2017: Silver City, NM @ Tranquilbuzz Coffee House (w/ Bob Cheevers, 6PM)
11/22/2017: Taos, NM @ Historic Taos Inn (w/ Bob Cheevers, 630PM)
11/24/2017: Alamosa, CO @ The Society Hall (w/ Bob Cheevers, 7PM)
11/25/2017: Taos, NM @ Eske's Brew Pub (w/ Bob Cheevers, 630PM)
11/26/2017: Santa Fe, NM @ The Cowgirl Saloon (w/ Bob Cheevers, 8PM)

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Stephen Doster
New Black Suit
(Atticus Records)
August 25th, 2017


Track Listing:

01. Shooting For The Stars
02. Balmorhea
03. William Melvin Hicks
04. You Should’ve Seen This Place
05. Big Cars
06. Until The End
07. Something Good  (YOUTUBE | SOUNDCLOUD | MP3)
08. Love Like Summertime
09. You Better Know It
10. New Black Suit

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Stephen Doster Links


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Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic Promotion


Friday, July 14, 2017

Two-time Grammy-winner, recent Emmy Award recipient, Mark Bryan to release third solo album “Songs of the Fortnight” Aug. 11th.

Hootie and the Blowfish co-founder, guitarist’s new collection is culled from three-year blog project showcasing Charleston, SC music.

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Mark Bryan as photographed by Jonathan Boncek.

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Guitar World premieres “Forgetting About Me” by Mark Bryan. Listen here or at the links below!






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Mark Bryan – Live

8/10/2017: Charleston, SC @ The Windjammer (Record Release Show)
8/11/2017: Charleston, SC @ Volvo Car Stadium (Hootie and the Blowfish)
8/12/2017: Charleston, SC @ Volvo Car Stadium (Hootie and the Blowfish)
9/7/2017: New York, NY @ Rockwood Music Hall
9/8/2017: Vienna, VA @ Jammin' Java
9/9/2017: Hershey, PA @ Music on Chocolate

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As the co-founder and guitarist for the two-time Grammy winning, nearly 20-million album selling band Hootie and The Blowfish, Charleston, South Carolina-based musician Mark Bryan’s playing was ubiquitous in 1995. Hootie’s Cracked Rear View earned the biggest album sales of any release that year, and is now ranked as one of the biggest selling albums in music history.

Success at that level brings all sorts of pre-conceptions, so when first hearing the tunes on Bryan’s upcoming third solo album Songs of The Fortnight, (August 11th, Chucktown Music Group), listeners will be surprised at the down-to-Earth songwriting that sounds like Southern hospitality.


After Hootie went on semi-hiatus almost a decade ago – the band will convene for a hometown two-night stand in mid-August – Bryan became passionate about producing other artists, which led to a prominent role supporting the Charleston music scene. Indeed, ask anyone in the Charleston music community about Bryan, and they'll say, “Oh, everyone around Charleston knows Mark!”

As Bryan began to amass dozens of production credits, he also started to record and release songs on the fly – first his own, and then those of other artists he was working with. This led to the launch of the “Song of the Fortnight” blog, where Bryan posted a new song of his own, or an artist he was playing with or producing, every two weeks, for three years.

Eventually, there was enough material for an album, which comprises the 11 songs on Songs of the Fortnight. The album features ten Bryan originals, and an opening cut that is another nod to Bryan’s ease at throwing the spotlight; a barn-burning cover of Scruffy The Cat’s college radio favorite “Mybabyshe’sallright” (featuring frequent REM collaborator Peter Holsapple on harmonica.)

In fact, Songs of the Fortnight functions as somewhat of a capper – the “Song of the Fortnight” blog could have continued indefinitely if Bryan hadn’t received an offer to work for the College of Charleston, but the opportunity was right in line with his interest and continuing passion for elevating the local music community.

Furthering his community efforts, Bryan also teamed up with the esteemed local venue, the Charleston Music Hall to launch a television show “Live at the Charleston Music Hall,” which recently won a regional Emmy Award, and he is also heavily involved in Carolina Studios, a non-profit recording studio that allows children in low-income areas to have a songwriting and recording experience free-of-charge. Bryan also brings his unique perspective on the industry to his work managing the emerging Charleston-based rock band Stop Light Observations.

“Charleston is an amazing city in the middle of a remarkable renaissance,” Bryan says of his adopted hometown. “I’m lucky to be part of its growth.”

Mark Bryan’s third album Songs of the Fortnight arrives August 11th via the artist’s own Chucktown Music Group. Bryan is available for interviews. Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic for more information.

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Mark Bryan
Songs of the Fortnight
(Chucktown Music Group)
August 11th, 2017
  

Track Listing:

01. Mybabyshe’sallright
02. If You Saw Her  (SOUNDCLOUD | MP3)
03. Almost Loved Me
04. A Little Bit of Everything
05. The Great Beyond
06. Forgetting About Me (SOUNDCLOUD | SPOTIFY | APPLE | MP3)
07. Whole Lotta Lovin’ (feat. Hank Futch)
08. Sweet Love (feat. Kathy Dempf)
09. Only Love Can Satisfy
10. A Song For Maryland
11. Maybe Then (Acoustic)

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Mark Bryan Links


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Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic Promotion


Friday, July 7, 2017

Married Bakersfield-based duo Fawns of Love releases two-song follow-up to “perfectly woozy” debut. “A dreampop gem” says Paste.

 “Falling/Standing,” available on limited 7-inch, cassette. Visual single also streaming now. Band plays early set in L.A. at The Echo tomorrow.

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Fawns of Love (L-R): Joseph Andreotti, Jenny Andreotti. Photo credit: Joseph Andreotti.

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See the two-song visual single for “Falling/Standing” via Treble or the link below!


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Los Angeles! See Fawns of Love live at The Echo tomorrow night! Early set at 530PM PST.

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Fawns of Love – In The Press

“A dreampop gem.” — Paste

“Drifts along dreamily.” — MAGNET

“Perfectly woozy.” — FLOOD

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Joseph and Jenny Andreotti – the married Bakersfield, California-based couple that comprises dream pop duo Fawns of Love – released its debut album Who Cares About Tomorrow on March 3rd, and follows it up today with the release of two new tracks, available as a double-A side lathe cut 7-inch and cassette.

“Falling/Standing” is also streaming via all the usual suspects (SPOTIFY | APPLE) and the band will play the tunes and others this Saturday during its early record release show at The Echo in Los Angeles at 530PM PST.

A visual single for the two tracks, premiered earlier this week via Treble, is also streaming now. The piece consists of 16mm and Super 8mm film transferred to HD by director, Beaux Mingus. To create the clip, multi stages of emotion were played out in front of a sheet of reflective Mylar, captured on 16mm, re-photographed through textured and magnifying glass, and projected on to a blank bedroom wall. Found Super 8mm films of scientific experiments were then projected on top of the original film, and the two were captured on HD video.

“For ‘Falling,’ Beaux symbolically represents the idea of two people diving in to a relationship without any thought of the consequences it might bring,” Jenny says. “They may drown, but at least they had a great time while submerged. He also beautifully captures the emotion, rhythm, and dream-like state of ‘Standing.’” 

About the songs themselves, Jenny comments, “‘Falling’ is about a retired bachelor who meets a younger woman. He quickly decides to go on a long distance vacation with her and is so excited that he literally tells everyone he knows. The relationship immediately blows up in his face and inevitably there is a long awkward plane ride home.”

About “Standing,” she explains, “I have daydreamed since I was a small girl and even my daydreams have become so realistic that even the people in my fantasies insult me. So I go back and forth. When I get frustrated with real people I go into my fantasies and when my fantasies become too real I go back to reality. When you are attending funerals in your alternate reality perhaps it is time to imagine a new scenario.”

The “Falling/Standing” 7-inch/cassette by Fawns of Love is available now. The duo’s debut album Who Cares About Tomorrow is also out now. Jenny and Joseph Andreotti are available for interviews. Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic for more information.

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Fawns of Love
“Falling/Standing” 7-Inch
(S/R)
Out Now


Track Listing:

Falling (SOUNDCLOUD | SPOTIFY | APPLE | MP3 | VIDEO)
Standing (SOUNDCLOUD | SPOTIFY | APPLE | MP3 | VIDEO)

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Fawns of Love
Who Cares About Tomorrow
(S/R)
Out Now


Track Listing:

01. Silly Boy (SOUNDCLOUD | SPOTIFY | APPLE | MP3)
02. That’s What We Do (SOUNDCLOUD | SPOTIFY | APPLE | MP3 | VIDEO | REMIX)
03. His Face
04. How We Live Now
05. Names, Names, Names
06. Miranda
07. Girls
08. Scattered Pieces

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Fawns of Love Links


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Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic Promotion