by Marcella Ortega
Daily Lobo
In the past six years, Soular has come a long way from recording demos and performing in Albuquerque clubs.
"I think we knew how to write songs, but I don't think we knew how to write together," lead vocalist Marsh Shamburger said. "We are a result of our collective individual personalities coming together. When we have something to say, we say it artistically or musically. What stays with people are songs, and we try to keep songwriting our focus and not image, because that is here today and gone tomorrow."
The experimental-alternative band will perform tonight at the Launchpad at 618 Central Ave. S.W. for the release of its first full-length album, Love Crash Heal. Shamburger said the band signed with Astonish Entertainment last spring. He said major labels offered contracts, but the band wanted to remain independent to preserve its artistic freedom.
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"We just felt that their (Astonish Entertainment) vision was forward-thinking," he said. "We thought, direction-wise, it was a good way to go for us."
Shamburger said Love Crash, Heal was recorded in three states - Oregon, Oklahoma and Idaho - while on tour.
He said the band recorded in a cabin while in Idaho.
"We wanted somewhere that was kind of remote," he said. "We kept the process superorganic. We tried not to be in a hurry, and we just laid it down."
Shamburger said the band members are blindfolded on the inside of the album, which shows how people go through life's lessons blind.
"The record is about the ebb and flow of relationships in life," he said. "You love, there is tragedy and then peace."
Shamburger said his friend, Nathan Price, painted the artwork for Love Crash Heal as he listened to the album.
"He painted the front and the back first, and he liked the theme of the blindfold," Shamburger said.
Shamburger said the band worked with director of photography Shawn Kim on the music video for "So, This Is the Way It Feels." He said Kim, who has worked with bands and artists such as the Killers, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Beck and Paul McCartney, provided his services at a low cost because he liked the band's music.
"We just loved the ideas, the colors and just the way he makes things feel," Shamburger said. "It was fun. We felt like rock stars. It makes us look a lot cooler than we really are."
Shamburger said the band will tour the U.K. later this year and return to the studio to record new songs. He said the band will perform in Albuquerque at the Hyperactive Music Festival in May for the release of its music video. Tonight, it's back to a club in Albuquerque.
"I'm looking forward to pre-releasing the record in our hometown and playing for a city that made it possible for us to be a band," Shamburger said.
Soular
Launchpad
618 Central Ave. S.W.
Today
7 p.m.
$10
All ages
