Friko Announce Debut Album ‘Where we’ve been, Where we go from here’
Today, Chicago band Friko announces their debut album, Where we’ve been, Where we go from here, outFebruary 16th, 2024 on ATO Records, and presents lead single/video “Crashing Through.” An essential new addition to Chicago’s long lineage of forward-thinking indie rock, Friko — vocalist/guitarist Niko Kapetan and drummer Bailey Minzenberger — transform every song into a moment of collective catharsis. On the wildly sprawling “Crashing Through,” Friko delve deeper into the album-wide theme that Kapetan encapsulates as “wanting better for yourself and the people around you, but wondering how you can possibly do that with the world we live in,” channeling both despair and glory in the song’s choir-like vocals. “It wasn’t intentional for us to have group vocals all over this record,” Kapetan points out, noting that album co-producers Scott Tallarida and Jack Henry, along with several close friends, joined the band in singing backup. “It just happened naturally because we all kept singing along.”
The accompanying “Crashing Through” video — directed by Alec Basse — is a transportive encapsulation of Friko’s music. Filmed in Chicago and featuring appearances from the band’s sprawling network of friends and fellow artists, it exudes a sense of community that is inherent to Friko. Recorded within their friend group on a shoe-string budget paid out of the band’s own pocket, Where we’ve been, Where we go from here is a testament to Chicago’s storied DIY ethos.
“Crashing Through” follows the success of “Crimson to Chrome,” a downhearted yet exultant track that reigned #1 on the Sirius XMU chart for three weeks, graced the cover of Spotify’s Fresh Finds playlist, and garnered acclaim from the likes of Pitchfork, FLOOD, and Consequence, who praised Friko for “carrying on the great Chicago musical tradition of unpretentious fun.” Later this month, Friko will tour their thrilling live show across North America. Known for their high-energy performances, Friko aim to deliver an experience that’s fantastically disorienting in its emotional arc.
Watch Friko’s “Crashing Through” Video
At the heart of Where we’ve been, Where we go from here is the powerful emotional connection Friko’s members have cultivated since childhood. As kids growing up in the Chicago suburbs, Kapetan and former bassist / founding member Luke Stamos became friends in kindergarten, and eventually crossed paths with Minzenberger in high school. Raised in a musical family — their dad is a jazz/classical guitarist, their older sister is a singer — Minzenberger began playing drums at age 10 and later took up guitar, bass, and piano. Noting that “music was always going to be my only option,” Kapetan also got his start as a drummer and, like Minzenberger, played in bands all throughout high school. “My dad loved music and played guitar when he was younger but ended up getting into the restaurant business,” he says. “He owned a few homestyle diners and when I was growing up a lot of musicians would come in and I’d get to talk to them, which definitely had an effect on me.”
Formed in 2019, Friko soon began taking the stage at legendary Chicago venues like the Metro, Empty Bottle and Schubas Tavern, self-releasing their acclaimed debut EP Whenever Forever in 2022 and making their festival debut at Bonnaroo the following spring. Mainly recorded live at Tallarida’s studio Trigger Chicago,Where we’ve been, Where we go from here was a DIY endeavor completed before Friko’s signing to ATO, enlisting the talents of friends like Eli Schmitt (creator of the album artwork), video director Alice Avery, and tour manager Stas Slyvka. “So much of this record happened because of friends helping us out, like Scott letting us use his studio,” says Kapetan. “It’s also an event space, so there’d be times when Scott, Jack, and I would be working on mixing the record with a town-hall meeting going on in the next room.” In every step of the process, that self-reliance allowed for an unfettered freedom that often led to moments of transcendence.
Where we’ve been, Where we go from here merges elements of post-punk and chamber-pop and experimental rock, magnifying Friko’s exhilarating power with a steady barrage of spirited gang vocals. Poetic, explosive, and sublimely raw in feeling, the album brings an equally visceral intensity to brutally heavy anthems and heart-on-sleeve ballads alike, creating an immediate outlet for the most unwieldy emotions. Mastered by Heba Kadry(Björk, Big Thief) and engineered by Henry and Tallarida, Where we’ve been, Where we go from here embodies a sonic complexity befitting of a band that names Romantic-era classical music and the more primal edges of art-rock among their inspirations. “Chopin is one of my favorite composers, and the feeling I get from listening to his nocturnes is the same sort of deep, loving sorrow that I get from playing music with Niko,” says Minzenberger. “I wish I could understand why listening to solo piano music and playing really heavy rock songs can create the same very palpable feeling—but at the same time, I don’t want to understand it.”
With the release of Where we’ve been, Where we go from here, Friko hope that their music’s emotional potency might have a galvanizing impact on the audience. “One of the main things we want to do as a band is talk about what’s happening right now and everything we’re feeling, with an honesty and directness that gets through to people,” says Kapetan. “I hope that our music helps everyone feel more deeply, but in a way that goes beyond just reacting to the songs. I want it to pick people up, so that they can actually go out and do something with whatever they’re feeling.”
Pre-order Where we’ve been, Where we go from here
Where we’ve been, Where we go from here Tracklist
- Where We’ve Been
- Crimson to Chrome
- Crashing Through
- For Ella
- Chemical
- Statues
- Until I’m With You Again
- Get Numb To It!
- Cardinal
Neal Francis Releases ‘Francis Comes Alive’
Watch “Don’t Want You To Know” Live At Thalia Hall
Neal Francis has released his ambitious first live album ‘Francis Comes Alive’ via royal grape vinyl and digital formats. Recorded live at a sold out show at Chicago’s Thalia Hall, ‘Francis Comes Alive’ is an electric body of work. Francis expanded his normal quartet into an eleven-piece freight train of a band featuring a horn section, percussion, backup vocalists, and keyboards. Ever the analog purist, the album was recorded direct to 1″ tape, mixed by Chris Connors (Bartees Strange, Lady Wray, El Michels Affair), and mastered by JJ Golden. There are no edits, nor overdubs–this is Francis at his best.
The live album is accompanied by a concert film, Francis Comes Alive: The Movie, which is available now via nugs.net. The film was recorded to analog tape at the Thalia Hall show in Chicago and was directed by Alec Basse.
The film will also be screened in-person at the Music Box Theatre in Chicago on Nov 27. After the screening, there will be a Q&A with Neal and Alec Basse, moderated by Ryan Arnold of 93XRT.
Francis Comes Alive expanded 11-piece band tour dates begin this month.
2023-2024 Tour Dates
Nov 3 – Anchorage, AK – Bear Tooth Theatrepub>
Dec 6 – Richmond, VA – The National*
Dec 7 – Washington, DC – The Atlantis* (SOLD OUT)
Dec 8 – Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer*
Dec 9 – Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg* (75 Tickets Left!)
Jan 2 – Aspen, CO – Belly Up
2023 Francis Comes Alive Tour Dates
Nov 30 – Charleston, SC – Charleston Music Hall*
Dec 1 – Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse*
Dec 2 – Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel*
Dec 3 – Raleigh, NC – Lincoln Theatre*
Dec 31 – Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre^
> with SunDog
* with The Psycodelics
^ with The Texas Gentlemen
Zooey Celeste Presents New Single “Big Trouble” (with Tei Shi)
Zooey Celeste presents the new single/video, “Big Trouble” (with Tei Shi), from his debut album, Restless Thoughts, out this Friday, November 10th on ATO. On the Nick Hakim-produced “Big Trouble,” Colombian-Canadian singer/songwriter Tei Shi (aka Valerie Teicher Barbosa) joins Zooey for a sublime piece of surrealist dance-pop that channels a deep longing for psychic liberation. As Zooey reveals, the song emerged through pure unbridled spontaneity. “Nick and Jake [Portrait, of Unknown Mortal Orchestra] were working on a track for another artist and I asked if I could sing on it, and we used what came out in my first take — it was just a crazy burst of raw confidence,” he recalls. “Later on Val came in and heard it, and we ended up singing it together and collaborating on developing the rest of the track. She literally plucked out that what I was singing sounded like the words ‘big trouble,’ and her hook became the thing that tied the whole song together.”
Tei Shi adds: “I personally love this song so much. It came out of a long and wild night in the studio with Zooey and Nick and Danny [Hakim] – I think we started about 7 other songs that night. They played me the initial demo for this one, which they’d already started, and Zooey sang his parts over it. As soon as I heard the idea it was clear to me that it was a really special song. I came up with my little hook and we laid it all down as we wrote it. A few months later I got the finished version and I love how true it stayed to what we did that night! It’s a classic back and forth between two people who don’t really know if what they want is each other, but it’s playful and fun in a way that I haven’t heard indie songs be in a while.”
The accompanying “Big Trouble” video by Camryn Eakes (director/choreographer/writer) and Tylre Wilcox (DP/cinematographer) is Zooey’s debut music video and comes with a sequel for the album’s title track, “Restless Thoughts,” next week. Eakes says, “I wanted to make a video that reflected the desperation and harmony I hear in ‘Big Trouble.’ I focused on an idea that mimics a cold and numb cat-and-mouse chase, but also illustrates the lingering magnetism and care between the two characters. Overall, exploring the notion of living in a cycle of knowing that your relationship isn’t going to last, while still performing in it and reflecting on the joyful moments. This is their one last hurrah.”
“Zooey wanted to move and dance in both the ‘Restless Thoughts’ and ‘Big Trouble’ videos, so first we created a movement language for ‘Restless’ softly based on yoga and surfing, two of his daily practices,” continues Eakes. “We then reworked and adapted that choreography to fit ‘Big Trouble’ and played with other ideas and character development in the studio.” “We designed ‘Restless Thoughts’ to display Zooey’s internal struggle and mental spiral and ‘Big Trouble’ to illustrate what led him to his breaking point,” adds Wilcox, who has also worked with Willow Smith and Vans. “‘Restless Thoughts’ had to live in a dark, gritty world. ‘Big Trouble’ on the other hand I wanted to feel a bit more optimistic so we decided to go a bit brighter, warmer and richer in color.”
Zooey will also perform his first LA headline and record release show in support of Restless Thoughts at Genghis Cohen this Friday, November 10th. He’ll follow that up with his debut NYC headline and record release show at Baby’s All Right on Saturday, November 18th.
Watch/Stream Zooey Celeste’s “Big Trouble” (with Tei Shi)
Restless Thoughts is the real-life manifestation of its creator’s alter ego — an astral shaman responsible for leading the newly departed into the great beyond. After dreaming up the character of Zooey Celeste in a feverishly written novel he refers to as “somewhere between Quentin Tarantino and the Bhagavad Gita,” Zooey began working to create this ideal soundtrack for nocturnal driving, an immediate conduit for lasting transcendence. Alongside Nick Hakim, Zooey enlisted a wide array of guest musicians to flesh out the sound of Restless Thoughts, including Jake Portrait, Tei Shi, and drummer Abe Rounds (Andrew Bird, Blake Mills, Devandra Banhart), with mastering by Heba Kadry (Ryuichi Sakamoto, Björk, Julianna Barwick). With the release of Restless Thoughts, Zooey hopes to instill the audience with an expanded sense of possibility.
“Zooey Celeste specializes in a quietly driving psychedelic pop that explodes but never grazes the red. His voice has traces of Spencer Krug’s warbling, mad prophet quality, delivering loving exhortations over compositions that sound fresh off a reel-to-reel plugged directly into his heart.” — The FADER
“dark and hazy, dreamy yet lucid, relentless but wavy – it’s pretty captivating.” — DIY Magazine
“There’s just something really special about Zooey Celeste.” — BBC Radio 6
“‘Cosmic Being’ is a lo-fi track filled with aching serenity.” — Paste
Black Pumas Anticipated Sophomore Album ‘Chronicles of a Diamond’ Arrives To Rave Reviews
Seven-time GRAMMY nominees Black Pumas’ long-awaited sophomore album Chronicles of a Diamond is out today on ATO Records. Listen HERE. On the widely acclaimed new record, Black Pumas broadened their palette to include a dazzling expanse of musical forms: heavenly hybrids of soul and symphonic pop, mind-bending excursions into jazz-funk and psychedelia, and starry-eyed love songs that feel dropped down from the cosmos. Wilder and weirder and more extravagantly composed than its predecessor, Chronicles of a Diamond arrives as the fullest expression yet of Black Pumas’ frenetic creativity and limitless vision.
In creating the follow-up to one of the most celebrated debuts in recent years, singer/songwriter/producer Eric Burton and guitarist/producer Adrian Quesada made a point of tuning out any sense of anticipation from the outside world. “I knew the first record was good when we finished it, but I had no idea people would respond like they did, says Quesada. “This time around there was a lot of pressure and expectation that we hadn’t felt before, which was overwhelming at times, but we did our best to tune that out and focus on trusting ourselves like we always have.” As a result, Chronicles of a Diamond wholly echoes an essential intention behind its creation. “More than anything I wanted to make something we’d be thrilled to play live 200 days a year,” says Burton. “I wanted to be able to laugh, cry, bob my head, do the thing: it was all very much a selfish endeavor.”
Like their massive debut, Chronicles of a Diamond once again harnesses the lightning-in-a-bottle chemistry between Burton (a self-taught musician who got his start busking on beaches and subway platforms in his native Los Angeles) and Quesada (a GRAMMY Award winner whose background includes playing in Latin-funk orchestra Grupo Fantasma and accompanying legendary artists like Prince). Produced by Quesada and primarily mixed by six-time Grammy Award winner Shawn Everett (Alabama Shakes, The War on Drugs), the ten-song LP finds Burton taking the role of co-producer and infusing his free-spirited musicality into every track.
Highlights on Chronicles of a Diamond include the first single, “More Than A Love Song” which has amassed 3.5+ million streams and landed at #1 at Triple A Radio, #1 on Billboard’s Adult Alternative Chart, and #1 at Americana Radio, the undeniably catchy bangers, “Ice Cream (Pay Phone),” and “Mrs. Postman,” and the moving ballad “Angel.”
One of the most electrifying new acts to emerge in recent years, Black Pumas have made a major cultural impact, selling one million albums worldwide. “Colors,” from their 2019 debut, is a gold-certified anthem that was nominated for Record of the Year with over 450 million streams. Their meteoric rise saw them playing exhilarating live shows and sold-out multiple tours across North and South America and Europe, as well as performances at the GRAMMY Awards and President Biden’s inauguration, multiple television appearances and winning the Emerging Act of the Year from the Americana Music Association in 2020. Most recently, Quesada was nominated for a Latin GRAMMY for “Best Rock Song” for his collaboration with Diamanté Eléctrico.
BLACK PUMAS TOUR DATES (New dates in bold)
12/3 – Austin, TX – ACL Live
12/4 – Austin, TX – ACL Live (Sold Out)
12/5 – Austin, TX – ACL Live (Sold Out)
12/6 – Austin, TX – ACL Live (Sold Out)
12/8 – Dallas, TX – The Factory
12/9 – Houston, TX – House of Blues (Sold Out)
12/10 – Houston, TX – House of Blues
1/18 – Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore
1/19 – New York City, NY- Radio City Music Hall
1/25 – Chicago, IL – Salt Shed
1/26- Chicago, IL – Salt Shed (Sold Out)
1/27 – Chicago, IL – Salt Shed (Sold Out)
2/16 – San Antonio, TX – Stable Hall
2/17 – San Antonio, TX – Stable Hall
3/15 – France Paris Zenith Paris – La Villette
3/16 – Belgium Brussels Forest National
3/17 – Netherlands Amsterdam AFAS Live
3/19 – Germany Hamburg Docks
3/20 – Germany Berlin Verti Music Hall
3/21 – Germany Cologne Carlswerk Victoria
3/23 – UK Manchester O2 Victoria Warehouse
3/24 – UK London Eventim Apollo
4/5 – Nashville, TN – Ryman
4/6 – Nashville, TN – Ryman
New ATO Records Signing Brigitte Calls Me Baby Announces Debut EP Out November 3
Newly signed to ATO Records after a much-buzzed-about set at SXSW 2023, and All Points East festival date alongside The Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and more, the Chicago-based indie purveyors Brigitte Calls Me Baby announces their debut EP This House Is Made of Corners, due out on ATO on Nov. 3. The five-song project was recorded with nine-time Grammy Award-winning producer Dave Cobb (best known for his work with Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell and Sturgill Simpson) at RCA Studio A.
Brigitte Calls Me Baby finds the future of rock in its past. The Roy Orbison-admiring, Smiths-influenced band ingeniously spans genres and eras, merging the lavish romanticism of mid-century pop with the frenetic energy and spiky intensity of early-millennium indie-rock. Centered on Leavins’ hypnotically crooning vocal work, the result is a rare convergence of sophistication and style and unabashed sincerity. As such, lead single “Impressively Average” arrives in fashion with pounding rhythms and shimmering guitar tones that form the backdrop to what Leavins refers to as a song…”born from the contrast of self-love mingled with self-loathing. To me, it represents my obsession with presentation yet transparency. The song captures how I want to portray an image but with honesty. I want to go there even when it’s uncomfortable, and write unapologetically.”
Listen to lead single “Impressively Average” and watch the new video directed by Alec Basse here
“In so much music there’s a desire to be perceived as someone who’s got it all figured out, but I never want to paint a picture that isn’t true,” proclaims lead singer, Wes Leavins. “I know that when I was younger I was looking for something to latch onto that I could connect with and feel a part of, so I’d hope that our music could provide that for others. I want to create something that helps people feel more alive, and that will last long after we’re gone,” he continues.
Originally from the Southeast Texas town of Port Arthur, Leavins grew up listening to Roy Orbison records at his grandparents’ house next door, while his parents played him new-wave bands like The Cars and his friends turned him onto Radiohead and The Strokes. At age 13, Leavins took up guitar and began writing songs of his own, quickly discovering his distinct vocal style.
“At first I didn’t like the way I sang and couldn’t really do anything about it, but as I got older I started to appreciate it more,” he reveals. “My whole inclination toward music came from being in this small town in Texas with nowhere to go and nothing to do, and wanting to be understood without having to say anything.”
Upon moving to Chicago in 2016, Leavins immersed himself in the local music scene and soon linked up with guitarists Jack Fluegel and Trevor Lynch, bassist Devin Wessels, and drummer Jeremy Benshish, who joined him in co-founding Brigitte Calls Me Baby. As the band built up their catalog, Leavins was tapped to take part in recreating a series of Elvis Presley songs for Baz Luhrmann’s 2022 biopic Elvis, a turn of events that found him crossing paths with Cobb. “Dave and I hit it off right away and started talking about the music we loved, and when we reconnected later he asked me to send him some of the songs I’d been working on,” Leavins recalls.
Together, on This House Is Made of Corners, the band and Cobb channel a timeless air, proving that their music could belong anywhere, in any era.
This Fall, Brigitte Calls Me Baby will join The Last Dinner Party and open for two dates, the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles, and return home for a Chicago play at the Bottom Lounge. Stay tuned for tons more to come on Brigitte Calls Me Baby.
PRE-ORDER/PRE-SAVE THIS HOUSE IS MADE OF CORNERS
THIS HOUSE IS MADE OF CORNERS TRACKLIST
- The Future Is Our Way Out
- Impressively Average
- Eddie My Love
- You Are Only Made Of Dreams
- Palm Of Your Hand
BRIGITTE CALLS ME BABY TOUR DATES
Nov 6 – El Rey Theatre – Los Angeles, CA w/The Last Dinner Party
Nov 9 – Bottom Lounge – Chicago, IL w/The Last Dinner Party
Dec 6 – Aragon Ballroom (Q101 Twisted Xmas with Lovejoy and White Reaper) – Chicago, IL
CIVIC Unleashes Blistering New Single “Hourglass”, Electrifying US Stages this Fall on their First Ever US tour!
On the heels of their acclaimed album, Taken By Force, released earlier this year on ATO Records, CIVIC are thrilled to bring their blistering live show to stages across the US for the FIRST TIME ever this fall. One of the most exhilarating bands to emerge in recent years, the Melbourne-based act made their name as a captivating live act defined by masterfully controlled chaos, embarking on a European tour in 2019. Their frenetic live show will serve up a vital new energy, joyfully obliterating the line between furious catharsis and unbridled fun. The tour will include stops in New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Seattle and more as well as appearances at LEVITATION Festival and Gonerfest.
Hailed by Sterogum as “an unholy lo-fi pile-up of garage rock, punk, and ’90s-style noise-rock,” CIVIC have unleashed their blistering new single “Hourglass” alongside an official video today. Frontman Jim McCullough shares, “Off the back of Taken By Force we wanted to create something new, an evolution of sound for us. We’d dropped down to a 4 piece so already Lewis had more space to come through with his guitar parts, be more experimental, less chaotic; more defined. Lyrically I am touching on aspects of change, more specifically the process during change. Going through some kind of shit and sediment and coming out the other side; a hopeful development of a refined version. We start again”
US TOUR DATES
9/29: Memphis, TN @ Gonerfest
10/01: Nashville, TN @ DRKMTTR
10/03: Birmingham, AL @ LCY
10/04: Atlanta, GA @ The Earl
10/05: Durham, NC @ The Pinhook
10/06: Baltimore, MD @ Metro Baltimore
10/07: New York, NY @ Zone One
10/08: Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brendas
10/10: Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop
10/11: Detroit, MI @ Sanctuary
10/12: Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle
10/13: Omaha, NE @ Slowdown
10/14: Denver, CO @ Hi-Dive
10/15: Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court
10/17: Seattle, WA @ Barboza
10/18: Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios
10/20: San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill
10/21: Los Angeles, CA @ Knitting Factory
10/22: Santa Ana, CA @ Constellation Room
10/24: San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar
10/25: Phoenix, AZ @ Rebel Lounge
10/27: Austin, TX @ LEVITATION
Dylan LeBlanc Returns With His Highly-Anticipated New Album ‘Coyote’ Out October 20th
Acclaimed singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Dylan LeBlanc is set to release his highly-anticipated new album Coyote on October 20th via ATO Records. On Coyote, the prolific wordsmith embarks on a character-driven adventure with Coyote, a man with demons who is on the run. Listen to the lead single, the honest love song “No Promises Broken” via DSPs HERE and pre-order Coyote HERE. “No Promises Broken” impacts radio on September 11th.
Coyote is both semi-autobiographical and a concept album, chronicling a man who lives dangerously, always on the edge. Coyote himself is trapped in the criminal underworld of Mexico. As he struggles to find a way out of his treacherous lifestyle, he is tormented by his past, enduring the pain and regret of lost love and a life wasted. Finding his way towards redemption and freedom, Coyote is confronted by the essence of human nature, materialism, and the inherent desire for more. As the story reaches its peak, he sees himself at a perilous crossroad in Los Angeles, leaving listeners in suspense about his fate.
The album begins with the strings-heavy title track, setting the stage for Coyote’s journey across the border to the drug cartels. On “Closin’ In,” he begins reflecting on his choices and those he left behind. Leaning into “Dark Waters,” Coyote starts to dream his way out of his criminal lifestyle, while referencing his childhood trauma that led him there. “Stranger Things” finds our protagonist with his love from “No Promises Broken,” assuring him things will all work out; however, Coyote’s past leaves him distrustful. The album continues Coyote’s journey, through prison, escape, and the ultimate decision.
Coyote finds LeBlanc producing for the first time, teaming up with a group of all-star musicians, including drummer Fred Eltringham (Ringo Starr, Sheryl Crow), pianist Jim “Moose” Brown (Bob Seger), and bass player Seth Kaufman (Lana Del Rey). Coyote is the follow-up to LeBlanc’s 2019 record Renegade, an album that was well received by the press with positive coverage that included Rolling Stone Country, American Songwriter, No Depression, and more.
LeBlanc heads to Europe for the first round of Coyote tour dates before performing in the U.S. in early 2024. Tour dates are below, and on his website HERE.
Dylan LeBlanc 2023 European Tour Dates
October 28 – Tampere, Finland
October 29 – Helsinki, Finland
October 31 – London, UK
November 1 – Birmingham, UK
November 2 – Manchester, UK
November 4 – Groningen, Netherlands
November 5 – Antwerp, Belgium
November 8 – Arthez-de-Béarn, France
November 9 – Santander, Spain
November 10 – Santiago, Spain
November 11 – San Sebastián, Spain
November 12 – Barcelona, Spain
November 14– Valencia, Spain
November 15 – Madrid, Spain
November 16 – Zaragoza, Spain
November 17 – Avilés, Spain
November 19 – Breda, Netherlands
November 20 – Reutlingen, Germany
November 21 – Cologne, Germany
November 22 – Hengelo, Netherlands
November 23 – Amsterdam, Netherlands
November 24 – Madgeburg, Germany
November 26 – Berlin, Germany
November 27 – Hamburg, Germany
November 30 – Kristianstad, Sweden
December 1 – Falkenberg, Sweden
December 2 – Malmö, Sweden
December 3 – Stockholm, Sweden
December 5 – Uppsala, Sweden
December 6 – Oslo, Norway
December 7 – Trondheim, Norway
December 8 – Ringebu, Sweden
December 9 – Göteborg, Sweden
December 9 – Copenhagen, Denmark
Zooey Celeste Signs To ATO Records & Announces Debut Album, Restless Thoughts, Out Nov. 3
Today, Southern California-bred musician Zooey Celeste signs to ATO Records, announces his debut album, Restless Thoughts, out November 3rd, and presents the lead single/title track. Produced and recorded by acclaimed artist Nick Hakim at his Brooklyn studio, Restless Thoughts centers on Zooey’s hypnotic baritone vocals, often set against a strangely potent backdrop of sparse drum-machine beats and droney guitar tones. The result is a fully-realized soundscape, a darkly ethereal palette which Zooey classifies as astral-pop.
Restless Thoughts takes its title from a song inspired by a particularly dramatic scene in Zooey’s novel, a metaphysical thriller narrated by the character of Zooey Celeste. “It’s a scene where the father of the protagonist has destroyed his marriage and left his daughter behind, and he’s going to meet his mistress and driving in a very suicidal headspace,” he explains. “He gets into a car accident, and two-thirds of the way into the song he’s floating above his body and watching as they’re trying to resuscitate him.”
Like many of the album’s songs, the gorgeously chilling track took shape in the throes of the novel-writing process. “I’d write a chapter and pick up my guitar and start writing songs based off the scenes I’d just finished,” says Zooey. “It’s funny because it’s the first time I’ve ever allowed myself to write from the perspective of a character, but it’s also the most authentic thing I’ve ever made in my life.”
Stream Zooey Celeste’s “Restless Thoughts”
Restless Thoughts is the real-life manifestation of its creator’s alter ego — an astral shaman responsible for leading the newly departed into the great beyond. After dreaming up the character of Zooey Celeste in a feverishly written novel he refers to as “somewhere between Quentin Tarantino and the Bhagavad Gita,” Zooey began working with longtime friend Nick Hakim (whose production credits also include Lil Yachty and Lianne La Havas) to create this ideal soundtrack for nocturnal driving, an immediate conduit for lasting transcendence. Alongside Hakim, Zooey enlisted a wide array of guest musicians to flesh out the sound of Restless Thoughts, including Unknown Mortal Orchestra bassist Jake Portrait, drummer Abe Rounds (Andrew Bird, Blake Mills, Devandra Banhart), and Columbian-Canadian singer/songwriter Tei Shi. Mastered by Heba Kadry (Ryuichi Sakamoto, Björk, Julianna Barwick), Restless Thoughts endlessly drifts between avant-punk and chamber-pop and lo-fi psychedelia, quickly drawing the listener into a sustained dream state.
Naming J.D. Salinger, Iggy Pop, and Tyler, the Creator among his inspirations, Zooey started writing songs at the age of eight after hearing The Beatles for the first time. Along with studying poetry and creative writing, he later took up guitar, piano, and harmonium and played in a series of indie-rock-leaning musical projects that ultimately proved unfulfilling. “We’d finish a show and it would be the best show we’d ever played, and I’d feel physically sick afterward,” he says. “People liking it made me feel bad, which is probably because I knew I wasn’t being my most authentic self.” After a seven-year stint in New York (where he first connected with Hakim), Zooey spent several years in Hawaii and devoted much of his time to surfing—an essential part of his life since early childhood. “I got addicted to surfing bigger waves at Sunset Beach on the North Shore and had a near-death experience where I went through a coral reef, and it changed my life in a lot of ways,” he says. “It took the air out of the wanderlust I’d felt for a long time, and brought me closer to the things I’d been running away from. Because of that, music went from being an escape to a base of reflection where I’m able to really sit with my emotions and process them and be totally honest with myself about what I want from life.”
With the release of Restless Thoughts, Zooey hopes to instill the audience with a similarly expanded sense of possibility. “Making this record showed me that if I’m not going beyond what the world has handed me as options, then I’m not being creative,” he says. “I went as far as I could with the process of self-exploration, and I felt fully supported in that—almost like everything was a little bit fated, or we were tapping into something in the ether. I’d love it if that inspired other people to go off and do whatever they feel compelled to do, and let themselves be completely entranced by it.”
Restless Thoughts Tracklist:
- Effortless
- Restless Thoughts
- Walk By
- Big Trouble (with Tei Shi)
- Running All Night
- Torture Me
- Cosmic Being
- God Awful
- Comeback
- Heaven Sent
- Stay Up
Black Pumas Return With Their Anticipated Sophomore Album ‘Chronicles of a Diamond’
GRAMMY-nominated duo Black Pumas push their distinctive artistry to soaring new heights on their new single, “More Than A Love Song” – LISTEN HERE and watch the new music video HERE. “More Than A Love Song” is the first track to be unveiled from the Austin duo’s highly anticipated sophomore effort, Chronicles of a Diamond, set for release on October 27th on ATO Records. Pre-order the album HERE.
Earning an impressive career total of seven Grammy Award nominations (including Album Of The Year) singer/songwriter/producer Eric Burton and guitarist/producer Adrian Quesada once again harness their lighting-in-a-bottle chemistry on “More Than a Love Song.” Effortlessly displaying their heightened creative freedom, Black Pumas build potent momentum on their new single with brisk beats, effervescent strings, and brightly buzzing guitar riffs. As it builds, “More Than A Love Song” erupts into pure unbridled exultation, powered by radiant gospel harmonies and a spellbinding bit of spoken word from Burton. The track opens the electrifying new album and was the first piece recorded for Chronicles of a Diamond.
Co-written by Burton and Quesada, “More Than A Love Song,” was produced by Quesada and co-produced by Burton, with additional production by Grammy-winning John Congleton. Explaining the lyrical content, Burton comments, “’More Than a Love Song’ is a message I borrowed from my Uncle Steve. As a songwriter and caregiver, he’d listen to me write songs from afar and if I were lucky he’d have a pointer or two for me. ‘Life is more than a love song.’”
Shot on location in Los Angeles, the music video for “More Than A Love Song” was directed by Juliana and Nicola Giraffe. The clip elicits feelings of joy, hope, and community – themes also evident in the song — zooming in closely on the beauty and abundance that surrounds us in our everyday life. As the video progresses, we see Black Pumas performing, intercut with a series of stylized photographic vignettes that present each character’s role in the larger portrait of the community, culminating in a jubilant celebration.
Following the release of their 2019 self-titled debut, Rolling Stone called Black Pumas a “psychedelic-soul force,” while Pitchfork said, “possessing a voice that can slide into the slipstream with ease, Burton lends an elegant elasticity to Quesada’s tightly layered productions” and “they pointedly avoid the pitfalls that plague well-intentioned retro-soul records, favoring feel over authenticity, playing as much for the head as the heart.” NME raved, “it’s not hard to understand why their appeal is so universal; their sound is the middle point between Motown and East Coast Hip Hop – a marriage of masterful production and iconic melodies that manages to be both classy and current.”
Chronicles of a Diamond brings the band’s singular vision to life with more power, passion, and daring originality than ever before. Produced by Quesada and primarily mixed by six-time Grammy Award winner Shawn Everett (Alabama Shakes, The War on Drugs), the ten-song LP finds Burton taking the role of co-producer and infusing his free-spirited musicality into every track. See below for the complete tracklisting.
One of the most electrifying new acts to emerge in recent years, Black Pumas have made a major cultural impact, selling one million albums worldwide. Their smash single “Colors,” is a gold-certified anthem, and was nominated for Record of the Year, amassing over 450 million streams and hitting No. 1 at AAA Radio. Burton and Quesada first discovered their once-in-a-lifetime chemistry back in 2017, after Quesada began searching for a potential collaborator and connected with Burton through a mutual friend. Thanks to the potent collision of their distinct sensibilities—Burton is a self-taught musician who got his start busking in his native Los Angeles, Quesada is a Grammy winner whose background includes playing in Latin-funk orchestra Grupo Fantasma—Black Pumas were on their way. Their meteoric rise saw them playing exhilarating live shows and sold-out multiple tours across North and South America and Europe, as well as performances at the GRAMMY Awards and President Biden’s inauguration, multiple television appearances and winning the Emerging Act of the Year from the Americana Music Association in 2020.
CHRONICLES OF A DIAMOND TRACKLISTING
1. MORE THAN A LOVE SONG
2. ICE CREAM (PAY PHONE)
3. MRS. POSTMAN
4. CHRONICLES OF A DIAMOND
5. ANGEL
6. HELLO
7. SAUVIGNON
8. TOMORROW
9. GEMINI SUN
10. ROCK AND ROLL
Friko Signs to ATO Records
Beloved Chicago-band Friko — made of Niko Kapetan (vocals/guitar) and Bailey Minzenberger (drummer) — are ATO Records’ newest signees. Friko has become a permanent fixture on the Chicago music scene over the last several months. After selling out a hometown show at the Metro, the band played across North America and made their festival debut at Bonnaroo, bringing their dynamic live show to a national audience. One of the highlights of their live performances is Crimson To Chrome, re-released on ATO today. Crimson to Chrome perfectly encapsulates how Friko’s music “toggle[s] between loud and quiet, thoughtful and self-deprecating, while never expressing anything less than the unbridled joy of noise” (Consequence). The song reigned at #1 on the Sirius XMU chart for three weeks, and garnered praise from the likes of Pitchfork, FLOOD, Brooklyn Vegan and beyond. A new 7-inch vinyl release of Crimson to Chrome, limited to only 500 copies worldwide, is available now to pre-order via Bandcamp.
Friko is currently finishing their highly-anticipated debut album which will be released in early 2024. “We are so excited to join ATO Records and work with a group of people as passionate about Friko as we are,” says the band. “We can’t wait for everyone to hear what we’ve been working on.”
Watch Friko’s Lyric Video for Crimson to Chrome
Pre-order Crimson to Chrome 7”
Friko self-released Whenever, Forever, their “lush romp of an EP” (Chicago Reader), in 2022. Throughout, Kapetan explores the possibility and risks of a life given over to music, interrogating what a life well-lived means to him. The duality rings out in the compositions, evoking rock and folk icons such as Leonard Cohen and Nick Drake. It’s immediately arresting, flickering between explosive rock, chamber pop, and serene sonics. Following their SXSW debut earlier this year,WBEZ proclaimed “Friko are blowing up.”