Exclusive EP Premiere: Vensaire
IMAGE COURTESY OF JORDAN WALCZAK
With the premiere of their first official EP—their initial (and hopeful) handshake with the general public—the Brooklyn-based Vensaire wants to show you what they’ve got. We’re pleased to premiere the EP in its entirety [at right].
Akin to a jigsaw puzzle, Vensaire is assembled from jagged, oblong, and often eccentrically shaped pieces: influences range from the sweeping sounds of traditional Chinese music, to the soothing voice of Billie Holiday, to the spastic and stuttered beats of Chicago footwork, to the stories that accompany psychedelic folk music.
And they want you to know that. Each song presented on the EP is authored separately by each of the five members; it’s a way to introduce themselves. “We wanted to solidify our personalities within the band,” said Alex LaLiberte, vocalist and synth player. “The Beatles did it so right, you can name each member of the band… you can hear each influence… and that’s what we want.” Alex Jacobs, the band’s drummer, added, “It’s a more personal approach.”
Maybe it’s democracy, or maybe they’re just naïve—either way, it seems to be working. Full of light-hearted jangles layered upon an atmospheric grunginess, the EP is both salty and sweet. As each track audibly personifies the member who wrote it, the listener becomes acquainted with every facet of the group, “like you are meeting a bunch of people at a party,” remarked LaLiberte.
It’s their résumé, so to speak, a glimpse into what they can do—and it was enough to get the attention of Scott Colburn (known previously for working with the likes of Animal Collective, Prince Rama, and Arcade Fire), who helped produce their debut full-length record, Perdix, which they are currently looking for a label to release.
All in all, it’s not a bad introduction.
VENSAIRE’S EP IS OUT TODAY. THE BAND WILL PLAY AT BROOKLYN BOWL TONIGHT. FOR MORE ON VENSAIRE, VISIT THEIR WEBSITE.
