NYC Album Release Show Thursday May 19th @ Rough Trade, Brooklyn (Tickets)
Conceptual artist and musician J.Views is set to release his ground-breaking interactive album 401 Days on Friday May 20th with a special NYC album release show Thursday May 19th at Rough Trade in Brooklyn. Following the release of his critically-acclaimed single “Don’t Pull Away” (featuring Milosh of Rhye), the Brooklyn-based artist shares breakout single “Into The Light” ft. Wild Cub, and announces details of a special edition vinyl package complete with a lush 40-page collector’s edition hardcover companion piece.
401 Days is an interactive album that was made in real time as J.Views shared every demo, lyric line, melody, on the way to completing the songs, inviting fan participation in the step-by-step making of the album over the course of 401 days via his Cannes Lion Winning website. You can track the creation of any song – including the new-wave-inspired, synth-driven new single “Into The Light” ft. the rapturous vocals of Nashville-based Wild Cub – through the website: from its inception (“I started a beat that I really liked, based on aKarate Kid sample,” shares J.Views) through various steps of the creative process and on to completion.
The album – featuring collaborations with Gotye, Manu Delgado, Kelli Scarr, and the first-ever heartbeat controlled music video – emerges from the digital realm and into the physical in a breathtakingly detailed vinyl package and book, following up J.Views’ Grammy-nominated art for his 2012 “Rivers and Homes” LP.
The physical incarnation of 401 Days includes the full album specially mastered for vinyl by Matt Colton (James Blake, Peter Gabriel, Brian Eno), and a stunning hardcover companion piece. The 40-page book is an art project unto itself. Made of globally-sourced materials “to achieve a very specific crunchiness that also exists in the music” explains J.Views, it includes map coordinates from the varying locations in which the songs were created and select images from the artist’s’ 401-day journey.
The Grammy Nominated New York-based songwriter, producer, and visual artist creates multilayered songs that blend raw elements with electronic music through his use of analog tapes, recordings of nature, and often, sounds sent by his audience. J.Views’ work has been presented in Victoria and Albert Museum London, The New Museum New-York, and Digital Art Festival Taipei. The DNA Project and #AlmostForgot interactive video were developed by Hello Monday, known for their work with NASA, The Guggenheim & more.
“…full-blooded heat, evoking what would happen if Sade met a caffeinated Air, a sublime voice floating easily on a ballast of clever instrumental touches.” – PITCHFORK
“gentle strings and dancing harp lines,…so uncomplicatedly sweet” – THE FADER
” direct, striking love songs that sound like classics the instant you hear them.” – DUMMY
Los Angeles-based Rhye, made their mark on the radar last year with their debut ‘Open’ EP and critically lauded single, “The Fall”, called “one of the most beautiful heartbreak songs” of 2012 by the Fader and receiving Pitchfork’s Best New Musicaccolade. In anticipation of the release of their debut album, Woman coming March 5th on Innovative Leisure / Loma Vista / Republic, Rhye are excited to announce their first US tour dates, cover art and track listing for Woman, along with a new video for their song “Open”.
In working withDanish director Daniel Kragh-Jacobsen on the nostalgia-inducing video for “The Fall”, Rhye decided to revisit the themes and questions proposed with the same director in a new video for their chill-inducing song “Open”. With Kragh-Jacobsen at the helm to create an extension, or rather second chapter of the narrative in context of the album, Manuel Alberto Claro (Melancholia), was recruited as DP, giving the video the same colors, landscape and stylistic look of “The Fall”. Rhye set out avoid the cookie cutter artist-as-narrator music video and again create a short film to which “Open” could serve as the soundtrack. This time around, we see a young woman teetering between her carefree youth and the challenges of adult life and love. As the bike from “The Fall” became symbolic for the lead character’s inner-quest for happiness, here a reoccurring kite leads the main character to a surprise appearance from some familiar faces.
Rhye Tour Dates
4/01/13 Mon LOS ANGELES, CA Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever Cemetary
4/03/13 Wed SAN FRANCISCO, CA Bimbo’s 365 Club
4/11/13 Thu CHICAGO, IL Schubas
4/13/13 Sat TORONTO, ON Great Hall
4/14/13 Sun MONTREAL, QC Cabaret du Mile End
4/16/13 Tue BOSTON, MA Sinclair
4/17/13 Wed NEW YORK, NY Le Poisson Rouge
4/18/13 Thu WASHINGTON, DC Sixth & I Historic Synagogue (downstairs)
4/20/13 Sat PHILADELPHIA, PA World Cafe Live Upstairs
Musically Amusing 