The Chorades “Venus”

The unique Latin title of The Chordaes’ critically acclaimed 2017 EP In Itinere – translating literally to “during the journey” – perfectly reflected the sense of musical and emotional searching at the heart of the project. While still exploring that musical sweet spot where alternative indie and soulful contemporary soft rock merge, the NYC based band goes even deeper on their latest collection, reflecting on their lives as young millennials finding their way in today’s America. Driven by the insightful and wisdom filled songs of frontman Leo Sawikin, their upcoming follow-up EP What We Breathe In (due early 2019)  thoughtfully tackles this creeping sensation of powerlessness – both in the world at large, as well as in personal relationships. 

The collection’s infectious, soaring lead single “Venus,” set for release October 30, is a song about longing for a person who is out of reach but that holds all the power over one’s heart. Leo says, “It’s about a girl I fell for back in college, who years later became my neighbor. The idea of the song is that like two neighboring planets, we are locked in place by forces greater than we are. It’s about being in limbo with someone and being powerless to move closer or further from them.”

On the opening title track, The Chordaes – whose lineup includes founding member/drummer Ethan Glenn and keyboardist Dan Cobert – create a true anthem for this generation, promising that while today’s political leaders may be able to strip away people’s rights and personal freedoms, they can never steal hope, love and the intangibles that make life worth living. Helping to create the song’s powerful sound is mixer Kevin Killen, whose countless credits include one of rock’s greatest anthems, U2’s “Pride (In the Name of Love).”

In the soul-inflected “Got To Get Out” – a track reminiscent of The Animals’ classic “We Gotta Get Out of This Place” or a song by one of Leo’s idols, Carole King – the narrator dreams of escaping the polluted city to a pristine countryside before it’s plundered. The theme of disillusionment hits bottom on “All My Life,” with its bitter lyrics ironically set against an upbeat, McCartneyesque musical arrangement, featuring a bright horn section. That vision is reversed on “This is How It Ends,” told from the perspective of a co-conspirator who knows his time is up and the price for his crimes must be paid. The track’s timeless sound showcases the EP’s Wrecking Crew-inspired recording process, with most instruments captured live with minimal overdubs.

The launch of The Chordaes was the culmination of years of musical camaraderie between Leo and Ethan,, which began in seventh grade at The Churchill School in Manhattan and first flourished when they formed the eclectic pop band Music Elective (named after the class they met in) in their teens. The Chordaes got off to a promising start with their 2016 debut album, Touch the Ground, earning the praise of Elmore Magazine, which cited their “diverse array of sounds and ideas, inspired by the freewheeling experimentation of Radiohead and late period Beatles while retaining a strictly pop essence.” Deli Magazine voted them Best New Alt Rock Artist. 

As they continue to grow their fan base with regular live performances at NYC hotspots like Rockwood Music Hall and Mercury Lounge, the critical praise for their music has rolled in nonstop. Substream wrote of In Itinere that it was “packed with some of the best low key, guilty pleasure pop-rock jams of the year. Best of all is a little gem called ‘Something New.'” All Things Music perfectly captured the essence of The Chordaes in their review: “Burning slowly like the first stages of a fire…the New York outfit blends the raw, candid lyricism of early alternative rock with the expertise of classic Americana and doesn’t spill a drop.”