Demi the Daredevil
Austin, Texas, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2015
Music
Press
“Beach Boys meets Queen meets Frank Zappa, just to name a few things.”
Alan Wolmark, CEC Management
John McCracken Music Group:
Demi The Daredevil
'Secret Shizoid' EP
Released October 4th
Tracklisting
1. Art Of Relax
2. Captain Hunchback
3. Buried Horror Show
4. Save The Jovian
Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / YouTube
Purchase - iTunes / Private - Soundcloud
Distribution: The Orchard
During psychiatric hospitalization between 2009-11, Jeff Azar wrote reams of deeply personal lyrics and songs. Upon discharge from hospital, he contacted brother Thomas, then studying piano performance in Manhattan, and the two got together to record 'The Schizoid In A Moratorium' EP that found its way into the hands of gold and platinum producer, John McCracken.
However, the story of Demi The Daredevil, doesn't begin there. Formed in El Paso, Texas, 2006 by high school mates Jovan Ortiz, Marc Martel, and Jeff, Demi The Daredevil were and still are, an art-rock, punk band who built a strong local following from the start, by winning the long running 'Ernie Ball Warped Tour' battle of the bands contest. Following this promising start to their career, things took a dramatic twist as Jovan Ortiz, lead singer, passed away from meningitis. Marc Martel subsequently left the band to join Alien Ant Farm and Jeff was left to complete Jovan’s vocals for their planned and penned self-titled debut album before being diagnosed as bi-polar and admitted to hospital.
Azar states “As we get older, life gets heavier, and our heads begin to take in more information and experiences faster than we can stop and reflect on what we’ve been through. Because we stop reflecting we lose touch with ourselves. When we lose touch with ourselves we stop having genuine connection with one another. That’s when we get more depressed, until we no longer see the reason for living. This happens to more people around the world than we know. When we withdraw to recover ourselves, then we are able to bring the gifts we were born with to the world."
Cut to the present day and Jeff has a philosophy degree, Thomas earned his diploma in music and Chris Paulos (bass) and Jake Rabin (drums) have joined the band. 'The Schizoid EP' is ready for release on October 4th, recorded in an attic above the ballroom of the University of Texas and in a teepee in central Austin. Demi the Daredevil’s mix of bright alternative rock and darkly theatrical music is beginning to turn heads across the globe. Standing out with their twisted theatrics, intricate arrangements, and deeply psychological lyrics, Demi the Daredevil draws on the widest variety of influences: 80s soft rock bands such as Phil Collins, Chicago, and Billie Joel, as well as dance popstars like Prince, Cyndi Lauper, Janet and Michael Jackson. Emo' punk bands such as Green Day, My Chemical Romance and The Used are there too and also musical theater show tunes, film scores, and classical music, namely by composers Andrew Lloyd Webber, and Rachmaninov.
John McCracken states “Demi is the first band I’ve heard in a long time that brings something totally fresh to the music world. There are elements of 60’s and 70’s bands such as Queen, Gentle Giant and The Beatles along with echoes of Broadway’s new trend towards Theater Rock. It’s a very striking combination of dense sophisticated lyrics with contrapuntal melodic and harmonic structures not normally heard in current contemporary music these days. What sets them apart is not only their music writing skills spearheaded by keyboardist Thomas Azar but also vocalist Jeff Azar’s dark and contemplative words that harken back to poets such as Edgar Allan Poe and the early beat poets…”
"It reminds me of those old gothic nursery rhymes. A dark lullaby quality, not too dark though." Mikel Jollet (Airborne Toxic Event)
"Demi the Daredevil delivers a refreshing, thrilling and nearly-haunting sonic experience that’s at once experimental in its composition and familiar through the lyrics’ relatability. Upon listening, you’re thrust down a rabbit hole of sorts, revealing a dark and interesting world marked with internal conflict, existential questions and a comforting sense of connectedness through lead singer, Jef Azar’s, voice that serves as a guide into a complex world that explores what it’s like to be human.” Erin Coulehan, writer Rolling Stone
“Smart, intricately arranged. Some of it is like a fun circus, some of it earnest. Sincere as hell.” Rob Cantor (Tally Hall)
“Really melodious stuff but still has the rock vein in it, intense and vivid words..” Mark S. Berry (Producer)
“Fresh and exciting Art Rock. I sense a bright future for Demi.”
David Bash (IPO Festival) -
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
Photos
Bio
Demi the Daredevil is an American Art Rock band from El Paso, Texas. The band was formed in 2006 by high school friends Jovan Ortiz, Marc Martel, and Jeff Azar. They built a following in El Paso and Las Cruces by winning the Ernie Ball Warped Tour contest. Their original tune “Goosebumps” was also featured on a Sante Fe Rockers compilation CD as Demi also featured a large number of demos at live shows. Following the death of songwriter Jovan Ortiz and Martel’s departure for Mike Cosgrove’s Mystery Schools, Jeff completed Jovan’s vocals for their Self-Titled album and returned to U.T. Austin.
After multiple psychiatric hospitalizations from 2009-2011, Azar contacted his brother Thomas, who was studying piano performance in Manhattan. The Schizoid in a Moratorium EP surfaced, produced by Marc Martel, summer 2013, making it’s way to Gold and Platinum music producer John McCracken. The following year, the band began recording The Secret Schizoid EP. Street date is Oct 4th 2016, available world wide via The Orchard.
Demi the Daredevil’s mix of bright alternative rock and darkly theatrical music is turning heads across the globe.
Standing out with their twisted theatrics, intricate arrangements, and deeply psychological lyrics, fans describe El Paso, Texas based band Demi the Daredevil as “flamboyant, demented, but still hopeful and exciting.” Demi the Daredevil draws on the widest variety of influences. 80s Soft Rock bands such as Phil Collins, Chicago, and Billie Joel were part of the Azar brother’s upbringing, as well as Dance Pop artists like Prince, Cyndi Lauper, Janet and Michael Jackson. Emo punk bands such as Green Day, My Chemical Romance, and The Used are said to have influenced the band, as well as musical theater show tunes, film scores, and classical music, namely those of Andrew Lloyd Webber, and Rachnmaninov.
Azar states, “As we get older, life gets heavier, and our heads begin to take in more information and experiences faster than we can stop and reflect on what we’ve been through. Because we stop reflecting we lose touch with ourselves. When we lose touch with ourselves we stop having genuine connection with one another. That’s when we get more depressed, until we no longer see the reason for living. This happens to more people around the world than we know. When we withdrawal to recover ourselves, then we are able to bring the gifts we were born with to the world.”
Band Members
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