X: THC is the brainchild of Michael Nova; an amazing artist, with an amazing concept - music, a film, a complete synesthetic experience that you will not soon forget. Keeping up with the dominance of the broadband world, Nova has recently finished putting together the band's electronic press kit (EPK), and I wanted it to share it with everyone. It is a definite insight to the artistry, the genesis of the project, and the reactions of an audience watching the show. I hope you enjoy the EPK and are inspired to see the show live.
EPK from their YouTube Channel: xthcmusic.
Keep up with X: THC at their homepage, MySpace, and Facebook.
Read more ...
Showing posts with label X THC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label X THC. Show all posts
27 January 2010
28 November 2009
X: THC Live
I have not been to as many live shows as I am accustomed to going to this year, but when Michael Nova of X: THC invited me down to see the band perform at Monkeytown in Brooklyn, it was a no-brainer. I knew I was not going to pass up this opportunity.
Wednesday (25 November 2009) rolled around, and, at about seven in the evening, I started the journey to Brooklyn (I am not one of these Jersey-ites that think that a passport is required to go to Brooklyn – actually I more often than not skip Manhattan for Brooklyn). Carlos Aranzazu, Gray Door Studio photographer, was accompanying me. (It was nice not to have to worry about taking any pictures myself, and well having a professional along.) On our way there, we chatted about what to expect, other concert/show experiences, and the visual components of music and live shows. Never did we expect such a powerful experience as we pulled up in front of Monkeytown.
The backroom of Monkeytown is about thirty-by-thirty, with coaches and tables set around the perimeter. A film screen hangs from each wall, while the band played in the center of the room. If intimacy was the goal, the space alone would create it. But the actual experience, the synesthesia, was overwhelming. As the band easily followed through their set, you wanted to see each screen, you wanted to look at the band, you were overwhelmed trying to explain to yourself what was the genesis of your feelings – the music, the band, the visuals, the different combinations…. What was definitive was that you wanted more.
Now, let me say something for all the “purists” out there – it is time to step into the new millennium. The incredible thing about our contemporary world is that bands are no longer limited to creating the sound that they can on their own, but rather have the technology to augment their sounds. The question is whether or not a band solely relies on this technology or uses it wisely. X: THC struck the perfect balance. The individual musicianship of the band was always in the forefront. Tienne, on guitar and keyboards, has a soothing presence of her own on the stage; there is a magnetic attraction that makes it hard to take your eyes off her while she strums away. Drummers may be a dime dozen, but good drummers are very rare. John Bollinger is one of these good drummers: great technique, great timing, and great presence (something most drummers lack). Then there is Michael Nova. He is definitely the newest New York bard. He is not just there reciting lines, but rather singing with conviction and delivering the story. Even Aranzazu, behind his camera, concurs that Nova’s persona on stage is powerful, as he creates a rapport with his audience.
I have seen a few great artists this year – amazing performances. But I have to tell you, you are crazy if you do not jump on the opportunity of seeing X: THC live. This is a powerful experience, both sonically and visually. And the beauty of the visuals is that even if you do not know the music, they will draw you into the experience. Their original film, “X: The Human Condition,” is a powerful, abstract piece that will remind you of some of the great avant-garde silent films.
Set list:
1. Introduction/Hide
2. Monster
3. A Human Flood
4. Sleeping with One Eye Open
5. The Creature from the Blackened Room
6. Don’t Cry
7. Mr. Happy
8. Like Violins
9. Worth Fighting For
10. Tag You’re It!
Keep up with X: THC at their homepage and MySpace. Read more ...
Wednesday (25 November 2009) rolled around, and, at about seven in the evening, I started the journey to Brooklyn (I am not one of these Jersey-ites that think that a passport is required to go to Brooklyn – actually I more often than not skip Manhattan for Brooklyn). Carlos Aranzazu, Gray Door Studio photographer, was accompanying me. (It was nice not to have to worry about taking any pictures myself, and well having a professional along.) On our way there, we chatted about what to expect, other concert/show experiences, and the visual components of music and live shows. Never did we expect such a powerful experience as we pulled up in front of Monkeytown.
The backroom of Monkeytown is about thirty-by-thirty, with coaches and tables set around the perimeter. A film screen hangs from each wall, while the band played in the center of the room. If intimacy was the goal, the space alone would create it. But the actual experience, the synesthesia, was overwhelming. As the band easily followed through their set, you wanted to see each screen, you wanted to look at the band, you were overwhelmed trying to explain to yourself what was the genesis of your feelings – the music, the band, the visuals, the different combinations…. What was definitive was that you wanted more.
Now, let me say something for all the “purists” out there – it is time to step into the new millennium. The incredible thing about our contemporary world is that bands are no longer limited to creating the sound that they can on their own, but rather have the technology to augment their sounds. The question is whether or not a band solely relies on this technology or uses it wisely. X: THC struck the perfect balance. The individual musicianship of the band was always in the forefront. Tienne, on guitar and keyboards, has a soothing presence of her own on the stage; there is a magnetic attraction that makes it hard to take your eyes off her while she strums away. Drummers may be a dime dozen, but good drummers are very rare. John Bollinger is one of these good drummers: great technique, great timing, and great presence (something most drummers lack). Then there is Michael Nova. He is definitely the newest New York bard. He is not just there reciting lines, but rather singing with conviction and delivering the story. Even Aranzazu, behind his camera, concurs that Nova’s persona on stage is powerful, as he creates a rapport with his audience.
I have seen a few great artists this year – amazing performances. But I have to tell you, you are crazy if you do not jump on the opportunity of seeing X: THC live. This is a powerful experience, both sonically and visually. And the beauty of the visuals is that even if you do not know the music, they will draw you into the experience. Their original film, “X: The Human Condition,” is a powerful, abstract piece that will remind you of some of the great avant-garde silent films.
Set list:
1. Introduction/Hide
2. Monster
3. A Human Flood
4. Sleeping with One Eye Open
5. The Creature from the Blackened Room
6. Don’t Cry
7. Mr. Happy
8. Like Violins
9. Worth Fighting For
10. Tag You’re It!
Keep up with X: THC at their homepage and MySpace. Read more ...
16 November 2009
X: THC Answers 5
X: THC recently came onto my radar, and I have been counting down the days to when I will see them live at Monkeytown (Brooklyn) – nine days: Wednesday, 25 November. Incredible music, incredible multimedia concept, but just as incredible is the depth of the band’s conviction and character. Michael Nova (vocalist) and I have had an open dialogue, and I have been touched by his story, the band’s history, and the sincere, introspective view of the world and human nature. It was only natural that I would reach out for an interview, and I would like to thank Nova for taking the time out of a busy schedule to answer 5.
1. Who are your musical and non-musical influences?
Joseph (John) Merrick, Edward Scissorhands, Jack Skellington, Grimm Brothers Fairy Tales, Antoine St. Exupery, Anne Rice, European Folklore, Tim Burton, Rod Serling, Jean Cocteau, Gullermo Del Toro, Terry Gilliam, Darren Aronofsky, and Michel Gondry.
Musically, The Cure, Depeche Mode, Radiohead, Jeff Buckley, Joy Division, Massive Attack, Goldfrapp, Zero 7, Air, Portishead, Coldplay, ABC, Spandau Ballet, Pink Floyd, and Stevie Wonder
2. How did the band come up with the idea of having a multimedia experience for their live shows?
Having had feelings of never fitting in and always feeling like an outsider, even amongst those closest to me, I began to realize that everyone feels this way to a degree.
I felt that this was a story that needed to be told. Someone needed to speak for those that would not be spoken for. For those that hide their feelings in empty smiles, and secret disillusionment.
I understood, and wanted to do one good thing in my life...one thing that would make a difference to someone...
But music was not enough. I realized that without visuals, it would be incomplete.
You had to hear it and see it to feel it. It had to be multi-sensory...
I spent 11 years putting together “X: The Human Condition” as a testament to what the human mind can accomplish, or how it can hold us back...
I didn't want to hold back anything.
3. During production, you (Michael Nova) lost and recovered your sight. How did this experience become a catalyst for the inspiration of what the band does?
I was told by the "experts" that “X: The Human Condition” was impossible to create without a massive budget. I learned why shortly thereafter. It was a massive undertaking...one that took me to the brink of suicide.
When I lost my vision, I never considered that my normal vision could fail me.
My health was always fine, I rarely got sick, and never wore glasses...but now, I tried to make sense of what was happening to me...to understand why everything in the world seemed to stand in the way of completing this project.
In the end, everything that I experienced; the alienation, the disconnection, the feeling that I was alone in the world, the stress, and the fight against multiple diseases... all the challenges faced in completing “X: The Human Condition,” were all there for a reason... to inspire...to make a difference to someone...to realize that you are not alone in the world.
Unexpectedly, the process of “X: The Human Condition” in itself has become inspiring, and whether it achieves commercial success or not, that was never the goal.
The goal was to create one good thing.
One thing that would make a difference to someone...
4. Music and cinema are typically considered two different realms. Other than flashy soundtracks, the two rarely meet in any serious way in pop culture. In the case of X: THC, how interrelated is the film, "X: The Human Condition," to the album?
The visuals tell part of the story, the lyrics tell another part, so they are completely inter-related, but if you were to look deeper, you might find something more...
5. You have quoted Charles Dubois, "The most important thing is this: To be able at any moment to sacrifice what we are for what we could become." In terms of your artistry, how is this quote significant?
I think that as long as we think in terms of a definition of who we are, we're trapped. We're trapped because we're defining ourselves by a label, self-imposed or imposed by others.
Labels limit us to what we know, what we've already experienced, and that by definition, holds us back.
We all fall into ways of being that don't serve us... habits of comfort... for me that was being alone. Giving up that comfort is very frightening because it's what we know. The alternative is the unknown, and that frightens us. But for us to truly live, we need to have the courage to transform the part of us that holds us back into something that propels us forward.
My favorite quote comes from Teddy Roosevelt, called "The man in the arena"...
It is not the critic who counts;
not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles,
or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.
The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena,
whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood;
who strives valiantly;
who errs, who comes short again and again,
because there is no effort without error and shortcoming;
but who does actually strive to do the deeds;
who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions;
who spends himself in a worthy cause;
who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement,
and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly,
so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.
Keep up with X: THC at their homepage and MySpace.
If you are in the NYC / Brooklyn area, support the band and head to Monkeytown (58 North 3rd Street, Williamsburg) and experience them live. Admissions is $5, and there is a $10 minimum – click for reservations.
Also, do not forget to head to the band’s website – the Goodies section – and purchase the album (review). A portion of the proceeds will go to support the Jed Foundation (Half of Us) and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Read more ...
1. Who are your musical and non-musical influences?
Joseph (John) Merrick, Edward Scissorhands, Jack Skellington, Grimm Brothers Fairy Tales, Antoine St. Exupery, Anne Rice, European Folklore, Tim Burton, Rod Serling, Jean Cocteau, Gullermo Del Toro, Terry Gilliam, Darren Aronofsky, and Michel Gondry.
Musically, The Cure, Depeche Mode, Radiohead, Jeff Buckley, Joy Division, Massive Attack, Goldfrapp, Zero 7, Air, Portishead, Coldplay, ABC, Spandau Ballet, Pink Floyd, and Stevie Wonder
2. How did the band come up with the idea of having a multimedia experience for their live shows?
Having had feelings of never fitting in and always feeling like an outsider, even amongst those closest to me, I began to realize that everyone feels this way to a degree.
I felt that this was a story that needed to be told. Someone needed to speak for those that would not be spoken for. For those that hide their feelings in empty smiles, and secret disillusionment.
I understood, and wanted to do one good thing in my life...one thing that would make a difference to someone...
But music was not enough. I realized that without visuals, it would be incomplete.
You had to hear it and see it to feel it. It had to be multi-sensory...
I spent 11 years putting together “X: The Human Condition” as a testament to what the human mind can accomplish, or how it can hold us back...
I didn't want to hold back anything.
3. During production, you (Michael Nova) lost and recovered your sight. How did this experience become a catalyst for the inspiration of what the band does?
I was told by the "experts" that “X: The Human Condition” was impossible to create without a massive budget. I learned why shortly thereafter. It was a massive undertaking...one that took me to the brink of suicide.
When I lost my vision, I never considered that my normal vision could fail me.
My health was always fine, I rarely got sick, and never wore glasses...but now, I tried to make sense of what was happening to me...to understand why everything in the world seemed to stand in the way of completing this project.
In the end, everything that I experienced; the alienation, the disconnection, the feeling that I was alone in the world, the stress, and the fight against multiple diseases... all the challenges faced in completing “X: The Human Condition,” were all there for a reason... to inspire...to make a difference to someone...to realize that you are not alone in the world.
Unexpectedly, the process of “X: The Human Condition” in itself has become inspiring, and whether it achieves commercial success or not, that was never the goal.
The goal was to create one good thing.
One thing that would make a difference to someone...
4. Music and cinema are typically considered two different realms. Other than flashy soundtracks, the two rarely meet in any serious way in pop culture. In the case of X: THC, how interrelated is the film, "X: The Human Condition," to the album?
The visuals tell part of the story, the lyrics tell another part, so they are completely inter-related, but if you were to look deeper, you might find something more...
5. You have quoted Charles Dubois, "The most important thing is this: To be able at any moment to sacrifice what we are for what we could become." In terms of your artistry, how is this quote significant?
I think that as long as we think in terms of a definition of who we are, we're trapped. We're trapped because we're defining ourselves by a label, self-imposed or imposed by others.
Labels limit us to what we know, what we've already experienced, and that by definition, holds us back.
We all fall into ways of being that don't serve us... habits of comfort... for me that was being alone. Giving up that comfort is very frightening because it's what we know. The alternative is the unknown, and that frightens us. But for us to truly live, we need to have the courage to transform the part of us that holds us back into something that propels us forward.
My favorite quote comes from Teddy Roosevelt, called "The man in the arena"...
It is not the critic who counts;
not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles,
or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.
The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena,
whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood;
who strives valiantly;
who errs, who comes short again and again,
because there is no effort without error and shortcoming;
but who does actually strive to do the deeds;
who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions;
who spends himself in a worthy cause;
who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement,
and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly,
so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.
Keep up with X: THC at their homepage and MySpace.
If you are in the NYC / Brooklyn area, support the band and head to Monkeytown (58 North 3rd Street, Williamsburg) and experience them live. Admissions is $5, and there is a $10 minimum – click for reservations.
Also, do not forget to head to the band’s website – the Goodies section – and purchase the album (review). A portion of the proceeds will go to support the Jed Foundation (Half of Us) and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Read more ...
10 November 2009
X: THC: "X: The Human Condition"
I am often attracted to music that is hard to define by a single label; I am often attracted to bands that make a practice of genre bending, combining elements of variant musical genres into one song. X: THC is one of these bands, but what makes them even more interesting is the fact they are combining not just multiple genres, but multiple media platforms, arresting your senses on many different levels. This is no passive musical experience; the album will drag you, forcefully, through feelings of emotional isolation, abysmal numbness, maddening frustration, and ultimately to catharsis. “X: The Human Condition” is an amazing album, part of multi-sensory experience, that may build on many of the stepping stones of the past, but is definitely an album and concept that treads towards the future and new possibilities in ways that many artists have not even started to consider.
How to describe the music? Ambient, brooding, sensual, consuming, and emotive. There is definitely a lot of post-punk influence, with percussion reminiscent of electronic new wave. The beats are very grounded, but the subtle keyboard arrangements are ethereal and enveloping. The vocals are soulful, heartfelt, and delivered with conviction. As Michael Nova sings, you can’t but help to fall into his voice's veritable qualities, making you feel his lyrics on a deeper level. But what I really like about each song is that the music is not arranged to favor the vocalist. Tienne (guitar and keyboards) and John Bollinger (percussion) are as intricate and important to each song. This New York trio is not two musicians supporting a singer, but rather three musicians interweaving a soundscape together.
The band uses the word “synesthesia” to describe the experience, and I could not agree more. Personally, I am obsessed with synesthesia, a condition where one sensory impression creates a response from another sense. For example, a synesthete may hear the “A” note and always see the color blue when the note is played. Another synesthete may touch sandpaper and taste peanut butter. This album will transport your senses, and the one song that stood out the most to me was “Like Violins.” This song, which takes you by complete surprise, is a study in kinesics, as you literally feel your body moving as you are listening, though you are sitting still. Another track to just get lost in is “A Human Flood” – laced with strings, compressed guitars, and affected vocals, the song emotes various, contradicting, emotions, while inducing a frustration of not knowing of whether to sit still or run. And it is rare for a song to have such an effect on a listener, but it is even rarer when a band can produce an album of songs that have such an effect on a listener.
Many bands use flashy visuals on LED screens, but X: THC has taken this one step further. The band has produce a film, “X: The Human Condition,” that will be played during live performances. This only leaves me wondering just how much more powerful the music will be when multiple senses are being bombarded at once. And the opportunity to find out will come on Wednesday, the 25th of November, 10pm. X: THC will be performing at Monkeytown (admission $5, $10 minimum, with a full late night dinner menu available). If you are intrigued by synesthesia and/or have been wanting to experience a live performance that is distinct from most live shows, mosey on down to Brooklyn (Monkeytown is located at 58 North 3rd Street) and support X: THC. (reservations)
Track Listing:
1. Introduction/Hide
2. Monster
3. A Human Flood
4. Sleeping with One Eye Open
5. The Creature from the Blackened Room
6. Don’t Cry
7. Mr. Happy
8. Like Violins
9. Worth Fighting For
10. Tag You’re It!
Keep up with X: THC at their homepage and MySpace.
You can go to the Goodies section of their homepage for a pre-sale release of the album, which will officially be released in March 2010. There you will be able to purchase the CD or download the music, and pay what you want. The band site states that $9.99 is the average price, but keep this in mind: the band has teamed up with the Jed Foundation (Half of Us) and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and are donating a portion of the proceeds. Yes, not only does X: THC offer something different in terms of musical/sensory experience, they do more than pay lip service to social responsibility and giving back to the community. The band is committed to fighting against depression, self-injury, and suicide. And really this is something that we should all support. (Hint: don’t be stingy.)
Here is a promo from the XtheHumanCondition MySpace Video Page. I hope you are as mesmerized by it as much as I was.
X : The Human Condition Preview
X: The Human Condition | MySpace Video
Hope to see you at the show. Read more ...
How to describe the music? Ambient, brooding, sensual, consuming, and emotive. There is definitely a lot of post-punk influence, with percussion reminiscent of electronic new wave. The beats are very grounded, but the subtle keyboard arrangements are ethereal and enveloping. The vocals are soulful, heartfelt, and delivered with conviction. As Michael Nova sings, you can’t but help to fall into his voice's veritable qualities, making you feel his lyrics on a deeper level. But what I really like about each song is that the music is not arranged to favor the vocalist. Tienne (guitar and keyboards) and John Bollinger (percussion) are as intricate and important to each song. This New York trio is not two musicians supporting a singer, but rather three musicians interweaving a soundscape together.
The band uses the word “synesthesia” to describe the experience, and I could not agree more. Personally, I am obsessed with synesthesia, a condition where one sensory impression creates a response from another sense. For example, a synesthete may hear the “A” note and always see the color blue when the note is played. Another synesthete may touch sandpaper and taste peanut butter. This album will transport your senses, and the one song that stood out the most to me was “Like Violins.” This song, which takes you by complete surprise, is a study in kinesics, as you literally feel your body moving as you are listening, though you are sitting still. Another track to just get lost in is “A Human Flood” – laced with strings, compressed guitars, and affected vocals, the song emotes various, contradicting, emotions, while inducing a frustration of not knowing of whether to sit still or run. And it is rare for a song to have such an effect on a listener, but it is even rarer when a band can produce an album of songs that have such an effect on a listener.
Many bands use flashy visuals on LED screens, but X: THC has taken this one step further. The band has produce a film, “X: The Human Condition,” that will be played during live performances. This only leaves me wondering just how much more powerful the music will be when multiple senses are being bombarded at once. And the opportunity to find out will come on Wednesday, the 25th of November, 10pm. X: THC will be performing at Monkeytown (admission $5, $10 minimum, with a full late night dinner menu available). If you are intrigued by synesthesia and/or have been wanting to experience a live performance that is distinct from most live shows, mosey on down to Brooklyn (Monkeytown is located at 58 North 3rd Street) and support X: THC. (reservations)
Track Listing:
1. Introduction/Hide
2. Monster
3. A Human Flood
4. Sleeping with One Eye Open
5. The Creature from the Blackened Room
6. Don’t Cry
7. Mr. Happy
8. Like Violins
9. Worth Fighting For
10. Tag You’re It!
Keep up with X: THC at their homepage and MySpace.
You can go to the Goodies section of their homepage for a pre-sale release of the album, which will officially be released in March 2010. There you will be able to purchase the CD or download the music, and pay what you want. The band site states that $9.99 is the average price, but keep this in mind: the band has teamed up with the Jed Foundation (Half of Us) and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and are donating a portion of the proceeds. Yes, not only does X: THC offer something different in terms of musical/sensory experience, they do more than pay lip service to social responsibility and giving back to the community. The band is committed to fighting against depression, self-injury, and suicide. And really this is something that we should all support. (Hint: don’t be stingy.)
Here is a promo from the XtheHumanCondition MySpace Video Page. I hope you are as mesmerized by it as much as I was.
X : The Human Condition Preview
X: The Human Condition | MySpace Video
Hope to see you at the show. Read more ...
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