MATTE BLVCK
On Thursday, July 17th the Community Center for the Performing Arts proudly welcomes MATTE BLVCK to the WOW Hall.
Matte Blvck, a trio formed by Alex Gonzales, Daniel Corrales, and Bidi Cobra, is known for their unique blend of Darkwave and Industrial music. They recently released their highly anticipated second album, “Vows.” The album’s standout single, “BTTR,” is a collaboration with the legendary Clan of Xymox, one of the pioneering bands in the Darkwave and Post Punk genre. This remarkable partnership brings together elements of dark euphoria, evocative nostalgia, and immersive soundscapes, creating an intense and mesmerizing auditory experience.
The hauntingly beautiful duet between Ronny Moorings and Alex Gonzales introduces a dreamlike, serene quality that contrasts with the driving force of the EBM bass lines, pulsating mechanical drumbeats, and intricate cinematic arrangements. “BTTR” not only pays homage to the classic Darkwave sound but also infuses it with a modern twist, perfectly capturing the essence of the genre’s evolution over the past thirty years.
The infectious chorus hook “Make Me Better” draws its inspiration and is rooted in Dependent Personality Disorder. The lyrics delve into the experience of individuals who possess an overwhelming need to be taken care of and depend on others for their fulfillment and happiness. The line “Talk to me, as all I want is to feel” poignantly reflects the struggle of those who may inadvertently drain the vitality of others in their pursuit of contentment, leading to a cycle of perpetual yearning for the happiness that eludes them.
Ronny Moorings, the lead vocalist, songwriter, and the longest-standing member of Clan of Xymox, has been an integral part of the band’s journey. Initially releasing their albums through 4AD and later with Polygram, the band has now found a home with Metropolis Records. Over the years, Clan of Xymox has experienced periods of both mainstream success and obscurity, and now, the resurgence of darkwave music has taken the world by storm. Although Ronny has never officially embraced the darkwave label, there are rumors that the renowned John Peel, of Radio 1 fame, coined the term during their “Peel Sessions” in the early 1980s.
Clan of Xymox made an early impact in the post-punk scene with tracks like “A Day” and laterwith “Medusa.” After adopting the name “Xymox,” they achieved commercial success withsongs such as “Imagination” and “Obsession” in the United States, in addition to other trackswith a more new wave sound. Xymox began to earn recognition on various musical fronts.
The genesis of the song “BTTR” can be traced back to 2019 when it was initially considered forinclusion in Matte Blvck’s album “I’m Waving, Not Drowning.” However, it underwent extensivereworking and was deemed not yet ready for release. The initial production of the song tookplace at Matte Blvck’s studio in San Diego. Later, it underwent re-recording with live instrumentsat Secret Hand Studios in Los Angeles, which is owned by Jeff Friedl, a renowned drummerassociated with Devo, A Perfect Circle, and Puscifer. The song was engineered by Matt McJunkins, known for his work with A Perfect Circle, Puscifer, and Poppy. The mixing process was handled by Aaron Short, a Grammy-nominated mixing engineer with credits including Broods, Benee, So Below, Madison Beer, and Israel Medina, a long-term collaborator of Matte Blvck.Matte Blvck expressed, “We believed that this song needed to encapsulate the essence of our live performances.’BTTR’ has been our closing piece at concerts since our inception, alwayseliciting an enthusiastic response from the audience. We entrusted the production to Matt McJunkins, someone who truly understands live performance, and Aaron Short, who has the expertise to further develop our sound.”
Matte Blvck’s second album,”Vows,” showcases the band’s evolving musical direction and setsthe stage for their future endeavors. The album boasts intricate production and a wealth ofmelodic content, resulting in a captivating blend of complexity and danceability. It is evident thatthe band is driven to expand their sonic boundaries while remaining true to their original sound. With nine tracks,”Vows” delves into a diverse array of dark electronic music genres, including breakbeats, industrial, darkwave, cinematic dark pop, alternative, electro, synth wave, andtechno. This multifaceted album is now accessible across all digital and physical platforms offering listeners a rich and immersive musical experience.
Die Sexual
Die Sexual is the Los Angeles-based dark electronic duo of Rosselinni and Anton Floriano. Conjuring their influences of ebm, techno and electropop, their sound is an intoxicating mix of analog synthetics and seductive vocals. Pure dancefloor decadence forged by pulsating rhythms and dripping sensuality. Die Sexual entices you to join their journey from out of the shadows to under the strobe lights
https://linktr.ee/diesexual
Rabyd Rabbyt
Dark Synthpop from the Pacific Northwest
Dark. Energetic. Danceable.
Two opposing forces meet, collide, and move to their own gravitational pull, what emerges is something entirely new.
Rabyd Rabbyt is the creative fusion of Alex Jordan, a fearless singer-songwriter with a gift for raw, evocative lyrics and a voice like a fallen angel, and Jim Johnson, an electronic musician with decades of experience in synthesis, sound design, and algorithmic composition.
Their music exists in the space between contrasts—haunting yet danceable, dark yet electric. Rabyd Rabbyt exists at the intersection of Yazoo’s soulful synthpop, Boy Harsher’s pulsing darkwave minimalism, and Paramore’s raw emotional energy, fused with Kraftwerk’s machine-like precision, Berlin’s seductive electronic anthems, and Siouxsie Sioux’s fearless, dark, atmospheric and often poetic storytelling. Their music is a collision of contrasts, mechanical yet eerily human, dark yet undeniably danceable. The result is a sound both haunting and electrifying, where synth-driven melodies, evocative lyrics, and relentless beats pull you into their world of dark synthpop with an unexpected soul. https://rabydrabbyt.com/