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Artist of the Week – Avindale

Avindale is an exciting El Paso indie rock band whose sound can be best described as a mix of powerful ambient guitar melodies, distinct bass lines, dynamic drum beats, and evocative vocals that draw from the band members’ diverse musical interests.

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Early in 2014, the band released a 7-inch containing two triumphant singles – the funkier, more electronic Grizzly Bear-like, “Azure,” with its slick guitar and bass hooks, followed by the ringing guitars and melancholy mood of “Not Even Gold.”

Azure Avindale from Azure/Not Even Gold 7″

Not Even Gold Avindale from Azure/Not Even Gold 7″

So where did this promising new band start out? In 2011 – four years after first forming – the band released their debut EP, Cycles, containing three demo tracks. But it was their 2013 sophomore EP, Lost In A Place Some Call Home, recorded with the help of engineer/producer Dryw Owens (Indian Lakes, Culprit ), that really started gaining traction with music lovers, and with which the band felt they were finally producing the sound they always envisioned.

“Her Piano” – Avindale from Lost In A Place Some Call Home

dreamer-avindale

Following the release of Lost In A Place Some Call Home , which also included a Japanese release on Cars and Calories Records, with distribution through Tower Records, Avindale set out to tour the U.S. and Japan, gaining more fans along the way. Standout songs from the EP include “Come Through,” “Her Piano,” and “Summer Meets Winter” (watch the db Session video) . In November, the band released the single, “Dreamer,” a mellow pop song that floats along on the wings of soaring and swirling synths and guitars that deliver encouraging lyrics of better days ahead.

“Dreamer”Avindale from Dreamer single

Avindale’s blending of rock, electronic, ambient and jazz creates wonderfully rich and textured sounds that draw the listener in to hear more. That’s part of what makes labeling the band not such an easy thing to do. To that point, lead vocalist, guitarist and keyboardist, Oscar Alderete, says they consider themselves part of a “new wave of rock music that can not really be defined, where different influences are merging together.”

Unfortunately, the band has to travel far from their home base to participate in this ‘new wave of rock music.’ That’s simply because the El Paso music scene, Alderte told IRC, “has not had much to offer. El Paso, he said, is a “considerable distance from other cities with a stable or even growing music scene,” which in turn, “motivated the band to work even harder.” And that’s good for music fans everywhere. The more the band can get out of El Paso – especially to big music cities like Austin – the more their popularity is bound to spread.

The other band members include bassist Gary Espinoza, guitarist Chris Gards, drummer Beto Herrera, and percussionist and backup vocalist Oscar Diaz de Leon. The band’s musical influences range from Bombay Bicycle Club, Mutemath and Young the Giant to Indian Lakes and Radiohead. In the past, they’ve opened for Indian Lakes, as well as bands like Circa Survive, Dance Gavin Dance, Coheed and Cambria, A Lot Like Birds, and artist Johnny Craig. At a time when so many ‘indie’ bands, often at the hands of the record labels, are putting out predictably cookie-cutter releases, it’s refreshing to have bands like Avindale to listen to.

Avindale on Bandcamp