Paper Tongues plays for the people. Fusing massive rock n'
roll melodies with fiery hip hop beats, the Charlotte band conjures
an infectious, incendiary sound on their A&M/Octone debut,
released March 30, 2010. Embracing elements of rock, funk, rap and
soul, these seven individuals have created something you haven't
before. It's music for dancing, crying, loving and living. Paper
Tongues—Aswan North, Devin Forbes, Cody Blackler, Joey Signa,
Clayton Simon, Jordan Hardee and Danny Santell—are a collective of
artists, and this record is their first masterpiece.
Paper Tongues' eclectic sound ranges from bombastic songs like "For
the People" that can light up a packed arena or a dance floor,
while the soulful electronica-infused "Trinity" is inspiring and
invigorating. Guitarist Devin Forbes comments, "Our music is
extremely eclectic because we're all coming from different places.
Aswan grew up with hip hop, Clayton grew up with electronica and I
grew up with rock, but it all comes together fluidly in Paper
Tongues."
Paper Tongues was officially born in 2007 on the streets of
Charlotte, North Carolina. Lead singer Aswan North, helped found
the “Inprov Music Experience”, a weekly event where musicians
played for the homeless at a main intersection in the middle of the
city. The current band lineup congregated at uptown Charlotte
weekly, slowly developing a bond. Aswan started cultivating his
song writing and presence during those shows. He brought those
street sounds and ideas to producers in Los Angeles. It didn't take
long for Aswan's collaborators to feel the power and magnitude
behind the ideas of his music. This caught Cody and Devin's
attention. They had been formally playing as Paper Tongues. With
Cody, Devin, Jordan and Clayton's help, Aswan quickly set out to
find other members for this entity. As the songs sprung to life,
Paper Tongues was reborn with the same vision to impact rock n'
roll with a new sound.
A wide variety of influences inform Aswan's vibrant, vivacious
vocal style, which falls somewhere between Al Green's Sultry
falsetto and Steve Perry’s uplifting bravado. "Kool and the Gang
and Grandmaster Flash were hugely influential. Anything out there
with a great hook grabs my attention. As a kid, there was a ton of
country music around me—Ricky Skaggs, Kenny Rogers, Hank Williams
Jr., Loretta Lyn, and Conway Twitty. I took all that in too, and it
helped me write lyrics."
Working with producers Brian West (Nelly Furtado, K'Naan, Bela
Fleck), Mark Endert (Maroon 5, Gavin DeGraw, Madonna), John Fields
(Switchfoot, Jimmy Eat World), Billy Hume (Ying Yang Twins, Bone
Crusher, David Banner) and up-and-coming producer, Nicolas
Balachandran. Paper Tongues crafted an album that's bustling with
energy. However, there's a deeper purpose for the band. Keyboardist
Cody Blackler explains, "It's rock music for sure, but we also want
to bring something new.”
Paper Tongues want to work from the inside out too. Aswan
continues, "I wouldn't want to start a revolution. I believe things
only change from the inside out. I don't feel that we can change
much unless we're willing to join hands with people who have
already been bleeding. We want to do something new and fresh with
the tools that already exist so the people who built those tools
respect and honor us as their nephews." There's no doubt they
will.
Ultimately, for Aswan and Co. Paper Tongues is a way of life. "We
want fans to walk away from our music with that good feeling. We
think our music can bring healing for a group of people, a society,
bad politics and artists that feel hopeless. Paper Tongues' music
should heal you and make you take a chance again."
Welcome to rock n' roll's best hope for evolution. Open up for
Paper Tongues.
—Rick Florino
© 2010 Created by radarhifi.
