Tuesday, April 25, 2006 @7:22 AM
Who needs a record deal?Basement group the Upwelling are up for Spin.com’s band of the year
by amy benfer / metro new york
APR 25, 2006
When Spin.com finally finishes polling for its band-of-the-year award, it’s pretty likely that the underground band-winner will be Brooklyn-based the Upwelling for their self-produced, self-promoted, self-titled debut record, recorded in their basement. The group is already a front-runner in the contest. “It’s caused us nausea, definitely,” says Ari Ingber, vocalist and guitarist.
‘Please listen’
The Upwelling is also the first unsigned band in history to be selected for the Virgin Recommends series (i.e., their CDs are available at the listening stations around the record stores.) “We did what every label does,” Ingber says. “We said, ‘Please listen to our CD.’” And through a friend who does sound at Mercury Lounge, their disc was passed to a guy who plays guitar in a metal band, who used the music to open their tour and then went on tour with the All-American Rejects, who then asked the Upwelling to do a European tour with them — which they did, of course.
‘Piece of art’
The record itself is unusual in that, in an age when tracks are broken up for individual download, it harkens back to the concept records of the ’70s, with a wide, spacey feel and tracks that bleed into each other. “We definitely considered how we could tell a story or be a concept record,” Ingber says. “It’s funny to hear myself say that, because we were also aware that we were making a demo record to bring in more teammates. We were just interested in making something we thought was excellent. We made the best piece of art we could.”
They also have an atypical studio. “I guess it’s a studio,” Ingber says. “Technically, it’s Pro Tools and some microphones.” It also functions as a rehearsal space and living space. Conor Heffernan, the keyboardist, sleeps on the futon. “We tour so much, there’s no real reason for him to have his own apartment.”
