Tag: seersha

AF 2019 IN REVIEW: The Best of Playing Atlanta

Pip the Pansy may change everything you know about pop music.

There’s only one day left in the decade, y’all. Like it or not, 2020 is almost here. Whether you’re ready to send it out with a bang or trying desperately to figure out where the last twenty years went, there’s no denying: the time has flown, and we’re on the cusp of a brand new decade. 

Time to put some serious thought into those New Year/New Decade Resolutions, huh? 

While you’re working on those resolutions — or just trying to detox after a month of nonstop Christmas music — PLAYING ATLANTA is here to offer a break from the jingling and jangling and remind you that not all music insists that it is, in fact, the most wonderful time of the year. 

Full of sultry melodies, blazing rock ’n roll, and enough swampy Southern soul to call forth the dearly departed of Capricorn, FAME, and Stax, PLAYING ATLANTA has been a joy and an ongoing surprise to write. Over the last year, we’ve explored loss, self-love, and life’s long roads, traveled to Colorado with Sam Burchfield, and brought it all the way back home to witness the soul-stirring rock power of The Pinx. 

All of that in a year, too. Who knows what the new decade will sound like. 

And now, without further ado, PLAYING ATLANTA’s Top 10 of 2019:

10. Lesibu Grand // The Legend of Miranda

Atlanta indie-rock group Lesibu Grand, founded by lead singer Tyler-Simone Molton and bassist John Renaud, blends sharp vocals with a Debbie Harry nonchalance, zesty synth, and new-wave-meets-hip-hop prowess to craft a debut EP that sounds like anything but. Weaving introspective lyrics between tracks like “Miranda,” which tells the story of a loveless suburban marriage launched into out-of-this-world adventures following an alien invasion, The Legend of Miranda is a zingy debut by a band who has already made a name for themselves.

9. The Pinx // “Mercy!”

The Pinx rock… and roll, and boogie-woogie all night long, especially in their latest music video, “Mercy!” Shot in the ballroom of a haunted hotel, The Pinx disturb a few guests and draw listeners out of the mundane with each single, music video, and concert.

Featuring the lead vocals and guitar work of Adam McIntyre, lead guitarist and vocalist Chance McColl, bassist Charles Wiles, and drummer Cayce Buttrey, The Pinx takes rock back to its roots and reminds us all of the true meaning of rock ‘n roll: to break down barriers and get everyone dancing.

8. Victoria Blade // Lo-Fi Love Songs

Actress, filmmaker, indie label co-founder, and singer-songwriter Victoria Blade wear a lot of hats, but she wears them with an incomparably jaunty ease. The Brooklynite-via-Chicago-turned-Atlantian has an uncanny ability to craft an EP that listens more like a diary, chronicling the life and love of a creative nomad. Equal parts studied and effortless, good-natured and introspective, Blade blends lo-fi folk with the sweet sensibility of indie pop, resulting in the breath of fresh air that is Lo-Fi Love Songs.

7. Sarah Zúñiga // “Heart of Mine”

Athens-based, New-York-born, Ecuadorian-and-Nicaraguan singer-songwriter Sarah Zúñiga brings an intimate sensibility to her unique brand of alternative folk, blending sharp observation with the textured poeticism of traditional Spanish folk music. When we last checked in with her, she had released her latest single, “Heart of Mine,” gearing up for a few highly anticipated winter releases.

The stop-you-in-your-tracks single was followed by a two-song EP featuring Fish, What Is Love To You, and the single “I Like Knowing You’re Around,” but there’s something about the deeply personal “Heart of Mine” that I love. Tackling the weighty, often indescribable effect anxiety has on the heart, “Heart of Mine” features Zúñiga’s unique vocal styling and showcases her ability as a songwriter and musician.

6. Sam Burchfield // “Colorado”

Sam Burchfield’s wanderlust-inducing, Appalachian-folk inspired single “Colorado” was the perfect track to usher in autumn (and I’m still listening to it now!). Based in Atlanta but born and raised in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Burchfield returned to his roots and crafted a stunning ode to the natural world – and the breathtaking beauty of Colorado – with this track.

5. Seersha // “Lecture Me”

Atlanta’s chillest electro-pop artist and producer Seersha – aka Kara Revnes – spent two years crafting her latest release, but it was definitely worth the wait. Her seemingly effortless ability to create ambient soundscapes that are equally driving and oh-so-chill is unrivaled, but it was her onstage presence that drew me in from the start. Calm, subdued, and self-assured on stage, she takes that easy confidence with her into the studio, imbuing each song she writes and produces with her own indelible style.

4. Death Mama // High Strangeness

Blues-rock quartet Death Mama is one of the newest – and loudest – players in the rock scene. Committed to a shroud of mystery that envelops the slinky, smoldering sound, the foursome has already made a name for themselves in the Atlanta area. Following the release of two singles, the group dropped their debut album, High Strangeness, featuring seven tracks as jolting as the band’s name.

3. Sarah and the Safe Word // Red Hot & Holy

Atlanta sextet Sarah and the Safe Word had me hooked before I ever heard their music. Their one-line bio – “Jay Gatsby died, we played the funeral.” – wraps the group in their own brand of the operatic, twisted rock ‘n’ roll ethos. Crafting stories that range from a demon-powered car race in “Formula 666” to the swashbuckling battle on the open sea in “Dead Girls Tell No Tales,” the group manages to create a world that’s as outrageous as it is inclusive, a place for anyone and everyone to join in and enjoy the dark, swinging sounds of the 1920s.

2. Cicada Rhythm // Cecilia

Melodic and unassuming, Cicada Rhythm has a way of subtly blending the sweet simplicity of ’60s and ’70s folk music with the hustle and bustle of 21st century life between the slide of fingers on acoustic guitar strings, the swell of a stand-up bass, and crisp harmonic vocals. Featuring bassist Andrea DeMarcus and guitarist Dave Kirslis, Cicada Rhythm has the most down-home sound of any group I’ve heard this year, perfectly showcased in their take of Simon & Garfunkle’s “Cecilia,” the latest installment in their Stuck in My Head cover series.

1. Pip the Pansy // “Siren Song”

Combining haunting piano melodies with fuzzy synth and driving rhythms – and the occasional flute solo – Pip the Pansy dispels every notion I ever had about pop music and replaces it with a lilting, quirky melodicism. Uniquely creative, she has a way of entrancing listeners with the effortlessness of a Greek siren, weaving a hazy dreamworld of myth, magic, and melody.

With a powerful live show and a brand new EP, Love Legends, Pt. 1, Pip the Pansy is proof of the magic of reinvention, a perfect send off into a brand new decade.

 

Keep on rocking, Atlanta – wishing you the happiest of days and a wonderful new year.

PLAYING ATLANTA: Seersha Returns With New Single, “Lecture Me”

It’s been almost two years since Atlanta’s chill electropop artist Seersha – aka Kara Revnes – shared any music with the world, but at long last, she’s back with her latest single, “Lecture Me.”

The singer, songwriter, and producer’s seemingly effort ability to create ambient soundscapes that are equally driving and oh-so-chill is unrivaled, but I was immediately impressed by her ability to draw listeners in while watching her perform live at The Vinyl. Her presence is calm, subdued, and self-assured on stage, and she takes that easy confidence with her into the studio, imbuing each song she writes and produces.

Three days after the release of “Lecture Me,” Revnes sat down with me to talk all things music, Tiger Moms, and dancing across the line between her Korean and Irish roots.

AF: Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with me! This is definitely the world’s most over-asked question, but how did you create the name Seersha? 

KR: Seersha is the phonetic spelling of Saoirse, an Irish/Scottish name that means freedom. All the matriarchs on my dad’s side are Irish, and I thought “Seersha” looked like it could be a K-Pop name…homage to both sides!

AF: How did you get started in music? Was it something you grew up in, or did you grow into it?

KR: A little bit of both, I would say. I remember playing piano in church band starting at age 10. My wonderful Korean “Tiger Mom” strongly encouraged me to stick with piano lessons from age seven to age 18; I’m so grateful to my parents for that gift. I wrote my first songs around age 14. But I never considered music as a possible career until I was 24. I feel like that’s when things really got started for me.

AF: Who do you consider your greatest influence when it comes to writing, creating, and performing music?

KR: Specific to the Seersha project, I would say artists like Grimes and HANA. When I first started producing myself, I was looking for other women who had done the same, and they were beacons of light for me.

AF: Why do you feel driven to create music?

KR: Making music is precious to me. There have been times in my life when I haven’t had space or time to create music, and those were very dark times. I believe that music is about connecting with people, at its core. I create out of my own need to express myself, but always in the hope of connecting with someone else who might not have a way to express what they’re experiencing. I also believe representation is important, so to be a multiracial woman producing and writing on my own feels vital. I do wish I had seen artists and producers like myself when I was younger; I think I may have considered music as a career earlier if that had been the case.

AF: You’re gearing up for the release of your upcoming single, “Lecture Me,” the first in two years. Can you tell us about it? What inspired the song, and how did you know it would be the one you released first?

KR: It kills me that it’s been that long! I’m so excited to release this music. The catalyst for this song came out of a painful situation where I felt pressured to change by someone who was close to me at the time. I’ve always been a bit of a rebel and, really, that’s what this song is about. I wanted the first single from the forthcoming EP to be upbeat but also a little angsty. “Lecture Me” jumped out from the get-go.

AF: What’s your writing process like?

KR: My process is not having a process. Sometimes I will make a track and write on top of it. Sometimes I start with a melody (they usually come to me in the shower or in the car) and go from there, either into production mode or just building an arrangement on guitar or piano. Or I might sit down with an instrument and start writing. I have a bunch of notes on my phone of one-liners and short poems that could lend themselves to songs.

AF: What do you consider to be the greatest challenge you’ve faced in the music industry yet? The greatest victory?

KR: [The greatest challenge was] figuring out how to break through the crowded media landscape to connect with new fans. Victory? Teaching myself how to produce. It will be a lifelong learning journey but I’m really proud of how far I’ve come.

AF: You’re a woman in an industry that, while changing, is still heavily dominated by men. What has your experience been? How have you used your platform to help drive change?

KR: I feel so fortunate that I have not had any significant negative experiences with men in music-creating settings. I have been very frustrated at the kinds of questions I get from men on the business side of the music industry—questions like, “Do you have kids?” or “How old are you?” that I know they wouldn’t be asking their male colleagues. I try to work with female engineers when I can, and to support my fellow female artists and producers. I think the best way women can drive industry change is to keep working, creating, supporting, and advocating for each other.

AF: The Atlanta music scene is booming, and you’re such a well-known and active part of it! What is your favorite aspect of the Atlanta music scene?

KR: Ah, I’m blushing! I would say the diversity of artists and genres. Atlanta is known for hip-hop and R&B, of course, but I know artists making straight up rock and roll, chill electronic, dream pop, indie rock, ambient, and experimental music…the list goes on.

AF: What’s the best place for a great show in Atlanta?

KR: My favorite venues are Aisle 5, 529, and Terminal West.

AF: Last one! What’s next for Seersha?

KR: “Lecture Me” came out on June 7; look out for the video in a few weeks. You can expect at least one more single and video this year. I’m working on some local shows this year, with a goal to tour in 2020.