Aspen Hourglass
Fort Collins, Colorado, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2012
Music
Press
Friday February 27th Aspen Hourglass released their new EP, titled Navigate. BandWagon Magazine sat down with the band members Grayson Erhard (lead vocals/guitar), Elvin Holderfield (piano), and Sean Hansen (drums/backup vocals), in a bid to discuss their upcoming release.
“Grayson and I are so seeded in technical music, trying our best to think outside the cliche,” says Hansen.
Two weeks before their summer tour and with a nearing album release their original bassist left the band. Erhard and Hansen were left with no choice but to find a new bass player. Admittedly, the idea of adding a synth bass in place of a bass guitar to the group came to Erhard while listening to mainstream radio. “I was listening to 93.3 at the time and ‘Sail’ came on by Awolnation.” Erhard heard their use of the synth bass and realized, “How unique would it be to have a synth bass, with classical piano, tap/slap guitar, and jazz drumming with vocal harmonies.”
The addition of Holderfield was an easy choice for Erhard and Hansen. While brainstorming possible candidates Hansen came to the immediate conclusion that “There really is no other bass player we would rather play with.” The foundation for the new Aspen Hourglass sound had been set.
Each member brings forth a unique musical background, ranging from jazz, to classical and metal. Only when the members of Aspen Hourglass combine these elements does something magical happen. Ethereal at first, but with time, and multiple listening sessions, the complexities of the music begin to reveal themselves.
Navigate begins with a song titled “Justify,” the start of a journey through a ghostly ocean. Deep and complex, mysterious, with little time to ponder, the vocal harmonies leave the heart begging for more.
The final track on the EP titled “Who Needs” creates a sense of limitlessness. The lyrics, “Who needs stability?” voiced in broad, deep tones, facilitates this openness. Besides that, “Who Needs” is just a badass song. Precising guitar licks, heavy drum work, and a growly synthesizer just make one want to act, without the worries of stability.
Aspen Hourglass have primed themselves for the future. Recently Erhard went viral with a video release of a solo guitar track titled “Ate.” The video caught the attention of the music business. Now with possible endorsement deals and an expansion of professional connections all in the works, the guys from Aspen Hourglass are ready to take it to the next level.
Navigate published by Aloft Records is set to release Friday February 27th at the Soiled Dove Underground in Denver. Be on the look out kids, this one may just catch you by surprise. - BandWagon Magazine
4.5 stars out of 5
Aspen Hourglass is marketed as a classical fusion rock band, but in this EP that was released in February of this year they add much more classical to their style than rock, and it is a beautiful marriage of the two. This EP takes you on a journey through the trio’s musical minds. The first song on the EP, “Justify” starts off slow and picks up as the piano duels with the guitar, it seems almost improvised like old school jazz. “In the Sand” has the classic rock sound like in “Dollar Signs,” with the raspy voice and breaks. The piano is very present in this album and it is amazing. The way that the crisp sound of the piano contrasts to Grayson’s raspy voice is a match made in heaven. “Veil of Anxiety” is the stand out track on the album for me. The song is so complex and easy to listen to, with pseudo improvisation element that sounds amazing and takes you to a rock dreamland. - Scene Magazine
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
Photos
Bio
Aspen Hourglass is a Colorado-based classical fusion rock band. This slightly self-labeled genre came about by necessity, as the band struggled to find a genre in which to compare itself. Combining classical piano, slap/tap guitar techniques, bass synth, trapset, and lush vocals, Grayson Erhard, Elvin Holderfield, and Sean Hanson have created a unique tapestry of sound – melding their fondness for composition and expression with their desire to meaningfully connect with audience members.
Largely against clichés, Aspen Hourglass unintentionally formed inside of a garage in 2012. After various instrumental experimentation, a three-piece sound was chosen. The imagery and concept behind the name “Aspen Hourglass” illustrates change in time, color, transition, impermanence and the geography of their home – Colorado.
A paramount intent of the band is to grow the community and group as organically as possible through live performances, benefits, and opportunities to fellow artists.
The band was chosen by PopVulture Magazine in March 2013 to become a Headline Artist in their physical and online magazine. They have also been featured on the cover of Colorado Music Buzz’s October 2013 issue and selected as an “Artist to Watch” in 2014, chosen as the “Artist of the Month” by Callywood Radio in December 2013, had multiple features in Colorado State University’s Collegian, an article in SwitchOn!’s global physical and online magazine, a full-page written in the February 2014 edition of Scene Magazine, and multiple full-page articles in Fort Collins Magazine. The band is also on regular rotation with numerous radio stations globally.
Aspen Hourglass has opened for many national acts such as: The Flobots, Passafire, Barcelona, Matthew Santos, This Must be the Band, Miguel Dakota, and Darling Parade. They have also played at many of the region’s largest entertainment venue’s including the Aggie Theatre, Fox Theatre, Oriental Theatre, Pepsi Center and, more recently, Chautauqua, Pike’s Peak Center and a performance at Buell Theatre for Murmuration 2015. They’ve frequently toured outside of the state and have larger national tours slated for the near future.
In 2015, the band released their debut EP, “Navigate”, and have appeared in many of Colorado’s main media outlets from Boulder Daily Camera’s Second Story Garage to the Denver Loft Sessions. Aspen Hourglass just recently performed at the renowned SXSW festival in Austin, TX for the Colorado Music Party to a packed house and will also be involved in some of Colorado’s biggest festivals and venues: Taste of Fort Collins, Captiol Hill’s People’s Fair, and Denver Day of Rock.
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