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Transcript of Wwts Press
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8/8/2019 Wwts Press
1/1
WE WERE THE STATES
RASA
CHICKEN RANCH RECORDSNOV. 9TH, 2010
CONTACT:
JOSH BLOOM
FANATICPROMOTION.COM
WE WERE THE STATES
PHOTO CREDIT: JT SUMNER
TRACK LISTING:
01. Rasa
02. End of Us
03. Gold
04. Daft Since '77
05. (I'm Not My) 808
06. Don't Ask Why
07. Paris Green
08. Iris & I
09. Queens
10. I Need A Friend
11. Under The Hand
12. Hot Waves
We Were The States had nearly completed the re-cording of its new album Rasa when the Nashville
floods came. With two feet of water in the base-
ment of Coat of Arms studio, the band went from
euphoric to discouraged, thinking the record they hadworked on for two years would be indefinitely de-
railed.
Regrouping at Nashvilles Club Roar studio, theMurfreesboro-based five-piece quickly prepped for
very long hours on a very limited budget, but ulti-
mately persevered. The resulting album captures all
of the energy and precise abandon of the bands
much-loved live show while also reflecting the real-
istic frustrations of their situation. Its a tense record,
but still a joy to listen to.
Working with producers Jesse Newport and DanielFeese, We Were The States vocalist Justin Webb
was encouraged to approach the songs he wrote forRasa like he had never heard them before. Webbexplains that Feese gave him the freedom to try allof the ideas he had in his head.
A specific example from the record would be DaftSince 77, a song I had the words for, but didntknow how I wanted to hit on the chorus. In its
completed form, the chorus explodes just how its
meant to, expressing Webbs restlessness perfectlyamid just the right amount of rock n roll sheen.
For as easy as that chorus comes, its surprising to
find out that when Webb first met guitarist JayStoyanov and formed We Were The States, he never
even planned on becoming the bands singer. I
only wanted to play guitar, Webb says. I eventu-ally dropped guitar all together tho -- when we play
live, I only sing.
The band is the better for it ultimately, with Webballowed the freedom to perform as a true front man.
On Rasa, his captivating vocals are unhampered
above the mature, layered, and just plain big sound
that the band has achieved on the album -- a dis-
tinctive step forward from its debut record. I know
it took me a few years, but with this album I really
felt comfortable being myself, Webb says.
We Were The States is back to feeling euphoric andis ready to play live again. Wired Magazine previ-ously said of the bands show that These guys
sounded so good that they cut through the din of
South By Southwest from 100 yards away... These
guys are looking forward to continuing to leave thatimpression with the release of Rasa on Austins
Chicken Ranch Records this fall.
We Were The States is:Benjamin P. Moore - GuitarJustin Webb - VocalsTyler Coppage - DrumsJay Stoyanov - GuitarWill Pettus - Bass