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New York's art punks Tea Eater & Chicago-based garage rockers Waltzer unite for a special limited edition split 7" vinyl & digital release!
Tea Eater’s latest single “Cosmic Coconut,” cracks open the cosmic egg, immersing us in all the VHS blue that seeps out. The last and longest track off of the NYC art punk in ’s anticipated album, Obsession, produced by Drew Vandenburg (Of Montreal/Faye Webster/Bambara), and featuring Vram Kherlopian and bass and Alex Tuisku on drums, blends surf rock bass, doo wop backing vocals, fuzzed out slide 12 string guitar shredding culminating in a wall-of-sound crescendo reminiscent of Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd.
The accompanying music video brings frontwoman Tarra Thiessen (of bands Gustaf & Sharkmuffin) back to the mall of her pre-teen years, only to be pursued by her childhood collection of McDonald’s beanie babies, descending from the sky in a coconut shell. Shot and edited by Jay Malone at The Palisades Mall in Nyack, NY, using a VHS camera, the video draws inspiration from 1980s horror film Possibly in Michigan and Chopping Mall. They will be hitting the road with Waltzer following the 7” release with a backing band including Lindsey Ann Lawless on bass, Vram Kherlopian on lead guitar, and Abdon Valdez on drums.
Waltzer has a suitcase packed full of freaky, fun, dance-inducing chaos and a soft serve twist of sung and spoken vocals. Ready to begin their journey into junior album territory with their much anticipated new single “Act Like Me.” Always racing against the clock, and creating art without traditional resources. The energy behind the music and visuals feel exactly how they were made - just risky enough to thrill you with an adrenaline rush. “Act Like Me” feels like trespassing in an abandoned building, being struck by color and detail as you quietly slink around each corner; eyeing the doors to escape; carefully listening for cops and squatters. Energy that encapsulates listeners with enough fear and awe to satisfy the thrill seeker in anyone. Just know that when you start dancing, crying, or doing both in unison- it’s entirely intentional.
Waltzer is the musical moniker of Sophie Sputnik- formerly a swampy southern suburbanite, now Chicago based indie rock musician. She’s backed by three very powerful players, Sarah Weddle on drums, Aunt Kelly on bass, and Kristyn Chapman (AKA Krispy) on lead guitar. They released an album called Time Traveler over the pandemic, shortly after moving to Chicago in 2018 to escape the humidity and conservative egos of the "sunshine" state.
Time Traveler was inspired by her deep adoration for Orbison, Etta, and Harrison. Songs like "Lantern" and "Destroyer" found their soul in producer Chris Devlin's (of Rookie) home and recorded on tape at Treehouse records- which has had much success locally and nationally. Waltzer has toured the US extensively including festivals like Boise’s Treefort, SXSW and more. Notable collaborations include Puddles Pity Party covering their hit song “Destroyer” and Wayne White (Beauty is Embarrassing + Peewee’s Playhouse) helping to create a music video for “Eugene.”
They hope to write songs that speak to people who wrestle with death and failure. Although the lyrics get heavy, Waltzer's stage performance has a sarcastic undertone which reverberates through the record with the intent to help the listener stay afloat. Her message is clear, "Life is really weird and hard / I'm messed up too / Let's get through it together and laugh at all the weird stuff.”
"Cosmic Coconut" and “Act Like Me” were released 9/15/23 via A Diamond Heart Productions/Amethyst Trax (Symphonic Distribution) and La Fam Recordings.
Fueled by serrated riffs, raspy vocals, and rubbery basslines, the Aussie punks' latest pushes garage rock to rowdy extremes. Bandcamp New & Notable Feb 15, 2024
AutoTuned vocals, pop-punk riffs, frenetic drum loops, a DJ Sabrina the Teenage DJ collaboration: the Liverpool band do hyperpop-rock right. Bandcamp New & Notable Jan 28, 2024
