Great Northern (indie band)
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Great Northern is an indie pop group from Los Angeles comprising vocalist/guitarist Solon Bixler (who used to play for 30 Seconds to Mars), vocalist/keyboardist Rachel Stolte, and drummer Davey Latter. As of 2007, they are signed with the independent label Eenie Meenie Records, where they have released their debut album "Trading Twilight For Daylight".
Music
Great Northern began when Solon Bixler approached his friend Rachel Stolte, who he had known for seven years, with material he had been working on, and asked her if she wanted to sing and play piano for it. After writing songs for about six months on a four track recorder, they finally went to the studio. After experimenting with various lineups, they got their long-time friend Davey Latter to join the band as a drummer. The bass position was eventually filled by Ashley Dzerigian, whom Bixler and Stolte met at a party, which they didn't even want to attend at first. Ashley left the band in Januray 2008, and has not been officially replaced as of their winter / spring 2008 tour.
They recorded their debut album "Trading Twilight For Daylight" at the "Donner & Blitzen" studio in Arcadia, CA, together with producer Mathias Schneeberger, whose previous work experience includes the Queens of the Stone Age. Having met Schneeberger through a mutual friend, they quickly grew fond of his contributions to the album.
The album title was coined by Rachel Stolte, who says that twilight is her favourite time of day, and that she sometimes wishes that it would take up a larger part of the day.
"Trading Twilight For Daylight" was released in the U.S. on May 15th, 2007.
The band released an EP, entitled "Sleepy Eepee", to itunes in the U.S. on November 6, 2007. The EP originally was written and recorded before "Trading Twilight For Daylight", but was re-released with new artwork by Ryan Coscia. Sleepy Eepee will be released to stores March 18, 2008.
Critical reception
This is what the newspapers had to say about Great Northern's debut album:
"Their dreamy vocals billow and blow away into echoes, and keyboards lend a wise-beyond-their-years wistfulness." -- L.A. Weekly[1]
"Their songs tread the tenuous ground where heartwarming meets heartbreaking, unfolding as if the boy-girl vocalists were revisiting crumpled old love letters." -- Los Angeles Times
Discography
Albums
References
2. ^ "Great Northern to release pre-Twilight EP" - [1]
- ^ Great Northern Review by Alie Ward, 2/7/2007 http://www.laweekly.com/music/diggin-your-scene/great-northern/15642/
External links
- Great Northern' official website
- "Great Northern" at Eenie Meenie, band page at record label Eenie Meenie Records
- Great Northern at MySpace
- Free download of the song "Home" from the Eenie Meenie homepage
- Great Northern at Last.fm
- Great Northern CA at Livejournal.com
- Great Northern at virb.com
- Photos from a 7/5/07 Los Angeles show