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PREMIERE: New York electro-rockers Distoria drop sprawling new single “Dark White”

Jon Berrien
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With the advent of new technologies in the music world, sounds and approaches evolve in kind. We’ve seen electronic music rise to dominant mainstream prominence in the earlier parts of this century, with that particular boon bubble likely already burst. I’ll point to a Hunter S. Thompson quote referencing the end of the 60’s hippe, free love era while looking out towards California:

“So now, less than five years later, you can go up on a steep hill in Las Vegas and look West, and with the right kind of eyes you can almost see the high water mark — that place where the wave finally broke, and rolled back.”

One constant that has held true throughout music history is the undeniable aspects of a human performance. Enter New York-based electro-rockers Distoria who combine a multitude of complexities into their live show where at points they’re all playing two things at once, electronic or otherwise.

Since the release of Distoria’s debut EP, The Periphery, in 2013, the band has replaced its drummer, headlined a CMJ showcase and put together two new singles – “Dark White” and “Lift Point”. Groundsounds has the exclusive premiere of the former below.

The group tracked the single to tape at Seaside Lounge in Brooklyn and produced it themselves. This all while front-woman Helena Martin contended with recovering from major wrist surgery a week before the recording process began. She managed to track her piano, MIDI, and organ parts with only her left hand while holding her casted (and dominant) right arm above her heart to prevent swelling.

There’s palpable live energy to this song like a sea change or cosmic storm. Martin’s knack for crafting transportive lyrics comes to the fore  on “Dark White” as she shares, “This song is a direct answer to a particularly troubling and vivid dream: crumbling, crushed pianos with their wire coiling around wrists, bloodstreams replaced by words, choking on air…”

The foreboding, futuristic atmosphere is further set by Mor Mezrich’s undulating bass and Cody Rahn’s precision drum work. Mix in Mezrich’s expertise with Ableton Live, Launchpad and Alesis Controlpad, and you have yourself a pretty intricate and arresting piece of electro-rock construction that begs to be seen live. How Distoria pulls it all off, I have no idea..

Stream “Dark White” below and look for its companion, “Lift Point” to drop later this summer.

Distoria on FACEBOOK | WEBSITE