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VOXTROT
"Another Fire" b/w "New Romance" (Single)(Cult Hero)
Add date: 11.14.23
Release date: 11.10.23
Links:
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Bandcamp
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Official Website
Spotify
Tidal
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Texas indie-pop/rock group Voxtrot release “New World Romance,” their second single since reuniting. “New World Romance” is a triumphant return to form, evolving from a moody verse built upon a motorik NEU!-esque krautrock beat, into an anthemic chorus replete with soulful horns and strings that call to mind early 70’s landmarks such as MSFB and Nick Drake’s Bryer Layter. Like previous single “Another Fire,” “New World Romance” brings the energy and hooks of classic Voxtrot into a new era.
Voxtrot was embraced far and wide in the early aughts blog era, initially with a pair of EPs: Raised By Wolves and Mothers, Sisters, Daughters & Wives, self-released on the band’s own Cult Hero Records. As expeditiously as the band was built up, they were pulled apart, calling it quits in 2010 shortly after their Playlouder/Beggars debut LP.
While the members went on with their individual lives, Voxtrot’s legacy grew. A new legion of fans discovered their music posthumously, many too young to have known about them while they were originally active.
And then, a new chapter...
“I had a dream where we were onstage and it was really positive,” remembers frontman Ramesh Srivastava in 2022. “There was such a strong and palpable feeling of love in my heart that when I woke up, it was still with me. I switched on my phone and started looking at things tagged with “Voxtrot” on social media – teenagers covering our songs, people with Voxtrot tattoos – and just went down this internet rabbit hole that made me realize how much love there still is for the band. For the first time since we broke up, it seemed very, very obvious that we should do this.”
With that, Voxtrot reunited, releasing two archival vinyl compilations (Early Music - a collection of their first two EPs - and Cut From The Stone: Rarities & B-Sides) in conjunction with a largely sold-out US tour.
At the beginning of 2023, all five original members (Srivastava, Jason Chronis, Matt Simon, Mitch Calvert and Jared Van Fleet) convened in the little town of Lockhart, Texas to break ground on new material and see if the spark was still there. And it was.
Returning to their DIY roots, the band self-recorded and produced “Another Fire”, bringing Erik Wofford (from their early EPs) onboard to mix. Says Ramesh of the song, “‘Another Fire’ is about personal and universal regeneration. Hearing it come to life through my bandmates’ contributions was thrilling - just like old times, but unmistakably new.”
● The first new music from Voxtrot in 14 years
● Self-released on the band's Cult Hero Records
● Their single “The Start of Something” is largely regarded as an indie classic, garnering over 58m streams in its lifetime
● Singer Ramesh Srivastava has co-writing credits w/ HAIM, Rostam
● Ramesh contributed to Brandon Stosuy’s forthcoming Sad Happens: An Anthology of Tears (Simon & Schuster) alongside Phoebe Bridgers, Matt Berninger, etc.
● Bassist Jason Chronis is also half of Tele Novella (Kill Rock Stars)
● Ramesh and Jason contributed “Birdsong” to For The Birds: The Birdsong Project, Vol II, curated by music supervisor Randall Poster (The Royal Tenenbaums, Skyfall, The Wolf of Wall Street) alongside Elvis Costello, The Flaming Lips, Florence Welch, etc.
About "New World Romance":
The initial inspiration for “New World Romance” came from the 2015 documentary B-Movie: Lust & Sound in West-Berlin 1979-1989, which paints a compelling portrait of the underground scene there during the highly creative era that preceded reunification. Having spent my own formative chapter in Berlin, the film activated my nostalgia and got me thinking about the ephemeral power of zeitgeist, as well as the uncanny way in which life continually presents us with new adventures.
The nature of adventure itself changes as we progress through life — the lust for meeting new people, discovering new scenes and embracing new cities does not fade entirely, but is eventually eclipsed by an inner call to find purpose and deeper meaning. This focus shift in my own life has been compounded by the introduction of a significant romantic relationship, the cultivation and exploration of which feels like my next big adventure. Whatever one’s particular circumstance, there are always more discoveries to be had, more wild roses to bloom.
Arrangement-wise, this song had a similar trajectory to “Another Fire”, in that its completed form is a significant evolution from its demo state. I love the shifting moods and interlacing hooks in my bandmates’ performances, as well as the bittersweet triumph of the strings and horns. I don’t think there’s a concise word for this in the English language, but the mood it evokes in me is: honoring the past while releasing it, so that we can receive what comes next with an open heart.
About "Another Fire":
I started writing this song in the summer of 2021— the world was still alternating through periods of lockdown and I was splitting a small studio space with a friend, located in an industrial park at the northern edge of Austin. It was hot as hell and in this huge, relatively empty warehouse, I felt like the last man on Earth.
In terms of overall effect I knew that I wanted the song to begin mysteriously and end triumphantly. Once I started playing with lyric ideas, it became clear that its main subject would be regeneration, a subject hot on many people’s minds at the time. As it has been said before, life since 2020 has felt deeply characterized by cycles of change, destruction, rebirth…regeneration.
I had recently read something in the Upanishads (Hindu religious-philosophical texts) about all things ultimately returning to the eternal fire; this prompted the song’s title and refrain. Being that reincarnation is one of the central pillars of these texts, I liked the idea of someone having experienced something similarly challenging (to the pandemic and concurrent events) in another life, and therefore being the right person to deal with it in this life.
A few months later, I happened upon a book about the history of coffee culture, which described the emergence of coffee shops in post-WW2 Britain (most notably the 2i’s Coffee Bar in London) and their role in the birth of British rock n roll. How alive and buzzing the scene must have been, simmering in tandem with a nation coming back to life! This image felt corollary with our current reality and inspired the second verse of the song.
Lastly there were the births and rebirths of my personal life: of Voxtrot, of a new romantic relationship, of what feels — professionally, spiritually and psychologically — like a new era altogether. Another Fire was the first song in 14 years (!) that we arranged as a band, and hearing it come to life through my bandmates’ contributions was thrilling. Just like old times, but unmistakably new.
Apple Music
Bandcamp
Official Website
Spotify
Tidal
Tiktok
Youtube
Texas indie-pop/rock group Voxtrot release “New World Romance,” their second single since reuniting. “New World Romance” is a triumphant return to form, evolving from a moody verse built upon a motorik NEU!-esque krautrock beat, into an anthemic chorus replete with soulful horns and strings that call to mind early 70’s landmarks such as MSFB and Nick Drake’s Bryer Layter. Like previous single “Another Fire,” “New World Romance” brings the energy and hooks of classic Voxtrot into a new era.
Voxtrot was embraced far and wide in the early aughts blog era, initially with a pair of EPs: Raised By Wolves and Mothers, Sisters, Daughters & Wives, self-released on the band’s own Cult Hero Records. As expeditiously as the band was built up, they were pulled apart, calling it quits in 2010 shortly after their Playlouder/Beggars debut LP.
While the members went on with their individual lives, Voxtrot’s legacy grew. A new legion of fans discovered their music posthumously, many too young to have known about them while they were originally active.
And then, a new chapter...
“I had a dream where we were onstage and it was really positive,” remembers frontman Ramesh Srivastava in 2022. “There was such a strong and palpable feeling of love in my heart that when I woke up, it was still with me. I switched on my phone and started looking at things tagged with “Voxtrot” on social media – teenagers covering our songs, people with Voxtrot tattoos – and just went down this internet rabbit hole that made me realize how much love there still is for the band. For the first time since we broke up, it seemed very, very obvious that we should do this.”
With that, Voxtrot reunited, releasing two archival vinyl compilations (Early Music - a collection of their first two EPs - and Cut From The Stone: Rarities & B-Sides) in conjunction with a largely sold-out US tour.
At the beginning of 2023, all five original members (Srivastava, Jason Chronis, Matt Simon, Mitch Calvert and Jared Van Fleet) convened in the little town of Lockhart, Texas to break ground on new material and see if the spark was still there. And it was.
Returning to their DIY roots, the band self-recorded and produced “Another Fire”, bringing Erik Wofford (from their early EPs) onboard to mix. Says Ramesh of the song, “‘Another Fire’ is about personal and universal regeneration. Hearing it come to life through my bandmates’ contributions was thrilling - just like old times, but unmistakably new.”
● The first new music from Voxtrot in 14 years
● Self-released on the band's Cult Hero Records
● Their single “The Start of Something” is largely regarded as an indie classic, garnering over 58m streams in its lifetime
● Singer Ramesh Srivastava has co-writing credits w/ HAIM, Rostam
● Ramesh contributed to Brandon Stosuy’s forthcoming Sad Happens: An Anthology of Tears (Simon & Schuster) alongside Phoebe Bridgers, Matt Berninger, etc.
● Bassist Jason Chronis is also half of Tele Novella (Kill Rock Stars)
● Ramesh and Jason contributed “Birdsong” to For The Birds: The Birdsong Project, Vol II, curated by music supervisor Randall Poster (The Royal Tenenbaums, Skyfall, The Wolf of Wall Street) alongside Elvis Costello, The Flaming Lips, Florence Welch, etc.
About "New World Romance":
The initial inspiration for “New World Romance” came from the 2015 documentary B-Movie: Lust & Sound in West-Berlin 1979-1989, which paints a compelling portrait of the underground scene there during the highly creative era that preceded reunification. Having spent my own formative chapter in Berlin, the film activated my nostalgia and got me thinking about the ephemeral power of zeitgeist, as well as the uncanny way in which life continually presents us with new adventures.
The nature of adventure itself changes as we progress through life — the lust for meeting new people, discovering new scenes and embracing new cities does not fade entirely, but is eventually eclipsed by an inner call to find purpose and deeper meaning. This focus shift in my own life has been compounded by the introduction of a significant romantic relationship, the cultivation and exploration of which feels like my next big adventure. Whatever one’s particular circumstance, there are always more discoveries to be had, more wild roses to bloom.
Arrangement-wise, this song had a similar trajectory to “Another Fire”, in that its completed form is a significant evolution from its demo state. I love the shifting moods and interlacing hooks in my bandmates’ performances, as well as the bittersweet triumph of the strings and horns. I don’t think there’s a concise word for this in the English language, but the mood it evokes in me is: honoring the past while releasing it, so that we can receive what comes next with an open heart.
About "Another Fire":
I started writing this song in the summer of 2021— the world was still alternating through periods of lockdown and I was splitting a small studio space with a friend, located in an industrial park at the northern edge of Austin. It was hot as hell and in this huge, relatively empty warehouse, I felt like the last man on Earth.
In terms of overall effect I knew that I wanted the song to begin mysteriously and end triumphantly. Once I started playing with lyric ideas, it became clear that its main subject would be regeneration, a subject hot on many people’s minds at the time. As it has been said before, life since 2020 has felt deeply characterized by cycles of change, destruction, rebirth…regeneration.
I had recently read something in the Upanishads (Hindu religious-philosophical texts) about all things ultimately returning to the eternal fire; this prompted the song’s title and refrain. Being that reincarnation is one of the central pillars of these texts, I liked the idea of someone having experienced something similarly challenging (to the pandemic and concurrent events) in another life, and therefore being the right person to deal with it in this life.
A few months later, I happened upon a book about the history of coffee culture, which described the emergence of coffee shops in post-WW2 Britain (most notably the 2i’s Coffee Bar in London) and their role in the birth of British rock n roll. How alive and buzzing the scene must have been, simmering in tandem with a nation coming back to life! This image felt corollary with our current reality and inspired the second verse of the song.
Lastly there were the births and rebirths of my personal life: of Voxtrot, of a new romantic relationship, of what feels — professionally, spiritually and psychologically — like a new era altogether. Another Fire was the first song in 14 years (!) that we arranged as a band, and hearing it come to life through my bandmates’ contributions was thrilling. Just like old times, but unmistakably new.