“Wide awake, and I’m chasing after you”—exclaims a breathless Jessica Dobson, singer and multi-instrumentalist of Seattle’s Deep Sea Diver. The lyric is one that best encapsulates the front woman’s bravado and fearlessness which dominates Deep Sea Diver’s forthcoming sophomore LP, Secrets—Out February 19th on their own High Beam records. In their desire to explore dualities, Deep Sea Diver urgently and deliberately move you from rock experimentation to dreamy soundscapes, Kraut-esque drum and bass grooves to angular danci-ness, and full fledged orchestration to bare bones simplicity. Dobson has the voice and authority to tie it all together, and turn it into a cohesive unit that soars yet remains beautifully delicate and intimate. Live, the band has received acclaim for their festival-ready power and presence, Jessica’s larger than life guitar hooks, and their cascading layers that build upon each other until they reach their explosive peak.

In late 2013, Dobson put in her notice to former Shins boss, James Mercer, in order to give full attention to her own musical vision. Mercer agreed, saying “I’ll miss you, but I give you my full support. You’ve gotta pursue Deep Sea Diver”. While much was gleaned from the experiences in her many years spent playing with top tier musical outfits (Beck, the Shins, Spoon, Yeah Yeah Yeahs,) something was brewing that demanded a sort of dedication and alertness that couldn’t be fully engaged while moonlighting as a side-woman for those greats. “Good thing too," noted Stereogum, "because Jessica is an incredible front woman.”

Recorded with Darrell Thorpe (Radiohead, Beck) and Luke Vanderpol at the Bank in CA, Jessica and band (comprised of husband Peter Mansen on drums, Garrett Gue on bass, and Elliot Jackson on guitar and synth) have together created an album that is colorful, energetic, and varied—with an emotional depth and pulsating charge that demands the listeners full attention. As she and Mercer sing together on Creatures of Comfort, “I’m in my own world”, the listener is brought in, and very content that this is the world that she has chosen and invited others into. Secrets is an album you will not want to keep to yourself.

“It’s a tightrope act with Lost Lander, a tension created by catchy loops, and layered 
lyrics, either of which are all too easy to get lost in. What started out as a project founded by singer/songwriter Matt Sheehy and producer Brent Knopf of Menomena, has evolved into a strong four piece band, with a rich, rounded sound.” - KEXP

Portland, OR’s own Lost Lander is very happy to announce that Medallion, their second full length record, will be released on February 24th. A short run of Pacific Northwest dates in celebration of the announcement begins on Friday in Enterprise, OR. Seattle bastion of independent radio KEXP was gracious enough to premiere a cut from the record to coincide with the announcement. “Walking on a Wire” can now be heard via http://blog.kexp.org/2014/12/03/song-premiere-lost-lander-walking-on-a-wire/

If DRRT, Lost Lander’s first independently released album, was about the confluence of nature and technology, Medallion, its latest, concerns dualities - experiences of love and loss, impermanence and longevity, death and rebirth.The confrontation of these dualities resulted in a set of songs that explore “more human territory,” according to Matt Sheehy, a professional forester who spends his days in Oregon’s immense wooded expanse. The coming-apart of Sheehy’s marriage engagement and nearly concurrent loss of his mother, followed closely by the blooming of a relationship with longtime friend and bandmate Sarah Fennell, heavily influenced the lyrics on Medallion. “Nothing lasts forever,” Matt observes. “And the seeds are already planted for the change that’s inevitable.”

Sheehy took the seeds of the songs into “the idea factory/workshop that is (producer) Brent Knopf’s (Menomena) brain,” he relates, “where he spits out all the bells and whistles you can hang on those structures.”

Medallion is all about wrenching joy from despair, of finding the permanent within the temporary. “This record is an exclamation of love and loss,” Fennell declares. “It’s emotional, dealing with life in an exuberant way, even if it’s sad, hard, wonderful, and crazy. We’re all just lucky to be here to experience it.”

Hosannas have managed to amass a sizable following along the West Coast over the last four years with their intense tour ethic and consistent presence in the Portland house show scene. Brothers Brandon and Richard Laws grew up listening to Kraftwerk and The Beach Boys and these disparate influences are at the core of the trio's haunting vocal harmonies, rich verbal imagery, and unpredictable guitar and synth soundscapes. The band recently recruited keyboardist Grace Peters and is currently working on a new full-length. You can check out the band's first two albums and their most recent EP at their Bandcamp.

What people are saying about Hosannas:

"The best, most unfuckwithable avant-pop I've heard in a while..." – Portland Mercury

"Lush, melodic songs built upon echoing acoustics." – Willamette Week

"Soft, beautiful music that pulsates, drones and spikes." – Fuck Bad Music