Vensaire

Brooklyn folk-pop act Vensaire is just about to release its debut record. Perdix fuses western indie rock with international sounds, and includes all sorts of crazy instruments, including tablas, erhu, guzheng, and sitar. To get a better sense of what that kind of intense genre fusion might sound like, A.V. Club readers can check out the exclusive premiere of “Song 6” below. The Perdix track is layered a bit like a Grizzly Bear song, but tosses in some sounds from the Far East for good measure. - The A.V. Club

Vensaire are an interesting group that embodies captivating qualities of musicianship that often stray from the traditional characteristics of modern indie pop and folk artists. Incorporating varieties of eccentric instrumental elements into their avant-garde style, the band’s forthcoming debut, Perdix, has been acclaimed as a highly-anticipated release. Throughout the record, Vensaire gracefully present each song with enchanting and lighthearted imagery that will draw you in with a comforting state of mind.

Deconstructing Perdix down to its finest detail, listeners can gracefully consume the distinct prominence in sound that is reflected by Vensaire’s actively vibrant musical techniques. This dynamic sense of diversity can be identified within the lively single “Porteno,” which introduces the use of nylon-stringed guitars. The jubilant harmony of “Porteno” beautifully paints a culturally blissful picture, especially through the upbeat tempo that flows wonderfully, as it transitions into the soothing interlude, “Finding It Found.”
While Vensaire are a unique entity of its own, the album’s stand-alone outlet, “See I’m You,” is a sample-based gem that embellishes astonishing pop characteristics that recollect the free-spirited nature of experimental virtuosos like Animal Collective, while “Song Six” provides tranquil sensations that add emphasis to the band’s refreshing approach of creating a contemporary-driven pop sound.

As a calming yet fascinating conclusion to Perdix, “Rose Cottage” is a 10-minute finale that separates entirely from the record’s roaring tempo. This peaceful masterpiece combines symphonic queues with the correlation of slight samples and soft serenading guitar melodies.

Perdix is a flawless work of art that will intrigue listeners with its breathtaking musicianship. As each song ends, unpredictable arrangements continue to unfold with each track that will keep you at the edge of your seat. The defining attribute that shines throughout this release is Vensaire’s charismatic spontaneity in sound. The imaginative symbolism that is coated throughout Perdix confirms that record is a worthwhile listening experience. - The Aquarian

Vensaire's intricate fusion of international folk influences, Western pop, and indie-rock culminates with Perdix, their self-released debut due out April 15. Formed in late 2011 in New York's Chinatown, the five-piece — Alex LaLiberte (vocals/guitar), Windowspeak's Robert Earl Thomas (guitars/vocals), Hunter Hawes (bass), Alex Jacobs (drums, percussion), and Renata Zeiguer (violin, vocals) — put out their self-titled EP in 2012. The release intrigued Grammy-winning producer Scott Colburn (Arcade Fire, Animal Collective, Prince Rama) so much so that he traveled from Seattle to live with the outfit in their Brooklyn apartment and record the full-length.

With eight-tracks that ooze otherworldly vocals and exotic instrumentals — thanks to the band's collection of tablas, sitar, erhu, guzheng, and a variety of percussion instruments that come from Zeiguer’s Argentinian and Philippine roots — Vensaire's new LP is a mixed batch of complexly fluid compositions. Case in point is "See, I'm You," a daydream of a tune that transports listeners to a mystical place where glistening harmonies change pace in rollicking rhythm. If that wasn't enough: The album's last track ("Wanderer Christened") wreathes right back into the first ("If"), allowing the record to be played on loop while showcasing Vensaire's avant production techniques. - SPIN

Video documentary and 30 minute radio special on wNYC, 93.9 FM in New York CIty.

Soundcheck premiered Barnburners, a new documentary and music performance Web series showcasing young, emerging artists performing at an old 18th century barn in Upstate New York. Ryan Dieringer, one of the producers, shares this missive about the origins of the video series and his experiences on their inaugural shoot with Brooklyn band Vensaire.
- wNYC 93.9 FM in New York City

Vensaire contain multitudes. The Brookyln five-piece flip influences like Birdman flips keys, mixing Greek mythology with Japanese influences and a hint of Norman McLaren's "Pas De Deux". The video for "See I'm You" (the first single off their upcoming debut Perdix) explores this plurality further with it's split screen imagery, the right side carrying the narrative while on the left a dancer portrays elements of Shinto ritual. - Vice Magazine - Noisey Music

Here's the video for "Apollonian" from Brooklyn's Vensaire. The band describes it as:

"A psychedelic metaphor for Plato's Theory of Forms, tying in elements of the Allegory of the Cave, the Iliad, and what it looks like inside your head when you die." - Vice Magazine - Noisey Music

Vensaire's debut single "Apollonian" was featured in a video about Chinese performance artist Liu Bolin - Smithsonian Magazine

Vensaire is kind of like Animal Collective on acid, it's really catchy but dreamy and trippy at the same time. The boys in the band are a good looking bunch and put on a great show (when they aren't too wasted). They are brand-spanking new, so talk about this band at a party and reach uber-hipness. - Guest of a Guest New York

With the premiere of their first official EP—their initial (and hopeful) handshake with the general public—the Brooklyn-based Vensaire wants to show you what they've got. We're pleased to premiere the EP in its entirety [at right].

Akin to a jigsaw puzzle, Vensaire is assembled from jagged, oblong, and often eccentrically shaped pieces: influences range from the sweeping sounds of traditional Chinese music, to the soothing voice of Billie Holiday, to the spastic and stuttered beats of Chicago footwork, to the stories that accompany psychedelic folk music.

And they want you to know that. Each song presented on the EP is authored separately by each of the five members; it's a way to introduce themselves. "We wanted to solidify our personalities within the band," said Alex LaLiberte, vocalist and synth player. "The Beatles did it so right, you can name each member of the band... you can hear each influence... and that's what we want." Alex Jacobs, the band's drummer, added, "It's a more personal approach."

Maybe it's democracy, or maybe they're just naïve—either way, it seems to be working. Full of light-hearted jangles layered upon an atmospheric grunginess, the EP is both salty and sweet. As each track audibly personifies the member who wrote it, the listener becomes acquainted with every facet of the group, "like you are meeting a bunch of people at a party," remarked LaLiberte.

It's their résumé, so to speak, a glimpse into what they can do—and it was enough to get the attention of Scott Colburn (known previously for working with the likes of Animal Collective, Prince Rama, and Arcade Fire), who helped produce their debut full-length record, Perdix, which they are currently looking for a label to release.

All in all, it's not a bad introduction. - Interview Magazine