America, get ready for Love Inks. This “dream pop” trio from Austin, Texas is prepping for the release of their debut album, E.S.P., due out May 10th on Hell, Yes!/City Slang Records by playing at this year’s SXSW festival in their home town, followed by a more extensive tour this Spring. First single, “Blackeye” is due out March 8th and is a perfect sample of what the band has to offer. Vocalist Sherry LeBlanc poignantly delivers on this debut single, singing over electric guitar and an “old drum machine.”
“The combined sound is minimalist dream-pop; imbued with raw emotion, sexuality, and splashes of electronic color. Focus is placed primarily on the voice, which is direct and honest and real – no frills, tears through extravagant side roads, or indulgent solos necessary.”
This is the sound of summer. Certain styles of music evoke certain seasons and Love Inks‘ “Blackeye” definitely gives off a warm, breezy vibe that I can totally imagine playing in a waterfront bar somewhere on the East Coast. Self-recorded in Texas and mixed by a friend, the album was clearly a labor of love for the band.
“The songs featured on E.S.P. were written to showcase the essence of emotion behind each instrument. It started as an exercise and became the only way to do it, forever. With the guitar and bass, Love Inks found there is a way to drop it perfectly into the song, in between everything, so that the vocals can exist in their own world, floating independently above the song.”
Listen to “Blackeye” below and download the single on iTunes when it’s released next week, March 8th. Oh, and look out for a “Blackeye” music video, coming soon.
LOVE INKS “Blackeye” by HellYes
SXSW Tour Dates:
March 14//Tequila Mockingbird Day Party//Tequila Mockingbird Studio//4 PM
March 16//SXSW Showcase//Barbarella//12:00 AM
March 19//Hell, Yes! + Art Fag + Impose Magazine Showcase//Long Branch//12:00 AM