Great Northern (Solon Bixler, Rachel Stolte) released their atmospheric and melodic debut album, ‘Trading Twilight For Daylight’ in 2007. With its catchy hooks, lush keys and breathy vocals, it was received warmly and created a solid buzz – the band’s music was also featured in commercials and played on an A-list of radio stations, including KDLD, KCRW, KNRK, WEQK, WWCD, KEXP and Indie 103, plus FM giant KROQ and a host of others. They were also featured in ‘Best Of 2007’ lists from Filter, Under The Radar, KCRW and Live 105.
Their new album, ‘Remind Me Where the Light Is’, is the work of a more seasoned group, one that has been on the road for months (touring with the likes of Silversun Pickups, Cold War Kids, Ladytron, Spoon and Fiery Furnaces) missed home, seen the world, and returned, not entirely prepared to sit still and write. It became very clear to them that they were going to do things a little differently this time.
On ‘Remind Me Where The Light Is’, Solon Bixler and Rachel Stolte are not afraid to delve into darkness. “We took a lot more risks by entering uncomfortable territory that wasn’t touched on the last record,” Bixler says. “We dug deeper into the unpleasant, which helped us to find the beauty.” Wishing to expand their sound, Bixler and Stolte began working with producer Michael Patterson (Beck, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Beck, Puff Daddy, She Wants Revenge, amongst others) and Nic Jodoin. The results being upbeat, guitar-driven songs, yet with the familiar layered vocals and sweeping, panoramic sound.
Great Northern take bigger chances on this album; “We are content to be learning as we go,” Stolte says, “trying to overcome the fear of changing ourselves, constantly redefining ourselves as artists, and never creating the same thing twice. We hope the people who hear our music will relate to this next chapter of our lives.”
Given the ease with which Bixler and Stolte foster an immediate intimacy with their audience, listeners new and old are certain to not only relate to them, but to join in on the journey from the darkness, back to the light.
Listen to the single, ‘Houses’, here:
http://www.eeniemeenie.com/artists/greatnorthern/houses.html
And look out for Great Northern on tour in the following cities (venues TBD):
Weds March 11 – Seattle, WA
Thurs March 12 – Portland, OR
Sat March 14 – San Francisco, CA
Mon March 16 – Los Angleles, CA
Tues March 17 – Tucson, AZ
Thurs March 19 – Austin, TX – SXSW
Fri March 20 – Austin, TX – SXSW
Sat March 21 – Austin, TX – SXSW