New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Indie-rock band, Water District have been a Southern California band on the rise for the past year. Their latest single, "Dear California" demonstrates the band's knack to produce music with striking melodic guitar work, à la the 90's alternative rock with a fresh and modern twist. "Dear California" is now available for download on iTunes and streaming on Spotify.
Developing a deep admiration for raw vocals and a patchwork of heavy, distorted and clean guitar licks from bands like,
Silversun Pickups and Smashing Pumpkins; Water District has merged that sound with their innovative style creating "Dear California". Hitting the ground running with Hunter Gurney's vibrant bass line and Ajay Awasthi's quick and punchy drum work, the tone is quickly set for the tortured vocals of Tice Griffin. Helping to create their unique vision, the band enlisted the expertise of
Danny Balistocky whose work with bands like Unwritten Law,
Ben Harper and
Yellowcard allowed him to quickly understand their genre-bending vision. Zack Mueller showcases his intricate blues and rock guitar work, while Griffin's vocals have a raw sound that leaves you enchanted in the sedated wanderlust of the lyrics. As Griffin sings the chorus, "please don't forget me when I leave California," the emotional torture within his voice captivates with an undeniably catchy hook and a relatable tale of stepping outside your comfort zone and leaving your hometown. Recording at Revolution 9 Recording Studios was almost a surreal experience considering, "four years ago, I spent an entire summer writing songs in the very room I grew up in," Griffin commented. "I left and came back in between the time I wrote and recorded this song recently, so it was quite an experience to hear it come to life in a professional recording studio. I plan on leaving again, but I could never stay away."
Water District formed in 2012 with a shared love for indie rock and Nintendo video games. The band consists of Tice Griffin playing keyboard, guitar and singing lead vocals, Zack Mueller singing backing vocals and playing lead guitar, Hunter Gurney on bass and Ajay Awasthi on drums. Water District released two albums independently before being signed to Normandie Records in 2014, who released their last record, Water District EP. Citing influences in bands like
Death Cab For Cutie and The National; Water District brings a sound that is both recognizable and eclectic. They have performed at venues such as Hotel Café, The Conservatory, Silverlake Lounge, The Wayfarer, along with numerous Los Angeles hot spots.
The band is currently in the studio working on a new record, due out this fall. With expert musicianship and rich influences of rock and roll influences, Water District is anticipating the launch of their fall EP to be the biggest yet. Download "Dear California" and the rest of the Water District EP on iTunes today! To learn more about the band and their upcoming shows, visit www.WaterXDistrict.com.
