New York, NY (Top40 Charts) For Raleigh alt-pop duo Waking April, debut album Fear of Failure is literally the culmination of a lifetime's work. A couple since high school and bandmates since college, Bethany and Alex McKee have structured their entire adult lives around crafting Waking April's uplifting yet thought-provoking signature sound. Tackling timely and widely resonant issues of mental illness and religious trauma while artfully blending digital and organic sounds, Fear of Failure was produced in Nashville by Mark Watrous (the Shins, Raconteurs, Loudermilk) and features members of Delta Rae and The Whigs/Eagles of Death Metal. The album will be released this fall on indie label Polychromatic Records from Nashville, TN.
The first single, "Mile High," is a layered and nuanced love song folded into a lush and dreamy soundscape. Lyrically, it's a simple picture of feeling elevated and high on love, but underneath the simplicity is a description of how some love stories can turn toxic and unhealthy. "The main pad sounds that start the song come from Native Instruments "kinetic treats' which blends synthesizers with samples of children's toys. The result is a buzzy weird combo of glitchy goodness," Alex comments.
Both classically-trained pianists, the McKees formed Waking April in college and evolved through various lineups and genres before settling on the electro pop that they increasingly found themselves moved by - acts like Phantogram, Metric, CHVRCHES, and Broods. They announced their new sound and two-piece incarnation with 2019's intoxicating 'Stretch' and have since released a string of self-produced singles and earned a reputation for high-energy live performances tingling with a unique, innate chemistry.
Mental health and religion are subjects frequently addressed in Waking April's lyrics. "Alex was diagnosed bipolar, and I struggle with chronic depression," offered vocalist/lyricist Bethany. "Religion had a huge impact on our upbringings and this album reflects our growth out of unhealthy things that don't work for us anymore. I hope that describing our experiences is helpful to people dealing with similar things, to know that there's someone who can relate."
In 2023, Waking April signed with Polychromatic Records, who connected them with producer Mark Watrous, a multi-instrumentalist also known for his work with The Shins, The Raconteurs and Loudermilk. Recording at Watrous' Strange Attraction studio that summer elevated their sound, built around Alex's meticulous sound design and Bethany's crystalline vocal timbre, without compromising its essence. Echoes of their earlier grunge and folk-rock influences linger, but draped in edgy electronic soundscapes, throbbing beats, and engulfing atmospherics.
"It was not a transformation - Mark breathed life into what was already there," said Alex. "He added acoustic elements and more 'real' instruments." These include prominent guitars, a grand piano, and an antique organ. Fear of Failure is further made visceral by live drums from Julian Dorio (The Whigs/Eagles of Death Metal) and Mike McKee (Delta Rae - and Alex's brother!)
"When I hear something that I connect with, it's very, very deep," Alex concluded. "We want other people to experience that sense of connection from our music and lyrics."
Waking April on Tour:
Aug 8 - Athens GA - Buvez
Aug 10 - Charlotte NC - Petra's
Aug 16 - Columbia SC - New Brookland Tavern
Aug 24 - Raleigh/Durham NC Sofar Sounds
Aug 30 - Nashville TN - The East Room September 7 - Raleigh NC Ruby Deluxe (Hopscotch Fest day-party)
October 18 - Raleigh NC - NC State Fair
November 2 - Cary NC - Bond Brothers Eastside
