ONCEWERESIXTY – “PILLS”
A SPILL EXCLUSIVE MUSIC PREMIERE
There are many kinds of ‘feel good” music, ranging from ambient and new age to rock, pop and electronica. Certainly it can also be seen as the hallmark of certain entire sub-genres, like chill, lounge and power pop. Today we are thrilled to introduce you to a track that brings that warm fuzzy and excited feeling – with a sound reminiscent of “Young Folks” by Peter Bjorn and John, but with more edge and certainly more reverb and feedback.
Today we premiere “Pills” by Onceweresixty, ahead of their new album Loco Sunset Boulevard / Ghetto Blast Noise Machine. Made up of Marco Lorenzoni (guitars, vocals and keyboards), Luca Sella (drums, guitar and vocals) and Enrico Grando (keyboards and saxophone), the band describe this offering as “a kinda 90ties rock song about the wrong use and abuse of psychotropic medicines”.
This 8-track offering – structured in two parts as a double EP – will be released on CD and vinyl by Uglydog Records, together with Beautiful Losers and Pretty OK Records. The bane earlier released the lead single “Don’t Get Stuck” and lyrics video.
Riveting, full of youthful energy, this is an upbeat offering with and infectious beat and memorable arrangement. This, mixed with the sometimes wistful sometimes melancholic rock found elsewhere on the album, shows Onceweresixty’s ability to strike a good balance in the 8 tracks offered.
Over the past three years, this double EP took form at Villa Albrizzi Marini, a magical place in the Venice countryside hills en route to the Alps. Onceweresixty set up their studio on this 1400-villa property, owned by the Armenian Church. Marco Lorenzoni explains, “The Villa – an ongoing project of urban regeneration via art activism – is absolutely inspiring and amazing, and we’re glad to be part of it. Onceweresixty and our own label Uglydog Records have always been at the forefront of promoting the arts, supporting artists and creating social connections. This is our little Warhol Factory in the countryside.”
Onceweresixty draws their roots back to their old band MR60 and an ancient tale about the ghost of a beatnik biker living in a broken toy keyboard. “Sometimes he takes control of our minds and makes us play strange weird songs,” says Lorenzoni, who continues to tell the tale of the band’s origin.
“Immediately upon entering Texas from Las Vegas, drunk on tequila, we lost our way, the desert all around us and not a drop of water. Desperate, we recited a few passages from the Bible by heart, inventing what we didn’t remember. It was at that moment that MR60 came to our rescue. He hosted us on his ranch, quenched our thirst and gave us bags of top quality tobacco. There we found everything we needed: out of tune guitars, out of tune tuners, Paleolithic barrel organs, a Stradivarius and a buffalo skull… We never left…
“Well actually, we did leave,” Lorenzoni admits. “somehow adult life took us one by one into everyday office routines and familiar responsibilities with bills to pay and so on.”
Relaunched as Onceweresixty in 2018 after a 10-year hiatus, the band began conquering new musical territory, while still paying homage the sonic ghosts of such artists as Belle & Sebastian, Pavement, Morphine, Low, Herman Dune, Silver Jews and The Velvet Underground,.
Their indie dream of the early 2000s ultimately gave way to colder and leaner sounds, better reflecting the current times. Luca Sella explains, “If MR60 used to compare the north-eastern Italy cultural desert to the Texan desert landscapes, today that desert is a post-apocalyptic land populated by brain-eating zombies. Anger and ignorance are everywhere. Everything is lost. Or maybe not”
‘Pills’ will be available everywhere digitally, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. The double EP Loco Sunset Boulevard / Ghetto Blast Noise Machine will be released on March 22 and can be ordered directly from the artist via Bandcamp.
CREDITS
Music written by M.Lorenzoni, L. Sella, E. Grando
Lyrics written by M. Lorenzoni
Marco Lorenzoni – guitars, vocals & keyboards
Luca Sella – drums, guitar & vocals
Enrico Grando – keyboards, vocals & saxophone
Recorded and produced by Onceweresixty at VAMpires! Room
Mixed by Mauro Martinuz at Bottega Sonora
Mastered by Federico Pelle at Basement Studio
Cover artwork by Freddy Mason
Studio photos of Onceweresixty by Ilaria Baggio
Live photos of Onceweresixty by Veronica Bassani and Freddy Mason
While you are here, you can also enjoy the first single from the album ‘Don’t Get Stuck’ and a recent live performance, filmed at Italy’s Villa Albrizzi Marini:
Onceweresixty
[Single]
(Uglydogs Records)
Release Date: February 20, 2024
Artist Links
Background Photo Credit: Ilaria Baggio
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