New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ Superlative official website) Hailing from Ottawa, Ontario, indie alt-rock group The Superlative are hitting it big with radio stations and now TV programs across Canada and the U.S. Their unique and infectious sound is catching on fast, particularly with the release of their debut, Chester EP (2013).
But this group stands out for more than just their music. They dedicate themselves to writing their songs as a team of five close friends who harness and maximize their creativity and to composing lyrics that mean something and that fans can sing along to and feel inspired by.
Their highly creative sides show not only through their music, which they describe as a "rock cocktail" of influences, but by their dedication to creating their merchandise and S.W.A.G. through their merch factory and even handling the business side of what they produce.
The five-piece includes Charles Lapointe on vocals, Kiel Burwell on guitar and vocals, Patrick Lebrun on guitar, Alex Tait on bass and Zachary Lachance on drums. Inspired by everyone from the
Deftones and
Neil Young to Slighty Stoopid and the Foo Fighters, the group's versatile music has been described as sounding like some of these very influences, but they add their own harmonious vibe which can only be produced by musicians that are true, close friends and creative partners.
In 2011, The Superlative took their first whack at recording with their self-produced demo, A Long Way Down the Rabbit Hole. This year, they independently funded and released their first professionally recorded, mixed and mastered album, Chester EP, featuring the singles "Inner Muse" and "Hot Summer Dub."
Another single off this album, "Dark Nights (Don't Look So Pretty)" will be featured on Wi-Fi PR's Indie Anthems Vol. 3 to be released in October.
"Inner Muse" kicks off with an upbeat, kinetic blend of ska rhythms and wah pedals in the guitar part that slows down later in the verse to lead into a softer but impassioned sing-along, anthem-like chorus. Dueling guitar lines swirl in, out and around each other as the track progresses, particularly as tension builds up toward the end. The faster, upbeat melody interjects throughout the song to keep the listener on his toes.
"Hot Summer Dub" features a continuous guitar line enshrined in an effects pedal which produces a vibrating effect that transforms into wah-wahs at random intervals throughout the track. The other guitar, bass and percussion maintain a steady beat on the two to emulate the rocking dub sound that is perfectly suited for the song's title. In the bridge, the two guitars toss a simple melodic line back and forth before uniting in one driving motion, splitting off into harmonies and then again going back into their steady-beat-versus-solo dynamic. The track jumps back into a rock chorus that rounds out a perfectly laid-back, simmering summer song.
"Dark Nights (Don't Look So Pretty)" is just that—one of their darker, more melancholy songs. There's a juxtaposition between the verse's soft, twinkling guitar lines and airy vocals and the louder, rock-driven instrumentals and briefly distorted vocal line that kicks off the chorus—a juxtaposition that repeats throughout the song.
There's an acoustic guitar breakdown about three-quarters of the way in that pulls back on the intensity of the track before blasting into the final chorus, and static carries into the final seconds.
You can listen to or purchase the entire album on their bandcamp page as well as via iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, eMusic, Virgin Mobile, at their shows and at indie record stores across Canada.
You can also hear their music on radio stations across Canada and the U.S. thanks to a partnership with Tinderbox, who landed them spots with 80 percent of the stations that it pitched the band to. Many stations chose The Superlative as their favorite new add-on band, and they charted at No. 4 in New York and in the top 20 in Boston, Phoenix, Philadelphia and Texas.
With the help of Tinderbox, The Superlative was also able to grant commercial use of their music to "Rob Drydek Fantasy factory, "Keeping Up with the Kardashians," "Nitro Circus," "NASCAR" and even a three-year usage deal with Discovery Network, which includes more than just the channel. Deals with MTV, ESPN and more are in the works.
This summer, The Superlative performed with other invitees on select dates of The Body Rock Tour, a 25-date tour across Canada for up-and-coming Canadian bands, in addition to a slew of other performances that have kept them busy for the past few months.
To catch one of these high-energy gigs live, check out their upcoming shows, including performances at The Mansion in Kingston, Ontario, on August 30th, at Ritual Night Club in Ottawa, Ontario, where they will open for indie/pop rock sensations Silvergun & Spleen on
September 5th and at another TBA venue in Toronto, Ontario, on
September 21st.
Check out a demo of their Chester EP on their YouTube channel.
About The Superlatives Music:
Inner Muse (Demo) March 2012
Hot Summer Dub (Single) May 2012
Chester EP, March 2013
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesuperlativerock
Twitter: https://twitter.com/superlative613
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Superlativerock
Bandcamp: https://thesuperlativeband.bandcamp.com/
