Part of
"It’s funny because it’s been a long – it’s been coming for a while," says singer Daniel Zott of the band's recent name change. "We’ve already called ourselves that for a long time,Detroit feels like a place where you can take risks and it trickles over into the music.
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Primary band members Daniel Zott and Joshua Epstein met while playing in other bands and started making recordings in Zott's basement in 2009. Hailing from Detroit, a city that's been all but crumpled up and thrown away over the past decade, the band's uplifting mish-mash of music is a startling juxtaposition. Perhaps it's a new sign in the road for the Motor City, a marker that things are pointing up.
"I can live very minimally because it’s pretty cheap there," Zott says, explaining Detroit's influence on the band. "I’m not a person who likes being in a place that feels very competitive or if it’s super expensive. That would stress me out. Detroit feels like a place where you can take risks and it trickles over into the music. With it being
The band's new self-titled record is a whistle-disco orchestra with sounds reminiscent of whale sonar, Taylor Swift anthems, Dr. Dog
"Man, this song means so much to me," says Zott of "Gone." "We’ve been overwhelmed by being expected to have these songs. You have to write a song for this. It’s about getting our voice back and being us. Being ourselves. I think that’s what this album is. Us coming into our own, being who we are and singing about what we want to sing about. Getting
The single's accompanying music video also serves to reinforce themes in "Gone" and
"Visually, it looked really great and seemed like it would convey some emotion with those people that were sort of worn out or bored out of their minds," says Zott. "So they are these characters that dancing takes them away from those moments. In a way, it gives
The juxtaposition of
"Part of the reason the video translates so well and is so cool to me – “Gone” more so than any of these songs – you feel this emotion that’s so obvious," says Zott. "Not only do our fans start reacting to that, but the people making the videos, everyone feels that same emotion. So I think that helps make a better video; The guts of the song had a lot of emotion."
After the release of 2010's Horsepower EP garnered them attention from a myriad of respected outlets like Stereogum and Spin,
JR JR
With Brother Tiger. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 28, at the Culture Room, 3045 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale. Tickets cost $47 plus fees. Call 954-564-1074, or visit box-officetickets.com.