Fusing a range of influences, Semaphore deliver infectious melodies on their sophomore release
NEW YORK CITY | February 22, 2019 – Brooklyn’s post-shoegaze/eclectic rock outfit Semaphore share their new EP Leave With the Season today. Taking listeners on a sonic and emotive journey, the band explores the shortcomings and frustrations of modern life, with a heavy-hitting yet intricately lush soundscape. Following their 2017 debut album All Too Robot, the new release showcases their growth and establishes Semaphore as one to watch with this memorable and relatable release.
Semaphore blends a diverse range of influences including post-shoegaze, pop punk, and post-hardcore, alongside electronic, jazz and math-core influences to create one-of-a-kind sound. The extensive influences have been masterfully honed into an infectiously melodious blend, standing out with intricate musicianship and performance. Everything Is Noise, premiered the release, saying, “Over five songs and 24 minutes of runtime, the EP establishes the band’s infectious sound with a confidence and enthusiasm that is quite commendable.”
Providing a raw, introspective examination to the shortcomings and frustrations of modern life, Leave With the Season exposes many of the prevalent yet often unspoken feelings experienced by so many in today’s society. Loneliness, anxiety, alongside a lack of connection and happiness are central themes throughout. “Leave With the Season was born from the frustration we feel as we navigate the social scenes of Brooklyn,” shared vocalist/guitarist Siddhu Anandalingam. “Sometimes we cannot be sure if we can trust our emotions, our friends, or the city we live in, since all these things inevitably fail us in one way or another. I find myself manifesting a culture I dislike – a culture of always searching for the most one can get out of another person or an experience. Utilitarianism guiding the way we pick our friends and the way we spend our days and evenings. And yet, when we are unhappy, we start to hope that everything around us will change to accommodate us – when this doesn’t happen and we’re left with the same mundane lives, we can’t help but feel scorned, even if we put no effort into changing ourselves. This cathartic EP is best listened to with headphones as you make your way around town in the cold.”
Earlier this year, Semaphore debuted their first music video, for the single “Unreliable“. It features a NYC-focused scrutiny to the flaws of modern dating and interpersonal relationships, providing a catchy hook, with content that sinks deep. The band also released a music video for their second single “Pie“, showcasing their growth in exploring ambient, post-rock, and IDM (intelligent dance music) styles. Both visuals provide a blend of DIY-simplicity, and perfectionist quality, for engaging and powerful takes.
Leave With the Season was self-recorded by the band, with mastering completed by Alan Douches at West West Side Music (Converge, Chelsea Wolfe, Animal Collective). A limited number of cassettes are available for order on Bandcamp, and the EP is available for stream/purchase on all major digital retailers now including Spotify, Apple Music, and Soundcloud. Semaphore will celebrate with an EP release show on Wednesday, February 27 at Saint Vitus in Brooklyn, NY (7pm, $10, 21+ with Geometers, I/O, and Stay Inside).
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ABOUT SEMAPHORE:
Between jazz saxophone transcriptions and chemical engineering problem sets, Siddhu Anandalingam decided that the only way he had time to explore his musical interests would be to combine his varied musical tastes – thus Semaphore was born. Drawing from the musicality and social commentary of artists like Pink Floyd, Tycho, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Smashing Pumpkins, M83, and Tigran Hamasyan, Semaphore’s music is intricate, lush, and hard to pin down to any one genre. Check it out and you will hear a combination of all the best parts of 90s grunge with floaty shoe-gaze vocals, delayed guitar effects, glued together with subtle jazz chord voicings and great production.
After graduating from Columbia University in 2015 with a minor in music, Siddhu moved back home to the suburbs of DC, where he spent the year focusing on writing music, and getting involved in the DC music scene. Upon returning to Brooklyn in mid-2016, Siddhu quickly found the correct musicians for the task of bringing Semaphore’s music to life. At a 2016 Dillinger Escape Plan show, Siddhu recognized Emmett Ceglia while Emmett was crowdsurfing, and remembered him as a friend of a friend who was a fantastic drummer. After connecting with Emmett, he recommended Jay Kohler as a virtuosic math-core guitarist/composer who brought sensitivity and musicality to all projects he was associated with. A couple of months later, Siddhu and Jay met Niko Hasapopoulos while waiting in line to hear Ben Weinman (from Dillinger) give a talk about the music industry. While Niko was just a college student at the time, his excitement and energy was infectious, and he soon signed on as Semaphore’s permanent bassist.
Sometimes sweet, sometimes bombastic, but always entertaining, Semaphore excels at creating an enveloping experience, whether live or through headphones!
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