Kalistan

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Indie Rockers Bootsy Push back against the New Wave
Playing Rock these days like "Holding Back Ocean" says Singer
Sulari, Duchy of Ananto
March 25, 5682


Bootsy, Sulari's Indie Answer to New Wave want to remind people of what Kalistani music is supposed to sound like

The Sulari Duo and Indie Rock/Underground rockers Bootsy, who recently signed a two album deal with Artists' Recording Collective in Sulari, have released their debut record The Weirdo and say they want to remind Kalistanis that we rock. "Kalistan is an Alternative Nation," said lead singer and lyricist Amber Derringer. "Much as we try, we can't fully get behind the whole dance scene that New Wave represents. We want to make sure there are loud guitars, huge drums, and plenty of snotty attitude on the radio."

The band has so far been rewarded for their return to a more familiar sound. The Weirdo debuted at Number 32 on the Album chart, and on the Radio 1 Singles poll, their lead single "Nada Surf" scored an impressive Number 21 debut. "Not bad for an underground rock band from Sulari," said guitarist, songwriter and producer Alexander Williams. "Sometimes it feels like what we're doing here is trying to hold back the ocean with all this electronic stuff. The record does have some keyboards, but we are primarily focused on guitars and huge drums. That big rock sound that we do so well in this country is what we're trying to bring back into the spotlight."

Derringer made it clear that the band has nothing against the New Wave of RF. "I listen to it, of course. But we want the punk aesthetic represented in music. This is where we come from, this is who we are. This is the community who buys tickets to our shows and who buys our t shirts. It's that snotty attitude, that scrappy demeanor. The coke music is fine, but we want to make sure our side is heard from too." This attitude is pretty prevalent in their new release "All Bark, No Bite", which features guest vocals from Indie singer and guitarist Britt Linda.

"That song kicks ass," said Williams. "It's really quite loud, but in a very kind of controlled way. It's very unapologetically alternative and punk. Yeah, it sounds way different than anything you will likely hear in the clubs, that's for sure." Both Derringer and Williams said that there is a significant underground that is still playing punk rock and post-punk, and its just waiting to be discovered. "We may be the tip of the iceberg," said Williams. "My band isn't probably going to lead to a resurgence of loud music. But you take what we're doing in Sulari, and what the Art Rock movement is doing in Kaliburg, and you can see there is still a lot of rock out there, even with all the synthesizers. We're still making loud music, which is, in my opinion, the true sound of Northern Seleyan Music, and Kalistani music in particular."

"I think our one tribute to the New Wave Sound," said Derringer, "we put that as the B-Side of 'All Bark, No Bite'. That song ['End of Everything We Know'] doesn't have any keyboards on it, but the way Alexander produced it, it's really what he calls wet. Full Gated Drums, really wet, cavernous guitars, echoey bass, its almost sounds synthesized. But I assure you, its all analog and the trick is in the production. We were almost going to leave it off the record, but I think it is a real neat addition to the record: It was our attempt at modern music and Art Rock--I'd say its probably closer to Art Rock than New Wave, because its definitely not dance music. I guess listeners can judge for themselves whether we did well."

In all, Bootsy is one of the few rock bands on the charts right now. Synthpop is still going strong on the airwaves, in the RF clubs, and in the record stores. "We realize we're kind of the weird group out right now," said Derringer. "Hence the name of our record. We didn't anticipate that this album would do much in sales, but I think we've sold enough records now that we don't have to work for a couple years at least: it will give us enough time and money to make our second record, for sure. And in this country, where everyone is making syntho-dance tracks, that's pretty impressive, I think. I'm definitely impressed."

You can check out both tunes, from Bootsy's debut album The Weirdo, out on ARC right now:

[Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cn0mTkETKbU]
"All Bark, No Bite", featuring Britt Linda, the second single from Bootsy's debut The Weirdo

[Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkCAmdcqVoQ]
"End of Everything We Know", the B-Side for their Second Single "All Bark, No Bite"

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