New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Two of New Orleans' most innovative young musicians, guitarist Cliff Hines and vocalist Sasha Masakowski, have teamed up to create a highly ambitious musical project entitled Hildegard.
The music blends a diverse array of influences (art rock, EDM, shoegaze, contemporary jazz, classical, world music, and heavy metal) to create a powerful sound that is refreshingly original and highly progressive. Compositions are delicately crafted works of art with complex harmonic and rhythmic structures providing a bed for catchy pop melodies that echo contemporary artists such as St. Vincent and Thom Yorke.
On May 26th, 2015, Hildegard will release their highly anticipated debut album; a self-titled body of work consisting of 10 tracks produced by Hines and Masakowski. The album showcases the musical depth of the two bandleaders and their collaborative powers, blending Hines' masterful sonic textures with Masakowski's airy vocals, which float above provocative rhythms from G. Maxwell Zemanovic on drums, Max Moran on bass, and John Maestas on guitar.
"A shifting landscape that explores the full spectrum of light and dark, Hildegard juxtaposes serene beauty and sonic intensity to create a dichotomous sound that is uniquely their own." - Hildegard
Over the past 5 years, Cliff Hines and Sasha Masakowski have lead successful solo careers in the contemporary jazz and experimental music scenes. Masakowski is a critically acclaimed jazz vocalist and has toured extensively as a leader, performing at festivals and clubs across the U.S., Europe and Asia. Cliff Hines has spent years touring with punk-rock vibraphone legend Mike Dillon, and recently became the newest addition to contemporary jazz icon Christian Scott's band. He is currently touring as the role of David Byrne in a Talking Heads Tribute by Gravity A. Masakowski and Hines began performing together in high school, where they both attended the prestigious New Orleans Center for Creative Arts. Their decision to form a band together was a natural evolution out of mutual artistic respect and the desire to create cutting-edge, genre-defying music. While working on their album over 2014, Hildegard made waves touring with and/or opening for artists such as Brazilian Girls, Knower, Mike Dillon Band, and Becca Stevens.
Hildegard will hold their CD Release party on Tuesday April 28th at Gasa Gasa in New Orleans, LA. to be followed by a month-long U.S. tour launched by a performance at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival on Sunday, May 3rd in the NOCCA Pavilion.
Hildegard Tour Dates
May 4 Dallas, TX / Sundown at Granda / w. Funky Knuckles
May 5 Tulsa, OK / Fassler Hall / w. The Stone Trio
May 6 Oklahoma City, OK / Urban Roots Gallery / w. Bowlsey
May 7 Albuquerque, NM / Tractor Brewing
May 8 Albuquerque, NM / Ben Michael's
May 9 Creede, CO / Tommy Knocker Tavern
May 13 Denver, CO / Quixotes
May 17 Ft Collins, CO / Avogadro's Number / w. Miscomunicado & Kemosabi
May 20 Richland, WA / Emerald of Siam
May 21 Seattle, WA / Barbozas / w. Spyn Reset & Heatwarmer
May 22 Bremerton, WA / Manette Saloon / w. The Hot Apostles & Brooke Erickson
May 24 Zig Zag, OR / The Sky Way Bar
May 25 Portland, OR / Doug Fir / w. Jackson Boone & Bike Thief
May 26 Eugene, OR / Old Nick's Pub / w. Human Ottoman & Era Coda
