Midnight Divide
For Midnight Divide songwriter, front man and former college lineman AUSTEN MORET, being a solo artist with a “big sound” was always the goal. Seeking to unify his rock, electronic and blues influences, he set out on his own in late 2014 to create a record with soaring vocals, tribal drums, infectious guitar riffs and driving bass lines. His debut record: Embrace The Wave, is set for a September 1st release and is a testament to the sweeping, high energy songs that influenced Austen.
When you look at his history, it isn’t hard to see why music became his career of choice. “My family moved a lot.” he says, “between the US, Europe and Canada, I don’t think I’ve lived in the same place for more than four years since I was six. Music became my sanctuary.” After moving to California in early 2012, he was left unsatisfied with stints in local bands, and realized that if he were to get the “big sound” he wanted, he’d have to do it himself. Two years after moving to the golden state, he parted ways from his band Practical Animal, and moved to Los Angeles. In October 2014, he launched into writing, producing and recording his debut solo EP, working with Rich Mouser at his Mouse House Studio. After playing almost every instrument on the record, tracking finished in March 2015.
Much of his inspiration for the EP comes from his family’s musical influence. “I remember my parents just bought their first CD player, and my mom put on In Your Eyes off Peter Gabriel’s Secret World Live album. I was fixated by how it builds and builds until at the end it just explodes musically. It’s something I tried to emulate. My dad on the other hand gave me a copy of Led Zeppelin’s Physical Graffiti and the first song he recommended was Kashmir. I always knew after hearing that, that I’d want to create something epic.” Adding a key piece to the musical foundation was his favorite band, Radiohead. “My sister Brooke played Street Spirit for me and it was like a light came on. It resonated with me more than anything ever had.”
For live performances, long time friends and live band members: Dan Beltran (lead guitar), Eddie Vyeda (drums), Mike Aguado (rhythm guitar) and Steve Robinson (bass) joined Austen in April of 2015, providing the backing band so vital in bringing the songs to life.
Embrace The Wave is set to release September 1st, 2015. It will be available in all digital stores and in physical copy.
RIYL: TV On The Radio, X Ambassadors, Cold War Kids, Imagine Dragons
TRY: #1, 2, 3
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