Intimate Stranger
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Official Site MySpace Under Under Held Held Shiny Tears Shiny Tears 
Intimate Stranger Band Members: Tessie S-Woodgate - vocals, bass Lautaro Vera - guitar, backing vocals Maurico Muñoz - drums Ismael Palma - synths and keyboards LOCATION: Santiago, Chile GENRE: Indie, Alternative South America Distribution: www.armonica.cl US DISTRIBUTION: Fringecore (Michael Gira, Angels of Light, Swans, The Body Lovers) Thurston Moore & Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth); Mike Watt (Minutemen, DOS, Porno for Pyros), David Coulter (Pogues, Test Dept.) Larry Mullins (Iggy Pop, The Residents) European Distribution: Lowlands Online Distribution: Still Alive Records Chile Management: Galpon Records US Management: Fringecore, 1000 San Marcos Street Apt 230 Austin, Texas 78702, USA, Tel: + 1 512 4684505  Intimate Stranger,The Ganjas and Casino Tapped to Play SXSW 2010 Fringecore managed bands and label mates Intimate Stranger and The Ganjas have both been selected to play at SXSW Music 2010, along with fellow Chilean band Casino, who recently supported Radiohead. The SXSW gigs will be followed by a month long tour. |
Intimate Stranger is an international band currently based in Chile. Since its formation by Chilean guitarist Lautaro Vera (Cucsifae, Don Fango, Disturbio Menor) and English/Croatian singer/bassist Tessie S-Woodgate, the band has spent time in London, Belgium and Austin, Texas.
After a year of writing songs and rehearsing together with drummer Mauricio Muñoz in Santiago in 2006, they recorded their debut album, Life Jacket. The album blends well-paced alternative rock with effective and lingering pop melodies that recall the song structures of their late 80’s indie rock influences, but with a really modern sound. Life Jacket is a collection of stories personifying the disconcerting life experiences and deaths of its haunting characters. “For Annie,” one of the singles from the album is an adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s poem of the same name. Its’ simple and driven instrumentation back the smooth, melodic female vocals that complete the band’s ambience of melancholic indie rock.
The band spent 2007 and 2008 in Shoreditch, London, playing at all the main underground live-music venues around the capital, including the Rock Garden (which has hosted bands from The Smiths to U2) Bull and Gate, The Enterprise and The Dublin Castle (host of bands such as Oasis, Blur, Arctic Monkeys, Kaiser Chiefs and more.) While in the UK they played a number of festivals and packed out the main venue at LadyFest Festival in Cambridge. They also toured northern Europe with Belgian act Romano Nervoso, which led to major radio play for and “In the Black” and “For Annie” from Life Jacket.
Intimate Stranger spent 3 months in Austin, Texas in 2008, where they played at the Plutopia event at SXSW, which resulted in college radio play for “For Annie” and “Eva.” The rest of the time was spent in the studio writing songs for a second album.
In mid-2008 the band returned and began gigging in Chile with keyboardist Ismael Palma. They very quickly built-up a large fan-base in their hometown, packing out all the top clubs and music venues. As regulars at CineArte Alameda, Bar Constitucion, SCD and Bar Loreto they are now headliners in the vibrant live music scene that has really flourished over the past few years in Santiago.
They have also been touring around the country building up a strong following in other cities. They have received extensive radio, TV and press coverage, including a review and recommendation of Life Jacket by leading national newspaper El Mercurio (“…A singer who is always able to find the perfect intonation and melody a guitarist who is equally able to compliment and pick out those strong melodies…Intimate Stranger achieve this really well…”)
The band was interviewed in the January 2009 edition of Rolling Stone Chile for the ‘Leading Ladies of Rock 2009’ special, with a half-page photo on the inside front cover.
The new set up with synths and keyboards has further evolved the band’s sound, as is reflected in the their new material. They are currently recording their second album Under, which is due to be released at the end of 2009. Both introspective and melancholic, the new songs represent ‘thinking-aloud’ and contemplation of the self. While keeping with the catchy melodies that characterize Intimate Stranger, sensual and passionate vocals underline the new compositions. The various guitar effects, organs, synths and solid drums create texture, depth and an overall organic ambience on the album, which make up as Karl Nielsen (Head of Marketing at Canal U TV (VITV/Fizz) describes as “a unique and captivating sound.”
One style, one sound and a good variety of songs such as:
“Held” - “Its an endless journey to be unbound and held.” So ends this remarkably poignant offering, which showcases Tessie’s ethereal voice at its most visceral. A performance that PJ Harvey, Kim Deal or even Lush’s Miki Berenyi would be proud of. Whereas the lyrics reflect a world of doubt and suffering, the song leaves the listener with the sense of positive simplicity and truth. Its melody line builds with swirling intensity to an unforgettable climax.
“Under” - A dance song that has it all: electrifying rhythms that dig deep; captivating lyrics that get under your skin that draw you in and leave you totally immersed in the song; and a chorus to die for that has the audience dancing and singing enraptured. A song that calls for total band-audience interaction and reciprocity: “I promise you, but can you promise me” – the seductive promise of hope - imply hypnotic.
“Shiny Tears” - The quintessential pop rock song with magnetic melody and alluring chorus. A feel-good performance, full of charm and inventiveness, with a hook that makes you want to sing along with the band “No more, No more,” yet you want more. You just can’t get enough of this one. This song is not just “burning bright” it’s going to light up your universe with creative phrasing and well-crafted composition. If you like The Kills or the Yeah,Yeah, Yeahs, you’ll fall in lust with “Shiny Tears.”
A tour of South America and the US beginning in Buenos Aires is scheduled for the end of 2009 to promote the new album.