I've Been Persuaded... Faded Paper Figures

 (c) Faded Paper Figures

Mellow, indie, electronica, pop, experimental and soft. These are all types of music that I like, but I would never expect to find a band with these qualities from someone else. I am usually the one of my friends who gives everyone else music. I had given my friend Frank over thirty different artists since I had met him earlier this year and it surprised me when he introduced me to a band I had never heard of.

He introduced me to Faded Paper Figures, an indie pop electronica band originally from Irvine, California. The band formed in 2007 and has had some changes to the way they make music as some of the band’s members have moved across the country. The band continues to write and record all of their music bi-coastally.

I did not know their story when I first heard of them. I did not even know what album the songs I was listening to were from as Frank’s iPod does not have the album listed. I had only listened to them because Frank compared them to the band Starfucker, who we both enjoy.

After hearing them and immediately liking them I decided to hear more of their music and finally find out their album titles. Their album Dynamo was released in July of 2008. They had one video produced for the song “Metropolis”. In May of 2010 their second album New Medium was released.

The band has gained some awards in their career as well. Their song “Being There”, off of Dynamo, won Best Song of the Year in the UC Irvine Songwriting Contest. They were chosen as the Best Electronic live band by the OC Music Awards in 2009 and were declared one of the New York Post's "must have" new music of 2009. They also had a few song featured in the ABC show Grey’s Anatomy and the snowboard film Isenseven.

I was attracted to this band because they were a soft electronica band. Their vocalists John Williams and Heather Alden have soft melodic voice that pair well together against multi-instrumentalist Kael Alden’s compositions.

I plan to follow this band as it continues to grow and work from different coasts of the United States. I know I will keep up with this band’s music but it might just be my friend Frank who keeps me up to date on them. That is fine though because I have thirty plus artists to help him follow.

A point of advice: Even if you think you are great at finding all of the music you like do not hesitate to accept recommendations from your friends.

Recommended song: “Metropolis”, “North By North”, “The Cold Wars”, “The Persuaded”, and “Future Self”

Do you have passion?

(c) 2010 Passion Pit/Sony Music Entertainment

Have you ever heard a new band and realized you have heard them before? This happened to me when listening to the rising band Passion Pit. I had friends who liked their music but, as I did with Sleeping At Last, put them off as another band. From what I thought of their music, without even hearing it, I felt I would not like it. I should have known otherwise though because I have that same outlook with a lot of things in my life.

There was a day in mid-December when I was hoping to find new music for my computer. As I usually do, I went on to Amazon.com and listened to samples of bands I wanted to hear more of. In this search I stumbled upon Passion Pit. I decided this time to give them a chance.

The first song I listen to was “Sleepyhead.” I liked it but I was not sold on their music yet. I then picked the song “Little Secrets”. From the clip of the song I realized I have heard the song somewhere before. I still do not know where I heard it but I did like the song. With that newfound knowledge I listened to the full song.

It did not take long before I was on my way to buying the band’s album Manners and EP Chunk of Change. I listened to their music constantly. I even had my younger sister asking how many more times I would be listening to their album. I slowly found out that if I gave new music a chance I could find countless new artists. Actually, since then I have.

As much as this is a story on opening your mind to music, it is on the band Passion Pit. They are an “electropop”, or as their MySpace says “Big Beat / Pop / Soul” band from Cambridge, Massachusetts. They formed in 2007 and sound like a mix of rock guitars and synthesizers playing harmoniously as one. a lot of their music is based around synthesizers, samples, and piano. They have a strong rhythm section to back their music. Michael Angelakos, the band’s lead singer, has a prominent falsetto voice. In an interview with Rebecca Harrington of the Huffington Post, Angelakos said that he developed his high voice.

The band’s third single “Little Secrets” off of their album Manners features the PS22 Chorus who have gained notoriety from their songs on their YouTube page.  The chorus is also featured on their songs “The Reeling” and “Let Your Love Grown Tall.” “Little Secrets” is an electropop song played through a rock lens. Passion Pit plays as a rock band with more focus on electronic and pop music.

Currently the band is focused on touring but in an interview in with NME, Angelakos said he was already writing the follow-up to their album Manners. He hopes the album will come out in the spring of 2011.

I am excited for the next release from this band. Not only have I found joy in their music but optimism.