Animalweapon’s Flares and Signal Fires coming to vinyl 11/14
Animalweapon’s 2015 EP, Flares and Signal Fires, is coming to vinyl for its 10th anniversary! You be able to pick up a copy on November 14 at the show at Bond Brothers Eastside before it becomes available to order online.
The EP has been remastered by Levi Seitz at Black Belt Mastering. His resumé includes Beyoncé’s Renaissance, Olivia Rodrigo’s Sour, and last year’s special “one step” re-releases of the first three Linkin Park albums.
Says Animalweapon:
Listening to the new masters this summer was a real moment for me. It took me back to 2015, feeling everything I felt during that tough time - the profound heartbreak, the visceral anger, the deep sadness. I felt pride in having made it through that time alive, and in the work that came out of it. All while being floored at how good the record sounds. It was a LOT.This is my first vinyl release and I couldn’t be more excited for folks to drop the needle on it!
NEW RELEASE: Waking April - “Rules”
“RULES was one of the first demos I heard from Waking April and it immediately jumped out as something I wanted to have the opportunity to work on. From first listen it was obvious the song would be hugely important to the record and we steered pretty closely to that recording for the album version. I really loved that the lyrics were capable of being brutal and direct and still feel playful in moments.”
Producer and Artist Mark Watrous (The Shins, Loudermilk)
Waking April’s “Rules” is a cathartic clap-back against all the double standards, expectations, and fears put upon women. Bethany McKee adds lyrical nuance, relating to women’s experiences from all backgrounds, including her own. From the first drum beat to the last chorus, “Rules” is defiant and in your face with an aggressive groove, dirty bass lines and layered synths.
“This is one of those songs that came spilling out as soon as I sat down to write it. Alex wrote the instrumental sketch and the chorus hook, “I don’t think I like these rules,” and I was immediately flooded with memories of all the rules I was taught as a girl. I, like every woman I know, was taught to constantly be on guard. We are told that not only is our safety our own responsibility, but that if we are victims of violence, harassment, or disrespect, we must immediately prove that we have done everything in our power to prevent it before being taken seriously,” Bethany explained. She continues, “In my own upbringing, this was coupled with the extra religious pressure to “not cause my brothers in Christ to stumble.” I have been asked to prove that my clothing was not immodest when a man twenty years older than me complained to church elders that I was a distraction. My sexual purity, and therefore my worth as a person, has been compared to any number of inanimate objects including but not limited to: cow’s milk, a gift wrapped present (better not tear that wrapping paper!), a fragile glass ornament, toothpaste (can’t put it back in the tube) and duct tape. It took me many years of self reflection and a healthy dose of defiance to unlearn the lessons that were so firmly ingrained in my view of myself. My sincere hope is that this song will offer some catharsis to other women who are going through something similar, but even more so that we will finally say enough is enough, that we will grow past this as a society, and that if I have a daughter, she will not be able to relate to these lyrics at all”
Bethany’s band partner and husband, Alex remembers, “Musically, “Rules” is ‘lean and mean’, there’s not a ton of elements or instruments involved. But the instrumentation that is present is robust and purposeful. We’re so proud of how it came out, the song just hits, doesn’t let up and then leaves early. It’s exactly the right vehicle for Bethany’s lyrics. The drumgroovecamefromchoppingsamples andmanipulatingthebeatuntilitdidexactly what we wanted it to. The working title was “that drum loop I like” for the longest time. When we got into the studio, we re- amped the drum samples into Mark’s analog gear and it made them nastier, punchier, and at the same time warmer. If the drums are the engine of this track, the bassline is the heart. It’s such a simple part but there are a lot of nuances that make the sound very specific and dialed in.”
Drenched in vintage synths, soaring vocals and driving drum grooves, married Electro-pop duo Waking April take their musical cues from the likes of Phantogram, CHVRCHES, and Broods while creating something distinct and fresh. After releasing a string of singles and EPs, in 2023 they signed with indie label Polychromatic Records from Nashville TN, and will release their first full length album produced by Mark Watrous later in 2024. The band has toured across the United States, and been generating buzz with their latest release of “Siren,” a dancy feminist anthem and their first release with Polychromatic Records. With several releases under their belt, and more on the way, Alex and Bethany have never been more excited to share their music with their energetic live show, hitting the road to support their new songs.
NEW RELEASE: NEW EX - Villain EP
Polychromatic Records artist NEW EX has released his second EP, Villain, out now on all streaming platforms. Here’s what NEW EX has to say about the project:
Realizing that my presence and energy are being met with rejection, I find myself caught in a cycle of self-affirmation and defensive barriers, all while questioning the value of the social interactions that have drained me emotionally.
As I navigate this landscape, I’ve chosen to embrace anger as a form of empowerment. Each judgment from others feels like a weight on my shoulders, intensifying my exhaustion while also fueling me to project the best parts of my own self image. I grapple with the relentless sting of social rejection, prompting me to reevaluate the worth of my investments in these connections.
This journey is a reflection of my struggle to reclaim my sense of self and esteem amidst the noise of external expectations. I’m done playing by rules that diminish my spirit; I’m taking a stand, ready to protect my energy fiercely and assert my worth.
NEW RELEASE: Waking April - “Mile High”
For Raleigh alt-pop duo Waking April, debut album Fear of Failure is literally the culmination of a lifetime’s work. A couple since high school and bandmates since college, Bethany and Alex McKee have structured their entire adult lives around crafting Waking April’s uplifting yet thought-provoking signature sound. Tackling timely and widely resonant issues of mental illness and religious trauma while artfully blending digital and organic sounds, Fear of Failure was produced in Nashville by Mark Watrous (the Shins, Raconteurs, Loudermilk) and features members of Delta Rae and The Whigs/Eagles of Death Metal. The album will be released this fall on indie label Polychromatic Records from Nashville, TN.
The first single, “Mile High,” is a layered and nuanced love song folded into a lush and dreamy soundscape. Lyrically, it’s a simple picture of feeling elevated and high on love, but underneath the simplicity is a description of how some love stories can turn toxic and unhealthy. “The main pad sounds that start the song come from Native Instruments “kinetic treats’ which blends synthesizers with samples of children's toys. The result is a buzzy weird combo of glitchy goodness,” Alex comments. LISTEN TO "MILE HIGH"
Both classically-trained pianists, the McKees formed Waking April in college and evolved through various lineups and genres before settling on the electro pop that they increasingly found themselves moved by – acts like Phantogram, Metric, CHVRCHES, and Broods. They announced their new sound and two-piece incarnation with 2019’s intoxicating ‘Stretch’ and have since released a string of self-produced singles and earned a reputation for high-energy live performances tingling with a unique, innate chemistry.
Mental health and religion are subjects frequently addressed in Waking April's lyrics. “Alex was diagnosed bipolar, and I struggle with chronic depression,” offered vocalist/lyricist Bethany. “Religion had a huge impact on our upbringings and this album reflects our growth out of unhealthy things that don’t work for us anymore. I hope that describing our experiences is helpful to people dealing with similar things, to know that there’s someone who can relate.”
In 2023, Waking April signed with Polychromatic Records, who connected them with producer Mark Watrous, a multi-instrumentalist also known for his work with The Shins, The Raconteurs and Loudermilk. Recording at Watrous’ Strange Attraction studio that summer elevated their sound, built around Alex’s meticulous sound design and Bethany’s crystalline vocal timbre, without compromising its essence. Echoes of their earlier grunge and folk-rock influences linger, but draped in edgy electronic soundscapes, throbbing beats, and engulfing atmospherics.
“It was not a transformation – Mark breathed life into what was already there,” said Alex. “He added acoustic elements and more ‘real’ instruments.” These include prominent guitars, a grand piano, and an antique organ. Fear of Failure is further made visceral by live drums from Julian Dorio (The Whigs/Eagles of Death Metal) and Mike McKee (Delta Rae – and Alex’s brother!)
“When I hear something that I connect with, it’s very, very deep,” Alex concluded. “We want other people to experience that sense of connection from our music and lyrics.”
Waking April on Tour:
Aug 8 - Athens GA - Buvez
Aug 10 - Charlotte NC - Petra's
Aug 16 - Columbia SC - New Brookland Tavern
Aug 24 - Raleigh/Durham NC Sofar Sounds
Aug 30 - Nashville TN - The East Room
September 7 - Raleigh NC Ruby Deluxe (Hopscotch Fest day-party)
October 18 - Raleigh NC - NC State Fair
November 2 - Cary NC - Bond Brothers Eastside
STREAM "Mile High" Here
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Polychromatic Records
NEW RELEASE: NEW EX - “Paranoia (I.J.D.F.W.U.)”
Originally titled, “Bathroom Party,” “Paranoia (I.J.D.F.W.U.)” is the latest single by Alternative R&B artist NEW EX from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. NEW EX describes the inspiration of the song as that moment of awkward feeling at a party when you feel like the vibes and interactions are off so you go to the bathroom to reset. NEW EX explains, “This song is the pep talk you give yourself in the mirror while figuring out why you care so much, then coming to the conclusion that you shouldn’t, and you actually don’t.”