AUSTIN, TX (Top40 Charts) "When the going gets tough, the tough get going,� and nobody exemplifies the idiom more so than The Rocketboys� keyboardist, Justin Wiseman, who debuts his DIY alter-ego, FRIENDSWITHBENEFITS, today. The eponymous five-song EP (typeset as friendswithbenefits) delicately weaves its way between triumph and tragedy, channeling and reflecting the course of Wiseman�s recent career experiences, as well as personal endeavors. In support of the release, FRIENDSWITHBENEFITS will be performing a showcase at Stubb�s in Austin, TX on August 13th with Jared & the Mill.
�This EP is a result of several years of songwriting during a time that, for my main project [The Rocketboys], was full of some of the most extreme highs and lows of my career,� states Wiseman. �The undulating highs and lows seeded the emotional soil of the songs � songs of anticipation, anxiety, wanting to move ahead but feeling held back self-doubt versus eagerness, remorsefulness for things done wrong � all threaded together the optimism of love (I celebrated my fifth anniversary this year) and the gift of music.�
Coinciding with the friendswithbenefits release is a music video for lead single, �Seeds,� the EP�s third track. The star of the video is one of Wiseman�s piano students, seven-year-old Ace, who is �obsessed with costumes and dressing up,� in Wiseman�s words. �The video concept was born out of Ace�s affinity for dressing up combined with the song�s overall theme of remorse for acting �childish� and selfish, not realizing the burden others carried. The childishness in the video is manifested in the brash idea that you would (or could) destroy a whole city, or that you would follow someone to do something like that simply because they look badass.� The music video was shot and edited by Billy Cano.
Stream the music video for �Seeds� via Idobi Radio below:
friendswithbenefits is a keyboard-driven hook-fest, comparable to heavy hitters, Beach House, Washed Out, or War on Drugs. It was mixed by Lang Freeman, mastered by Danny Stapleton, and features the guitar-playing of Brandon Kinder and Kyle Samuel. The EP�s physical release was designed by Brandon Craddock, with photographic collaboration from Whitney Wiseman.
Biography:
FRIENDSWITHBENEFITS is the musical child of Justin Wiseman, keyboardist for Austin-based anthemic rock band The Rocketboys. FWB is a modern take on 80s synth-pop that both musically and lyrically balances density and whimsy. Surprisingly powerful arrangements for these �bedroom� recordings feature more keyboards than can fit into a 500 square foot downtown Austin apartment (don�t bring it up in front of the Mrs. though � it�s a touchy subject!).
After a decade or so accompanying and rarely stepping out beyond the role of a collaborator in projects such as The Rocketboys, Quiet Company, Dustin Kensrue, and Stoney, FRIENDSWITHBENEFITS is a progressive step forward for Wiseman as a songwriter, arranger, singer, and lead-keyboardist. Wiseman honed the sound and artistic direction over the past few years � ones full of notable triumphs and near-defeating lulls professionally. This long incubation contributed to the EP�s broad emotional range.
Musically, similarities to modern keyboard-heavy outfits such as Beach House or Washed Out immediately emerge, but also a keen sense of melody, pop-sensibility, and hooky-ness dominate the album and carve a fresh area of the genre
