#anxious utopia

[mygoldmask]

Stream our new album ‘ANXIOUS UTOPIA’ over at EARMILK and pre-order now via Bandcamp.

[mygoldmask]

'Dissipate' official video - directed by Craig Bass at Motion Source - produced and mixed by Sanford Parker with a new vocal mix by Balthazar de Ley - ANXIOUS UTOPIA out March 4th on Moon Sounds Records

[ellenwoodepblog]

My Gold Mask - Anxious Utopia Out Friday March 4th, 2016 via Moon Sounds Records - Ellenwood

My Gold Mask - Anxious Utopia Out Friday March 4th, 2016 via Moon Sounds Records

The Chicago based indie electronic trio My Gold Mask will be releasing their upcoming album, Anxious Utopia on March 4th, 2016 via Moon Sounds Records. Anxious Utopia is the band’s first release since 2013’s Leave Me Midnight, but their ability to create exhilarating pop songs with dazzling guitar riffs, pulsing synths and a driving beat all wrapped up in Gretta Rochelle’s sparkling vocals will have you nostalgic for the days when kids used to actually dance at indie rock shows.

My Gold Mask will be hosting an album release show at Lincoln Hall in Chicago on March 5th and will soon be announcing multiple dates in Austin as an Official SXSW Showcasing artist. Please feel free to get in touch with all artist inquiries and interview requests as well as requests for physical copies of the CD or pre-order links.

ANXIOUS UTOPIA – TRACKLISTING 01. Forgive Again 02. Battles 03. Connect 04. Dangerous 05. Insomnia 06. Dissipate 07. Explode 08. Gone Gone Gone 09. Cautionary Lives 10. Lipstick Bruises 11. In Diamond White 12. Severed

After leaving Brooklyn, NY and Baton Rouge, LA respectively, My Gold Mask founding members Jack Armondo (Guitar, Vocals) and Gretta Rochelle (Vocals, Percussion) both took life detours in Albuquerque, NM. Despite running in the same social circles there, it wasn’t until they moved to Chicago IL, and had a chance encounter at a rooftop party, that the two finally met. The conversation quickly turned to music and has stayed there ever since. In 2009, seeing the completion of a couple of short lived rock projects involving other members, the musical couple withdrew themselves and dedicated their time to experimenting with new sounds and broadening their artistic voices. This time away from the touring circuit lead to the birth of a home recorded experiment called My Gold Mask. The results were two well-received EPs in 2010: A Thousand Voices and A Million Miles (From Where We Were Last). Singles like “Violet Eyes” and “Ghost In Your Bed” quickly became blog favorites, leading to Pitchfork calling them “a band to watch.”

Part of My Gold Mask’s longevity is that they have always been a band of versatility. From the beginning, the duo was synced by Rochelle’s expressive, genre-hopping vocals, and Armondo’s effects-laden / reverb-soaked guitar riffs. When they needed percussion, Rochelle taught herself how to play drums. MGM fans enjoyed Rochelle’s powerful stage presence as she simultaneously brought a primal physicality to the rhythm. But as the duo evolved, it became clear they wanted to fill out the textured nuances of their sound. In 2013 they commissioned drummer James Andrew, now a full fledged member, to help with their Leave Me Midnight LP. Along with the seasoned skills of longtime producer and engineer Balthazar de Ley, the newly formed three piece began blending electronic and synthetic elements into their more organic sounds and traditional instrumentation.

The tribal-like dance beats, the wall of sound production and the strong emphasis on fantastical vocal melodies all came together in a big way. “We like to explore those darker feelings that sometimes get left behind in pop music, even though we try to stay pretty light-hearted in our personal lives.” says Rochelle, and the band’s unique blend of influences has led them down many roads. MGM has had the opportunity of opening for groups such as The New Pornographers, Metric, and Blonde Redhead; as well as having had songs featured on Gossip Girl, MTV Awkward, Being Human and in high profile fashion shows for Phillip Lim 3.1.

But My Gold Mask’s true passion and focus has always been exploring new musical territory and growing as artists. A passion that was temporarily slowed when Rochelle went through a particularly strong bout of anxiety, experiencing the reappearance of her disabling attacks. Rochelle explains: “I’ve been dealing with my panic disorder since I was a little girl and have only recently really felt like I’ve gotten a handle on it. Making music has always been a cathartic way for me to work things out”. The band switched gears and began releasing a series of digital singles. Armondo on the process: “The singles gave us a way to keep up momentum while allowing Gretta and the band the time we needed to sort out some personal stuff.”

These more electronic tinged singles became the DNA of MGM’s newest offering Anxious Utopia. The freshness in material attracted experienced metal producer Sanford Parker to lend his ear and unique synth skills to the mix. Songs like the politically tinged “Dissipate,” and dance rock track “Explode” developed a heavy, grimy sound that juxtaposes with the group’s melancholic pop hooks. The band opened up the process even further, inviting fellow musicians like Mr. Kitty (Synths) and Adam Wayne (Bass guitar) to join in on the playful, yet mysterious, new sound of the group. The album was recorded, produced and mixed by Parker and de Ley over a period of two years at various studios around Chicago. All the while, principal songwriters Armondo and Rochelle kept hammering out new ideas and refining lyrics, leaving Andrew to lay down the driving beats and electronic flourishes.

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[thejoyofviolentmovement]

New Audio: My Gold Mask's Anthemic Dance Rock-Based New Single

New Audio: My Gold Mask’s Anthemic Dance Rock-Based New Single

  Since the release of their fantastic, full-length sophomore effort, Leave Me Midnight a couple of years ago, the Chicago-based duo  My Gold Mask have become JOVM mainstays as I’ve…

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[thejoyofviolentmovement]

New Audio: My Gold Mask's New Single Reveals a Subtle, Futuristic Refinement of Their Sound

New Audio: My Gold Mask’s New Single Reveals a Subtle, Futuristic Refinement of Their Sound

If you’ve been frequenting JOVM over the past couple of years, you may be familiar with the Chicago-based duo  My Gold Mask. Comprised of Greta Rochelle and Jack Armando, the duo bonded over their mutual love of Italian  Giallo films. Writing and recording their material in Chicago’s dimly-lit warehouse district has influenced their…

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[mygoldmask]

‘Battles’ video directed by Kasia Koniar. New LP “ANXIOUS UTOPIA” out Feb 2016. Premier via NYLON Magazine: http://www.nylon.com/articles/video-premiere-my-gold-mask-battles