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PYYRAMIDS release debut album, 'Brightest Darkest Day'

(Photo courtesy of Elise Swopes)
(Photo courtesy of Elise Swopes)

(Photo courtesy of Elise Swopes) (Photo courtesy of Elise Swopes)

PYYRAMIDS was formed by the unlikely combination of Tim Nordwind from OK Go and Drea Smith from He Say, She Say. The collaboration began when a mutual friend introduced the two via email, and they will be releasing their first full-length album, "Brightest Darkest Day" on April 9.

“We were emailing like pen pals,” Smith said. “We got to know each other for about six months before we went over anything musical.”

After getting to know each other’s musical interests, Nordwind began sending Smith musical arrangements for Smith to write lyrics. The final product of that electronic collaboration was the first EP, "Human Beings."

"Brightest Darkest Day" combines Nordwind’s inventive guitar playing with electronic elements to produce a unique sound. With the addition of Smith’s relaxing yet meaningful vocals, the album sends a powerful message regarding the nature of relationships.

“The album is about the struggle of finding one’s identity in a relationship,” Smith said. “Relationships go through their bright times and their dark times just like the sound and the mood of the album itself.”

In order to capture a well-rounded message, Smith often capitalizes on her own personal experiences while also writing from the voice of others perspectives.

“In some instances, like in 'Paper Dolls,' it’s me writing from the perspective of someone who I don’t feel I am, but someone who’s not so sure of themselves,” Smith said.

PYYRAMIDS is quite conscious of the emotion and message it is sending to listeners. When reflecting on the finished product, Nordwind and Smith said "Brightest Darkest Day" is “music that makes you feel first and think second.”

The band will also be releasing the album on cassette tape for purchase from its website, pyyramids.com. Smith said this piece of merchandise fully encapsulates the true identity of PYYRAMIDS.

“I made mix tapes all the time for people," Smith said. "It was my favorite thing to do. Some of the music we created reminded me of what I would have loved when I was 13, and I was 13 in the 90s.”

As technology has evolved, so has the music industry, and fans often purchase just a few songs from an album instead of listening to the entire product as it was intended to be heard.

“I believe the music industry is geared more towards singles than albums, but we’re hoping that with this album, we kind of bring the album back,” Smith said. “We even have interludes and an intro in there to kind of tie it all together, and the way that we sequenced the album is definitely not by accident.”

 

Reach the reporter at amkeiser@asu.edu

 


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