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THE SYMPATHIES
My World(Petticoat Publishing)
Add date: 5.20.2025
Release date: 5.14.2025
The eclectic roots group The Sympathies, led by Tomas Pagan Motta, has announced the May 14th, 2025 release of their debut album, a work of dark psychedelia, rumbling alt rock, percussive world music and twangy balladry that takes production inspiration from Pink Floyd’s 1971 experimental Meddle and Porno for Pyros' seminal 1996 Good God’s Urge, with the use of homemade samples, analog drum machines and open-tuned guitars. Motta enlisted producer John Michael Schoepf (Night Glitter / Charlie Sexton) and traveled to Austin where Schoepf had built a studio with Loulou Ghelichkhani (Thievery Corporation). Stirring piano played by Dan Creamer (Dancey Jenkins / Shakey Graves) dot the album, along with slimy electric guitars played by Aaron Agre and pedal steel by Jeff Rady (Union Station) and Gary
Newcomb (Bill Callahan)—propelled by drummers John Speice (Black Pumas / Grupo Fantasma) and Keith Butler (Keith Butler Trio). Additional recording took place in Los Angeles, Peoria IL, and Washington, D.C.
Now a LA resident, Motta spent his formative years between Maryland and Cupey, Puerto Rico. Infatuated with music from a young age but discouraged by a strict religious family, Motta jumped from one day job to the next while pursuing his true passion leading unpredictably to working in the Obama White House as a stenographer. After resigning, he released the single “Up and Away,” which was included on NPR’s “Public Radio’s #1 Songs of 2015.” His music has been featured on NPR and Netflix’s Flaked (Will Arnett).