Known for rocking the trademark six-inch heels across the stage and cranking out tunes embodying the 80s glam rock sound, New York City natives Semi Precious Weapons are coming back for more with an upcoming album set for release later this year. After signing a deal with Interscope Records, touring the world with pop phenomenon and best friend Lady Gaga and appearing at various music festivals across the country, the band is changing it up for the love of music and their devoted fan base.
“It’s not my fault, this is how my momma made me, I’ve been magnetic since I was a baby,” lead singer Justin Tranter proclaims to the world on “Magnetic Baby”, a track found on their first two albums. Since their formation in 2006, the Berklee College of Music graduates have been crafting music inspired by their desire to recreate the tough and glamorous NYC scene presented in Andy Warhol documentaries.
After the release of a couple of extended plays, the group caught the attention of producer Tony Visconti, known for his numerous collaborations with singer-songwriter David Bowie. Their recording studio sessions led to the completion of the band’s debut album We Love You, a project that tried to capture the vibe of 70s classic rock.
Two years later in 2010, after signing a major record deal with Interscope Records, Semi Precious Weapons began work on their sophomore album You Love You, which featured re-recorded versions of tracks that appeared on their debut alongside new material. “The legendary Ron Fair heard the first minute of ‘Magnetic Baby’ and flew us to LA to meet with him at the Interscope office”, the band says. “Two days later we were in the studio making You Love You. It was story book whirlwind record deal that most people don't believe when I tell them.”
The band says the label allowed them to have a lot of creative freedom, which was apparent on the diverse, unique track list of their second album. Featuring gems such as “Look At Me”, “Sticky With Champagne” and “Put a Diamond In It”, the album highlighted Tranter’s impressive vocal talent and the rest of the new band lineup’s rock n roll instrumentals.
You Love You peaked at number ten on Billboard’s Heatseekers Albums chart, introduced with the purpose to highlight the sales of emerging recording artists, and contained songs which really came to life during live performances. However, “Leave Your Pretty to Me”, an unexpected ballad, is lead singer Tranter’s favorite moment on the album. “[It] means the most to me. It is a very honest story that I was proud to tell,” he says.
Shortly after signing to Interscope, the band was able to showcase their music and crazy stage antics in one of the best ways possible: they hit the road as the opening act for “Poker Face” hit maker Lady Gaga and her critically-acclaimed The Monster Ball Tour. Before every show, except in February and March 2011 when Scissor Sisters took their place, the glamorous boys would rile up thousands of “Little Monsters” while gaining their own new fans in the process.
After 200 shows, the last in May 2011, and performing for over 2.5 million people, Semi Precious Weapons can say they were apart of one the highest-grossing concert tours of all time, a great way to gain positive exposure and buzz. The band says getting the opportunity to tour the world with people they love and perform for amazing fans is something most people can only dream of.
Ironically, Lady Gaga once opened for Semi Precious Weapons a few years back for a show in a NYC bar and they have been friends ever since. The boys were even quickly featured in the music video for Lady Gaga and Beyonce’s duet, “Telephone”, as murdered diner victims in a small cameo appearance. Tranter revealed no future collaborations with Gaga are in the works at the moment, but said he did not rule anything out. “You never know what can happen after some conversation and whiskey,” he says.
Following the end of the tour, Semi Precious Weapons parted ways with Interscope, saying ultimately it was not the right fit. The band is now signed to producer Tricky Stewart’s RedZone Entertainment, a company that has produced hits for acts including Britney Spears, Rihanna, P!nk and Justin Beiber, to unleash their upcoming third album, set for a 2013 release. The band says they are more excited about the new music than anything else they have created in the past.
The band has been writing music over the last two years for the album and wants to release as much new material as possible since their fans have patiently waited a long time. This led to the decision to release an EP in early summer with a full album following a few months after.
“Aviation High”, the band’s first single since 2010, is generating positive buzz before its official iTunes release in a few weeks. The track represents a sound that differs from what the band has created before. The glam rock essence seems to be gone and replaced with a more traditional rock vibe. “It is great to have people loving a song, not the crazy show or insane opening line,” Tranter says. “They are just loving the song and it feels great. We did want to experiment with new sounds, but it was just all about what was the best sound for each song, for each story.
For the accompanying music video, released back in March, the group ventured out to the middle of the desert to experience hallucinations about all the things city life has to offer. There is a drastic change in Tranter’s fashion style and appearance. Gone are the fishnet tights and heavy makeup, replaced with pants, an article of clothing he has not worn in four years, and sophisticated-looking suits
Fashion is a big part of the band’s life. They love how a specific look can affect a person’s perception of what they are hearing. The decision was made that “Aviation High” and the rest of the new music would have the current new look.
Other songs set to appear on the upcoming EP are “Free Booze” and “That’s My Friends”, tracks that die-hard fans may have heard played live at music festivals already. The band has also decided to include a brand new song entitled “I Hope That You Were Healed”, a ballad-esque track they say they are “super excited” about sharing. “Our goal was to just write the bests songs we could and let each song dictate the sound”, Tranter says. “I think lyrically I am exposing more of myself on the new music as well.”
To promote the new music, the band is planning a few tours to allow it all to be heard as many times as possible. In addition to tour plans, Semi Precious Weapons recently hit the stage of The Main on 6th Street in Austin, Texas for the highly publicized South by Southwest festival held in March this year, making it their second consecutive appearance
The group only performed new songs from their upcoming projects during the SXSW show including “Cherries On Ice” and “Drink” while reassuring the fans in the audience that Texas is their favorite place to perform. “Anytime someone asks us to play in Texas, we say yes,” the band says. “No bullshit, Texas has the most passionate fans in America.
With a new single and new music video out for fans to experience and a new EP and third studio album in the final stages, a new Semi Precious Weapons era is on the horizon and the boys are preparing fans for what is about to come.
As a band who writes all of their own material, the music that pours out is bound to have a message which encompasses many topics and occasions. They are in a current stage of reinvention, but the overall sound still embodies who the band is as a talented group of artists. “Hopefully for some people [the new music] will be the soundtrack to their parties, love, long drives, sex and sleep,” the band says.
*This story appears as the cover feature of the April issue of Dallas-based Evoke, a LGBT entertainment publication. An edited version appears in its pages, this is the original copy written by yours truly.
.jpg)
0 Yorumlar