Ultraviolet Communication

As a follow up to the pop-rock lead single ‘Moon Man’, and ahead of upcoming sophomore album ‘Paper Tiger’, the trio showcases their proficiency for well balanced and thought out instrumentals, infectious pop melodies and just the right amount of 60’s acid-inspired rock elements.
‘Palinopsia’, takes you on a trip with its dreamy Pink Floyd-esque sound that teeters the line of prog-rock with its experimental arrangement. Warm vocals carry a melancholic-yet-romantic melody, highlighted by the warmth of a mellotron. Whimsical synths prelude a catchy guitar solo that draws the track into an anthemic indie-rock close.
The band sheds some light on the making of the single, “Once we finished the song ‘Palinopsia’ we felt that when recording it we wanted to experiment more with layering instruments not typically present in our live performance to create a very interesting sonic atmosphere. In comparison to the other two singles, it showcases a more moody and vibrant sound.

‘Palinopsia’ speaks to the all too familiar feeling of saying the wrong things and not being able to take them back. The term “actions speak louder than words” is very common, but can be too dismissive of the significance of what we say to each other and how it can propel us forward or tear us down. We sought to combine this introspection with sounds that created an inquisitive atmosphere that would hopefully pull the listener into this thinking space with us. Musically, we wanted each part to feel like a tangent of the last and drew inspiration from more experimental arrangements pioneered by the likes of Pink Floyd and The Flaming Lips. It is a journey on a train of thought to be more mindful.” - Psychedelic Baby Magazine

Emerging Phoenix-based alt-psych band Ultraviolet Communication is back with their retro-inspired new video for “Moon Man”, which you can watch exclusively via Aesthetic Magazine below.

A Craigslist ad brought the trio together and once they got started jamming there was no looking back. Blending elements of psych and indie/alt rock sprinkled with infectious pop melodies, the band cites Rush, RHCP, and The Black Keys as equally inspiring. Their upcoming LP, Paper Tiger, is out on December 10th.

“Moon Man” is the first taste of the upcoming LP, dropping on Sept. 17th. Drawing inspiration from a wide variety of sources, (notably the “Binary Sunset” Star Wars theme by John Williams,) it’s a nod to the 60’s pop-rock sound and aesthetic.

A soulful and emotive vocal performance is kicked up a notch with an alternating ebb-and-flow effect between the psychedelic and pop elements, contrasting flawlessly throughout each verse. - Aesthetic Magazine

Ultraviolet Communication have premiered their new single titled ‘Moon Man’. A fitting intro to their upcoming album titled ‘Paper Tiger’ dropping December 10th. That bravado only found in rock legends finds new life in UVC. What I mean is that this band has swagger. That certain something found in those quiet cool kids we all knew in school. The kind that seamlessly transitioned from the background to the front of the class at will and always got the attention, when they wanted it, on their terms. And they did it without shooting the school up (had to get that out there for today’s world).

There is a consistent hook throughout and that laid back yet interesting chord progression that gets you swaying in your seat. That feeling that you only get when you find your soul mate or a pound of medical marijuana in a legal state. Unexplainable yet accessible. Tangible yet tantric. Judge for yourself. You will hear what I mean.

Please listen on a stereo, though. Please. - Jammerzine

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I’ve been listening to Palinopsia way too much. It’s interesting to hear Ultraviolet Communication’s progressions while rejuvenating the 60s and 70s psychedelia in your fantasia. It’s a timelessly compelling old-school rock vibe, with glorious layers of organ and strings and smooth dialogues of words falling into troubadour territory. The mood continues to circle around, a soft-rattling static, and the song becomes a favorite discovery.

Matt Morgan (Bass & Vocals), Lee Pickett (Drums), and Josiah Rodriguez (Guitar & Vocals) formed a synergic trio playing a new blend of music since 2018. Their much anticipated second album release ‘Paper Tiger‘ will be out in December. - Give It A Spin

Based out of Phoenix, Ultraviolet Communication incorporates melodic guitar riffs, soulful vocals which create an expansive psychedelic rock experience. Released in January 2020, Capacity for Illusion was well received by several media outlets around Phoenix and beyond. Currently, the band is working on promoting their second album release titled Paper Tiger, set for release on December 10th, 2021.

Ultraviolet Communication recently the first single coming off Paper Tiger, “Moon Man.” Inspiration was found from a bevy of sources, most notably the infamous theme for Star Wars scored by John Williams. “Moon Man” offers up the rich ‘60s pop-rock vibes along with alternating elements of pop and psychedelic roots. The latest single “The DIener” comes out with a fuzzed-out sound that is delivered dark and mysteriously. The single is based on a fictional story centering around a man who was cursed to work as a Diener in Satan’s morgue.

The band came together via Craigslist. Having responded to each other, how much time passed before you solidified the current lineup?

It was pretty immediate. As soon as the three of us met for the first time, we kinda knew it was a great fit.

What was the definitive moment that linked the group together?

We don’t think there was any singular moment. It was more of a gradual thing that came with us meeting over a period of several months.

What was the major influence on the group musically?

We draw influence from many different styles and artists. When conceiving the group we never went into it trying to place ourselves into a box so we try to keep an open mind when it comes to influences.

How would you describe the scene in Phoenix? Do you find it to be pretty expansive?

It’s not as expansive as you’d expect. It is a very large metropolitan area, but given the pandemic, a lot of projects have died out and a few venues did not survive the lack of business. There are a decent amount of acts still playing around town, but it’s not as diverse as one might expect.

I’m curious if there’s a story behind the band name. Is there?

Not really. We had thrown around a few names and Ultraviolet Communication was actually the result of two other names that included those words separately. We combined the names and removed the unnecessary words and ended up with the name.

The latest album came just over a year after the debut. Do you see this quick turnaround of albums as something that will be continued?

Absolutely. We are always looking forward to the next thing so we are currently working on new material for future releases.

Was there any difficulty with recording for Paper Tiger given lockdowns and the lingering pandemic?

Not really. We all quarantined together in our house so given that our producer had also quarantined, it was just the four of us at the studio with no one else around.

What were some of the things the band wanted to check off with the new album?

We wanted it to feel different than the first album by pushing the envelope with arrangements and expanding the instrumentation beyond what is capable live.

How does the band go about writing? Is it primarily a collaborative effort?

It kinda varies from song to song. Some songs come together as a band and other times it will be a culmination of one or two of the members’ separate ideas.

What was the recording process like for Paper Tiger?

It was fun, but somewhat challenging at times. We set out to cut portions of this record live together in the same room and later overdubbed over the top. This tested our ability to play tightly together for the sake of capturing the feeling of the music being played live.

Listening to the music I feel that the live performance is a can’t miss. What should audiences expect when they see you?

They should expect a blisteringly loud, yet dynamic, sonic assault of rock music that takes the listener through a slew of sounds. - Ghettoblaster Magazine

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ultraviolet Communication.

We are a trio of musicians called Ultraviolet Communication aka UVC. In December of 2017, Lee Pickett (drummer) and Josiah Rodriguez (guitarist) met at a coffee shop after discussing mutual musical interests through responses to a craigslist ad posted by Rodriguez. We hit it off right away and began to meet regularly to jam. Josiah was approached by a friend in late April of 2018 inquiring if he knew any good drummers for studio work. He recommended Lee to his friend and the two began to meet along with a bass player/ vocalist. This was Matt Morgan. Lee and Matt, having lost interest in the studio project, started to meet outside of that to play and discuss their music tastes. Not soon after, we all began playing and writing music together and have been ever since.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
For the most part, things have been fairly smooth, but when we first started playing together, it took some time for each of us to figure out how to play with one another. Having come from similar yet incredibly different musical backgrounds, we all brought something different to the table. Learning each other’s strengths and applying them became crucial to successfully defining our sound.

Please tell us about Ultraviolet Communication.
This project aims to transcend the common verbal language barriers echoed in the public by creating a common ground in the form of music for all people to enjoy. We all love music more than anything in our lives and are extremely dedicated to being the best musicians we can be, not only for ourselves but for our audience as well. We believe this sets us apart from other acts and are hopeful that others will see this as well. - Voyage Phoenix

UVC, aka Ultraviolet Communication, is a Phoenix alt-rock trio that have been gearing up for the release of a new album which is ready to drop later this very month. And we think that’s pretty awesome. Get ready for Capacity For Illusion and everything else that the new year holds for this new band on the rise. - Yab Yum West

Although Ultraviolet Communication (UVC) are relatively new in the PHX music scene, they’re already making waves.

Releasing a couple of singles in 2019, the band has now released their debut, full-length album, Capacity for Illusion. All while playing a whole host of shows around the Valley and gigging from Bisbee to Flagstaff of course.

Capacity for Illusion sounds like classic, alternative rock with a dash of psychedelia thrown in for good measure to create a modern sound. Matt Morgan, Lee Pickett, and Josiah Rodriguez have roughly been playing for a year and half together and the multitude of influences they bring to the band is evident. While many of the lyrics are dark and brooding, much of the musicality is poppy and fun. Take the first song, “The Man in Blue” for instance. Catchy guitar riffs lay the groundwork for darker lyrics: “The man in blue is out for you/ His eyes are floating in his head/ Stagnant and dead; soon you’ll be there too.”

Early UVC single, “Headstone”, and the song immediately after, “Slave”, are other great examples of this. While both songs sound like modern takes on classic 50s/60s rocknroll the lyrics are far more somber. “Oh, mother iris,” Matt sings on Headstone, “Please send me home/ Tilt my head back, and pour the water down my throat/ Oh, mother iris/ How heavy are my eyelids? Take us to our headstone.” Meanwhile, “Slave” contains the passage “Fleeting are the days gone by/ And I feel her/ Getting further everyday/ But in my heart, I’m her slave.”

Early standout tracks for me on Capacity for Illusion include the two and half minute, instrumental trip “Road Spice” along with the heavier, rocking number and very next song, “Walls of Ice”. The band breaks it way down on “Today”, while current single “Fever Dream” is an excellent commentary on living in our current day and age and all that comes with it.

I realized that I needed to find out more about Ultraviolet Communication so I reached out to the band and they obliged me with answers to my questions. Read on to discover how UVC came together, the process of making Capacity for Illusion, and where you can catch the band next…



YabYum: How long have you been playing music and what got you into playing it?
Lee Pickett (drums): I have been playing music for 11 years. My dad plays guitar and my parents would play records around the house so I had always grown up hearing music at home. Being in that sort of environment allowed me to develop my desire to play.

Josiah Rodriguez (guitar): It’s been 13 years for me. I didn’t really grow up around music, but I started taking piano lessons at age 9 and I really enjoyed it. Playing music became the only thing I ever wanted to do.

Matt Morgan (bass/vocals): I started playing guitar about 7 years ago. I heard a couple riffs from a band I’d recently taken a liking to (The Black Keys) and decided to see if I could learn them. After I figured those out I had a desire to learn as much as I could and dove right in.

Were you born in AZ and did you grow up here? If not, when did you move here and where from?
Lee: No, I grew up in Ohio and I moved to AZ in the fall of 2017.

Josiah: I was born in San Dimas, CA but moved to Yuma when I was about 5 and have been in AZ ever since. I moved to the Valley in January of 2017.

Matt: I’m from Plano, TX and moved to AZ in February of 2018.

How did UVC come into fruition? When was this?
Josiah: When I moved out here to Phoenix I put an ad up on Craigslist in hopes of finding some people to jam with and in December of 2017 I got an email from Lee. We met up for a coffee and talked about bands we were into and hit it off pretty well. We jammed together for a couple months and then I got a text from a friend asking if I knew any good drummers for studio work. I sent him Lee’s info and they started meeting up to jam with Matt who had recently joined the project. Matt and Lee weren’t into the direction that the project was heading and Lee invited Matt to jam with us instead.

We all met up for the first time together in mid May 2018 and have been jamming together ever since.

How do describe your band’s sound to someone who has never heard you?
UVC: Beautiful yet strange.

Who are some of the influences that inspired you to make music?
Lee: John Densmore (The Doors), and Peter Criss (KISS) and probably my father, are a few big ones for me.

Josiah: Steven Drozd (The Flaming Lips), Brian Wilson (Beach Boys), and tons of jazz musicians like John Coltrane, Herbie Hancock, Dave Brubeck, etc. really inspire me to think outside of the box when it comes to writing.

Matt: Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys), Dan Auerbach (The Black Keys), and Paul McCartney (The Beatles) would be some of my main influences.

uvc ultraviolet communication 01Do you all write the music and lyrics or does one of you come up with a basic song idea and some words and then it gets fleshed out from there?
UVC: Its kind of a toss up from song to song. Sometimes one of us will write a whole song with music and lyrics and we will all work on the arrangement together. Other times somebody will bring a musical idea with little to no lyrics and we will work on parts of it separately, in pairs, or all together.

We all consider ourselves compositional musicians so we are all always writing something whether it be a musical passage, lyrics, or a melody.

Please tell us about your new album Capacity for Illusion. Where did you record it? Who engineered it?
UVC: We recorded it at Premier Studios in Phoenix and Josiah engineered it. We then sent it off to Wyatt Blair at Lolipop Records in Los Angeles for mixing and mastering.

What was the most challenging thing about making your new record? How about the easiest?
UVC: The toughest things were adhering to a budget, time constraints with studio time, and getting all of the non-musical aspects (scheduling photo shoots, getting cover designs, figuring out release dates, etc.) of the record in order.

The easiest part was recording it. We booked the studio for a week and we had a ton of fun going in everyday building on what we had done the day before.

I really like the cover art and it’s retro feel. Who put that together and where was this photo taken?
UVC: Thank you! We reached out to photographers Trevor Novatin (@trevor_novatin on Instagram) and Kimberlee Morgan (@filthyfl44mingo) and sent them a few references of old record cover photos we all liked and they scouted a few locations for us that fit the aesthetic. We took the photo on the corner of 1st street and Roosevelt in Phoenix and then we sent the photo to graphic designer Veronica Gomez (@veronicaxgomz) to design the typography and layout of the cover.

Where and when can we see you perform next?
UVC: We are playing next on February 24 at The Rebel Lounge and February 27 at Valley Bar.

I know you just released Capacity for Illusion but what’s upcoming for UVC? Music videos? Tours? Are you guys always writing new material or are you working on nailing the songs from the new record for live shows?
UVC: We are always writing new material and working to perfect our live set by practicing everyday and playing as many shows as possible. We are also hoping to hit the road for a tour late spring/ early summer. - Yab Yum West

“Headstone”

This Phoenix 3-piece might be new on the scene, but looks like there about to start making some waves. Their debut single, “Headstone”, fuses together 60s psych rock with modern indie. The band doesn’t let the trippy texturing get all muddled up with unneeded distortion but allows the listener to hear the clear shifts in melody and progression. “Headstone” might sound like a dismal time, but it’s actually a pretty upbeat journey. And one you should definitely embark upon. Check out “Headstone” from Ultraviolet Communication. - Yab Yum West