Based in the blooming cultural hub of Raleigh, North Carolina, T0W3RS (pronounced “towers”) isn’t quite what you’d expect from a 27-year-old dude with a math degree. Once a genre-defying pop rock five-piece led by Derek Torres, T0W3RS took the unsuspecting south by storm in 2010 with Torres’ self-recorded Summertime cassette EP. Soon after, the band found themselves on bills supporting acts like Danny Brown, Here We Go Magic, Woods and Flosstradamus, before capitalizing on all those good vibes with their debut full-length If All We Have is Time (2012).
Listen / Embed:
“Raise the Gate (ft. Body Games)” via Alt Citizen
TL;DR is out via Phuzz Records
Stream it at Entertainment Weekly
Yet despite upward momentum and their gem-ridden WYATT EP in 2013, the band split as members moved on to different projects and locales. Torres himself took some time to reflect and regroup, but he didn’t regroup as much as ungroup: now, T0W3RS has returned to a solo effort that combines organic rock instrumentation and electronic sound palettes with lyrical sincerity and intuitive melodies that are guaranteed to get stuck in your head in the best way.
Recorded in a year’s time at Torres’ Carrboro home, TL;DR (internet speak for “Too Long, Didn’t Read”) opens with the sweet and light-on-its-feet “Cups” before diving into earworms like “The Situation,” a mid-tempo banger that hits like a forgotten 90’s arena anthem filtered through Passion Pit synths. Side B’s “Silk Hope” throws back to the goldmined goodness of 70’s disco, while “Elasticity” harkens back to Torres’ own history with hooky indie rock tunes.
Live, T0W3RS creates a fun, dance-friendly atmosphere that doesn’t bend to the emptiness so frequently found in cutesy indie pop acts. Torres’ dance moves and energy are reminiscent of Future Islands’ Sam Herring, but with a twist of some of the slick disco-inspired production of LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy. You’ll hear graceful, fun covers of The Velvet Underground’s “Rock & Roll” and Phosphorescent’s “Song for Zula” woven in seamlessly among Torres’ upbeat tunes.
Coming in at just over 35 minutes, TL;DR captures the new T0W3RS at the height of Torres’ focus, creativity and vision. The record will be released on November 11 as a white 12” vinyl record, CD and digital download via Phuzz Records (Estrangers, The Tills, and more).
Phuzz Records is the label arm of Phuzz Sounds, which presents its annual Phuzz Phest music festival each April in downtown Winston-Salem, NC. Festival alumni include No Age, White Fence, Jessica Lea Mayfield, William Tyler, Hiss Golden Messenger, Mount Moriah, Diarrhea Planet, The Love Language, Boogarins, Ex Hex, and many more.
LINKS:
Label Website (Phuzz Records)
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