Hot One of the Week: Wild Darling

Let’s get real; most people can appreciate artists like Kaki King, Iron & Wine, and, most notably, Andy McKee. The harmonic and rhythmic experimentation and exploitation that can be accomplished with a simple acoustic guitar is what these guys preach. They find ways to turn this one instrument and their two hands into a full band, capable of seducing seasoned musicians and the average citizen alike. Wild Darling takes influence from these artists and many more, even providing an acoustic soul akin to Jack Johnson. Take note of the instrumental prowess expressed in the videos below and go to the links below to hear more lyrical tracks.

Listen to Wild Darling on BandSoup

Below is an interview with Peter Motzenbecker, owner and operator of Forestry Records, home of Wild Darling.

Pete, you own and operate Forestry Records, the label with which Wild Darling is signed, how did you come upon Wild Darling? 

I first met him (Josh/Wild Darling) in some 8 am class during the Spring semester of our sophomore year, around 2009. We didn't really talk all that much mostly because it was an 8 am class and no one really likes 8 am classes, but I could tell he was a cool guy. Fast forward to next Spring and we have a class together again. By this time, I had already started working on developing Forestry. I hadn't really put it out there to many people, but the first website was up and so were our first two releases. So one day before this class, I was working on the website waiting for people to come in and class to start, and Josh was asked me what it was and I explained, and he was like I'm in. Later I heard a demo he had recorded with our other friend and I was like wow, I have to record him, see what I can with this.

What caused you to work with them and even do most of the producing, recording, mixing, and mastering for the releases of the self-titled and the new single, "Ghost"?

So, Josh and I started to become really good friends, we hung out a lot and we started looking for an apartment off-campus with our friend Gary to move into for our senior year. Fast forward to senior year, we were all pumped to have this apartment and we were all pumped to start recording things because we were all audio production majors. During the fall, Josh started to write a good amount of songs, most of which appear on the album, and in the spring, we started recording the self-titled release. We all the guitars and vocals in my bedroom and constructed some sort of mixing space in there as well. We loved it, working whenever we wanted was extremely beneficial for both of us. We ended up finishing it that summer (2011). We first got it mastered by this guy Mark Fitzgerald at this place in Syracuse, but I didn't really like how it came out so we ended up doing it ourselves. Still don't really know how much I like it though!

For 'Ghost', Josh had been working on it for a few months, but didn't really have any other songs and I thought it was probably one of his most marketable songs and really wanted to do it right. So this past December, we went up to Pyramid Sound Studios in Ithaca, NY after failing to really capture a good sound in my bedroom at home. So we spent a day in there with Phil Abbot, who recorded, mixed, and mastered it, and it turned out pretty well.

Check out Forestry Records and more of Wild Darling here.

“Like” Wild Darling on Facebook.

-Doug Foley

Hot One of the Week & Interview: The Soviet

As I contemplated my blog this week, I wanted to do something different and give readers (and listeners) a chance to meet the artist rather than just read what I wrote about them. A perfect act for me to cover this week is The Soviet, a quartet from northwestern New Jersey who just released their debute EP. So without further hesitation I give you my interview:

Listen to The Soviet on BandSoup

First, before we get started, would you please introduce yourself and tell us your previous experience with music and your largest influences?

My name is Joshua Perna. I'm a multi-instrumentalist; I started playing jazz drums in my pre-teens, eventually moving on to study bass. I eventually taught myself how to play guitar, and, for this project, how to sing. I've done session work with all of these instruments, and been an actual member of only a couple of bands up until this point. Since I play different instruments I'm influenced from all over the place, but as of right now I'd say my biggest are Thom Yorke, Guthrie Govan, and Darren King.

Tell us the story behind The Soviet: a. why the name, b. who else is in the band, and c. goals you have for this project.

We originally got the name from mewithoutYou's song of the same title, but chose to keep it since it's just an interesting ad authoritative word (it translates to something along the lines of "the council", I think.) I have the blessing of working with a few really talented guys. I started the band with a long-time friend of mine, Aaron Brown, who plays lead guitar. We later found Alex Long, a jazz guitarist who picked up bass for the project, and Kevin, our drummer. Our goals are pretty simple and sincere: we just want to perform the music we're creating and get it out to as many people as we can. I feel as if many people get too wrapped up in fantasies of fame and lose sight of the fact that a band should be about a love of music, and we're really trying to hold onto that.

Your first EP is on its way out soon. How long as this been in progress and what was involved?

Wherewithal EP was written in a matter of months. We only really started as a band in Summer of 2011, and just recorded the record in January. Writing it, though, had a lot to do with finding our sound. We had all come into this project from different places, musically (primarily from a progressive/metal music scene.) So a large part of writing this was the trial and error of really agreeing what sort of sound we wanted to orient ourselves around, since this genre was entirely new to us.

Take us through the content of Wherewithal. What makes this record special, both musically and lyrically?

The EP is basically a walk through different situations and junctions in a person's life and how they choose to cope with them. Having the wherewithal (which means capability, for those who don't know) to do something is a daily struggle, and lyrically that's the emotion that the EP is centered on.
Musically, the EP is varied. We write under the pretense that no two songs should sound the same (while keeping a cohesive sound, of course.) So even though it's only a 5-track record, it covers a lot of musical ground in terms of dynamic and energy.

Do you have any closing remarks regarding the release of Wherewithal, the future of The Soviet, and your fans out there?

Just to get a copy of our music, by legal means or otherwise, and keep an eye on what we're doing. I hope our music is something everyone can get excited about, because I can honestly say this is one of the most meaningful projects I've ever been a part of, and I'm very excited about the future. Thanks!

Check out “Wherewithal” here and go like The Soviet on Facebook.

-Doug Foley

Hot One of the Week: Impo & the Tents

This semester has me confronting what I consider a huge class in my college career, Honors Punk Rock and Society: Critical and Comparative Perspectives. With that in the back of my mind I decided to go through some of the punk music being fed to BandSoup. Now, as I listened to the music designated as “punk” on BandSoup I came to ask the same question my professors did this week, “What is punk?” The word, the genre, and the environment that we know as punk is much more eclectic than we even realize. Folk punk, pop punk, alternative punk, hardcore punk, and electro punk are just a few of the variations you can find on BandSoup. I was looking for a more “classic” example of punk rock music and eventually I came across Impo & the Tents




This Swedish-trio has had five releases over the past year and they are riddled with great examples of the total package when it comes to punk music. The vocals, bass, guitar, and drums all come together in nostalgic, lo-fi recordings that to me are just as magical as some of punk’s most influential records. Sadly, this act only has 244 fans on Facebook, but ironically most of their YouTube videos have just as many or more views. Despite the lack of fan representation, believe me when I say you need to get on their Bandcamp page and listen to them. Go get some free downloads and share/embed that stuff all over! Great punk rock is easily crammed into songs shorter than 3 minutes each and these guys accomplish that with precision. Look for fun tracks such as “Pretty Temptress”, “Four Eyes”, and “Ugly Girl”.

Listen to Impo & The Tents on BandSoup

An intelligent punk name, fun and catchy music, and that genuine garage feel…what could be much better than that?

Like them here!

-Doug Foley

Hot One of the Week: Symbol & Surface- Brothers

Who is down with the resurgence of indie-folk music as a trend in music? With the likes of Mumford & Sons, The Avett Brothers, Bon Iver, and even lesser known artists like The Tallest Man On Earth, I have fallen in love with the new found ingenuity of artists who have a “less-is-more” philosophy. One such example that I have found on BandSoup this week is Symbol & Surface. This four piece from Minneapolis, Minnesota released their debut EP less than two months ago and, believe me, listening to it is worth your while.

Led by brothers David and Brian Bauernfeind, Symbol & Surface boasts intelligent lyrics, clear harmonies, and well constructed instrumentation. Key aspects of Mumford, Iver, and The Avett Brothers' ethos show up in their 5-song EP, Brothers, but you can also hear elements of City & Colour and Simon & Garfunkel. All of these comparisons show they have achieved both a contemporary indie folk sound and a classic nostalgia within their music, which makes a perfect go to band for the new and old generation of folk rock lovers.

I recommend the title track off of the EP, “Brothers”, which you can now find on BandSoup, and checking out this great new act on their main website here.

-Doug Foley

Hot One of the Week: Friends Edition!

This week has been a busy one and now I am set to take on another semester here at school. Music is a huge part of my life and I thought I would let you guys get to know me a bit more. In order to help you understand me, this week’s edition of I Can Feel A Hot One will showcase a few of my friends who you can hear on BandSoup!

First, I would love to introduce an indie-prog-rock band that began playing together last year at the University of New Haven. Vitamin Sun, a 4-piece consisting of sophomore music students, takes influence from The Mars Volta, Local Natives, and Sufjan Stevens among many others. With Kyle Hamel on vox/guitar, Wyatt Simard on guitar, Chris Restaino on bass/vox, and Josh Merhar on drums, these guys tear through some intricate time signatures and let the creativity of their music flow. Within one song they can be both insanely technical and passionately groovy. They have so much potential and will continue to grow with time. I strongly suggest finding them on BandSoup and giving them a try!

Listen to Vitamin Sun on BandSoup

Another friend of mine who deserves some recognition and attention, which she is already getting, is Samantha Frost. Quite frankly, her voice is the opposite of her last name. Her smooth, jazzy voice is easily adapted for jazz, blues, Broadway, and pop. Her warm timbre will make you feel as if you are sitting in front of a fireplace listening to the radio as if in the days of old. Check out her version of “Nobody’s Fault” on BandSoup, it’s one of her first recordings. She is a lovely young voice and will do great things soon enough. Check out her website here.

Listen to Samantha Frost on BandSoup 

Thanks and have a great week!

-Doug Foley

Hot One of the Week: Jim Dead

I may be nineteen years old, but I see the importance of musical evolution and I hope that my tastes reflect that appreciation. I feel as if I’m a rare Johnny Cash fan of my generation and, even stranger than that, I enjoy listening to country radio. I just can’t help it when I’m at home. The farms, fields, and hills of Northwestern New Jersey just invoke within me a desire for country music. Home is much different than New Haven, Connecticut; country has become one way for me to differentiate. These are thoughts that I’ve had this week as I listen to Jim Dead.

Listen to Jim Dead on BandSoup

Jim Dead is an artist who caught me by surprise this week. I spent time listening to artists on BandSoup and heard so many different genres of music, never did I expect to be mesmerized by a countrified blues-rock singer-songwriter. The first thing that came to mind was Johnny Cash and the last few albums he released before his death, a set of dirges enshrined forever. If you are familiar with those albums at all, the tracks “Sadly, Those Birds Refuse to Sing” and “Devil on the West Bound 3:10” will surely resonate with you. You can find these songs on BandSoup and Dead’s first recorded release, Go Tell the Congregation.

Jim’s work is riddled with haunting tunes that are diverse and reminiscent of Kenny Rodgers, Bob Dylan, The Doors, and even Nirvana. On his second LP, Ten Fires, you find more dark acoustic melodies, but many more songs with a full-band and bigger sound. His music is based in the roots, simple, and imperfect, yet the poetry of it speaks to me. The fact is, I would totally love to sit down and see Jim Dead at a local bar and hang out, it’s that kind of music.

Don’t just take my word for it. Try his music out for yourself, and let me know what you think.

-Doug Foley

Welcome to I Can Feel A Hot One!

Welcome to my first BlogSoup post, “I Can Feel A Hot One”. The song “I Can Feel A Hot One” by Manchester Orchestra was the first song that I ever heard from them back in 2008 with the release of their EP, Let My Pride Be What’s Left Behind. The reason I tell you this is because as I go about my week and listen to BandSoup artists I will give you a review of the most impressive thing I came across for the week. Manchester Orchestra is one of my favorite bands and maybe some of the artists I come across on BandSoup will become favorites of mine too. Beyond that, if I am persuasive enough, and the music is worthy, they may become your favorites too. My listening will span all genres and I will be on the lookout for my “Hot One of the Week”! 

Send me your finds from BandSoup.com and maybe you can influence my picks!

Email: dfoley92@gmail.com

Twitter: @DougtotheFoley

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