Gooseberry as a band is a genre-bending alchemy of many disparate elements. They are often referred to as having "two bands in one." This phenomenon can be attributed to the distinctly different approaches of their two chief songwriters—Asa and Sam. Armed with this unique formula, the prevailing theme of this EP is cohesion via juxtaposition. Having formed right as the pandemic was beginning, the band had nothing but time, ultimately writing 20+ songs. The four songs chosen for this EP embody Gooseberry at its core: two seemingly contrasting styles merging coherently to establish one unmistakable sound, a throughline that connects the varied pieces. With their debut EP, Gooseberry wanted to capture this dynamic and display the vast ground this approach allows them to cover, from hard-driving indie rock to singer-songwriter ballads to latin sambas. 

Gooseberry recorded this debut EP at their own studio and partly at Red Panda Recordings. The mixes were then brought to life by audio engineer dynamo, James Meslin (Dream Theater), and mastered by Colatura’s Jennica Best.


TRACKLISTING
01. Sleep
02. Broken Dance
03. Only One
04. Living To Die

Broken Dance

About the song:

Sleep …is all about anxiety and the sleepless nights that accompany it. We always describe this song as “film noir with fangs.” To this end, we play with textures a lot: the verses have a "wetness" that feels like you’re slipping in and out of a dream; the bridge is a moment when you’ve sort of given up and everything is fading into that twilight zone between panic and unconsciousness. The story of the song follows one's train of thought when an idea is just out of reach. You search and prowl and dig and strain and yet nothing comes, even when the answer is right in front of your face. The chorus lines tell us all we need to know about this struggle: “Bloodshot eyes and tired sheep; These empty pages, they laugh at me; Holding onto sanity; One more word that rhymes with…”

About the band:

Gooseberry is a 4-piece band from Brooklyn, New York born during the Fall of 2019. Their combination of indie rock and soul is a recipe for a unique sound that Gooseberry delivers in each song. The band consists of Asa Daniels (formerly of Baked Goods) on guitar/vocals, Evin Rossington (drums), Sam Rappaport (keys, vocals), and Will Hammond (bass).

The band is a genre-bending alchemy of many disparate elements. They are often referred to as having "two bands in one." This phenomenon can be attributed to the distinctly different approaches of their two chief songwriters—Asa and Sam. It is this dynamic that enables Gooseberry to deftly maneuver from a song like The Protagonist, which comeherefloyd described as "indie goodness" with a "catchy melody, pulsing beat, and boastful guitars," to a song like Berkshires, which NYS Music says harkens "back to major influences like D’Angelo, Donny Hathaway, and Stevie Wonder." While the pandemic put a halt to live music right about the time Gooseberry teamed up, the group kept busy, recording and releasing three singles which have racked up greater than 100K streams to date. Per Tonemill, "The music feels live, organic and...we can imagine belting out adoringly while swaying our bodies at a Gooseberry gig." Gooseberry's debut EP, Broken Dance, is due out in 2022.

New on the block, Gooseberry has already begun developing a devoted following in and around New York City, running the full gamut of venues from The Bowery Electric to DROM to house shows across the boroughs, quickly staking their claim in the ever-lively Brooklyn music scene. Fans know they'll be kept on their toes, as the band moves in and out of genres and styles, always keeping the crowd engaged. The band expects a big year on the road in 2022, starting off with gigs at famous NYC hotspots like The Knitting Factory and Mercury Lounge.

Sleep ["Broken Dance" EP Version]

Gooseberry is a trio from Brooklyn, New York born during the Fall of 2019. Their combination of alternative rock, indie, and blues is a recipe for a unique sound that Gooseberry delivers in each song. The band consists of Asa Daniels (guitar, vocals), Evin Rossington (drums), and Will Hammond (bass).

Since the release of their 2022 debut EP Broken Dance, Brooklyn, NY indie rock trio Gooseberry have been busy. Their eminently engaging music has tickled the ears and stirred the hearts of both music fans and the industry itself. The band has racked up hundreds of thousands of streams, garnered praise from editorial stalwarts Under the Radar, Ones to Watch, and more. 

Yet, more than anything, in the ten months since the release, Asa Daniels (guitar, vocals), Evin Rossington (drums), and Will Hammond (bass) have been focused on doing what they do best: playing shows. Deeply connected to the scene in NYC and Brooklyn, they have dazzled crowds from the iconic Baby’s All Right to the legendary Knitting Factory. “We are super fortunate to call a lot of really great - and buzzing - NYC bands our friends” says Daniels. “We feel ourselves part of that community and eternally grateful for being welcomed with such open arms. Our hometown has truly shaped what this band has become.” Gooseberry has played all along the east coast, often with local heartthrobs (My Son The Doctor, Meyru, Cab Ellis) and major touring acts (BabyJake, Grady Spencer & The Work, Tanner Usrey, Maybird) alike.

Now, the power trio is back with a new slate of songs born in Greenpoint and honed to perfection on the road. Conceived and fleshed out over the course of a year, Validate Me as a cohesive piece of art eloquently showcases the unique alternative rock sound that is wholly Gooseberry. “Life as a trio allows us to really lean into dynamics,” explains Daniels. “We can hit you with a squall of distortion and guttural shouts, then shift on a dime and sing you a lullaby.”  

Thematically, Validate Me grapples with the relationship between love and making art, magnifying the sacrifices and leaps of faith both require. “Anger as a device can lead to both polished and rough expressions of passion,” says Daniels. “Much of that anger manifests from fear, which drives us down many wayward paths, whether it be fear of rejection, fear of too much understanding, or fear of losing control.”

In addition to Daniels, Rossington, and Hammond, the record features performances by honorary fourth member, Dan Janis, on saxophone and flute. Tracked at two Manhattan studios, Precision Sound Studios and Orbital Music & Sound, the record was produced by the band along with Grammy-nominated engineer Colin Bryson. Longtime collaborator and Grammy-award winning engineer James Meslin (Dream Theater, Liquid Tension, John Petrucci) mixed the record. 

What the trio created during these sessions is a record that is foundationally, fundamentally, whole-heartedly Gooseberry. No more, no less. Daniels’s dynamic songwriting soaring over Rossington’s bombastic drums; Hammond’s fluid bass lines the glue holding it all together. Road-keen musicianship wrapped around witty lyricism. More than anything, though, Validate Me proves that Gooseberry knows exactly who they are – gritty rock born at the nexus of DIY and arena-ready pop – and good god they are unapologetic about it.