FEATURED ARTIST
The Upsides
Brooklyn, United States
ARTIST BACKGROUND
'Patterns' is the debut EP from The Upsides. So who are they? The Upsides are an indie rock band from New York City who take influence ranging from 60s surf rock, to The Strokes of the early aughts, to Nile Rodgers on Daft's Punk 'Random Access Memories'. Their first single entitled 'Gold Rush' is an absolute banger of a track, I can't believe how good it is for a debut! I was super excited to reach out to the band after hearing their music so I got them in for a TJPL NEWS interview! But first, let me take you through 'Patterns'.
PATTERNS REVIEW
The debut EP from The Upsides entitled 'Patterns' brings four unique tracks that tickle up every energy centre in your body. Opening with the title track 'Patterns' we get hooked instantly by the guitar riffs. Starting slow with a sensual R&B arrangement works really well to grab the listeners' attention before offering a switch into funky strums and drum beats. YES! There are several chord progressions and guitar solos in this piece that stood out to me. Each guitar riff holds their own identity through funk, R&B and classic variation of Rock. This is my vibe for sure. If you're a guitarist or guitar sounds are your thing then this one will scream out to you for sure. Funk, Rock, Pop, R&B, this is a fusion to die for! The vocals are catchy and embed themselves into your brain with pure ease. A great start to this project! 'Gold Rush' takes a dreampop meets surfer rock approach. The juxtaposition between the first two tracks offer something new without losing the band's overall theme and sound. This is one for the long car drives in the summer for sure. Again, guitar riffs take you on a journey and the whole feel of the project so far is just wicked man. I don't have any other words! Half way into this project we're presented with 'Holy Water'. This track is one for the radio! Perfectly mixed, effective vocals and an overall vibe for real. The bass in this piece adds something bigger to the production. Concluding the project is 'Lucy from Hermosa'. This track brings yet another genre bending piece of magic to the project. Folk, Pop and heavier rock make an appearance in this track. The guitar solo works wonders. This track is reminiscent of The Red Hot Chilli Peppers with a modern contemporary pop twist. I have absolutely loved listening to this project. Mixed to perfection, amazing compositions by every instrument and the lyrics/vocals are catchy, fun and great! The perfect execution of a debut EP. Pure quality! Check The Upsides out, you'll be so glad you did! I was!
INTERVIEW
What would be your ultimate achievement for your latest EP?
Just getting it into the ears of new folks who dig our sound, want to add it to a playlist, share with a friend, or get out to a show!
Is there a particular vision that you had when putting the EP together?
We wanted a shimmering sound, with some throwback Beach Boys elements wrapped in the context of danceable modern indie rock. As if The Beach Boys met Daft Punk when they were working with Julian Casablancas. There's not one defining tempo or style that defines our next few releases, and hopefully these first 4 songs serve as a good appetizer of what is to come in the next few months.
If you could define music in one short sentence (no cheating) what would you say?
Music is the most cathartic method of expressing or releasing the ever-changing array of human emotions.
One artist you would bring back to life?
Jim Croce
How would you define your sound?
Shimmering indie rock that nods back to classic, timeless influences while wrapping itself neatly in a bow of modern studio production.
What's the story behind your artist name?
We were looking for a way to capture the sound of the tunes we had written over the course of the pandemic, which were uptempo with a little tinge of wistfulness. We also wanted to nod back to 70s 'The' bands -- we've always liked that retro feel of names like The Cars, The Who, etc.
What is the biggest challenge you've faced as an artist?
Continuing to find ways to get our music to the right audience with tens of thousands of new music releases every day.
What are your future plans? What can we look forward to for the rest of 2022?
We have a few shows booked in NYC for this year, and will be putting out our second and third EPs later this year. We're also looking forward to playing some of our first shows outside of NYC later this year!
Where would you like to be 5 years from now?
On a tour bus cruising around the American heartland, listening to Jim Croce.
Where can we find the track?
https://www.instagram.com/theupsides_/