We Are The Wilderness

Time for a little Tuesday fun in the form of an exclusive premiere that is insanely cool.

ARTISTdirect has teamed up with We Are the Wilderness to premiere their new song "Apparitions" from VALHALLA.

"'Apparitions' is about a faded, ghostly memory," the band told us. "It's the concept of remembering, but nothing about the experience is tangible any more, and as time passes it vanishes into thin air, just a remnant of something that used to be real." The song was recorded at Converse Rubber Tracks studio in Brooklyn. The mix and the live drums were done by Chris Wallitsch. - Artist Direct

Not only is We Are The Wilderness an all-vegan band that stands behind their principles, but they actually do something to get the message out there. The band recently supported vegan fashion brand Modavanti for their Indiegogo campaign (watch here) and teamed up with Peta as well! Health enthusiast and lead singer Shanda is a yoga instructor on top of being a beautiful and talented musician! The band is truly inspirational.
With the premiere of their new video for “Just For Now” on Baeble, We Are The Wilderness released their album Descending from Paramount that is set with the intention to inspire and uplift listeners with solid tracks and purposeful lyrics. Fern TV states, We Are The Wilderness are “making groundbreaking musical material" with which they “tamed the chaos of the music industry to their benefit". Their sound is “perfect for any fan of boundary-breaking soul", declares the Deli Magazine.

"Worlds Burn Bright" is the penultimate track on the album, starting out with a peaceful melody via the harp, it becomes more visceral: heavy drum beats, haunting but still beautiful- a metaphor for humanity. “It blends beauty and harshness, silence and sound, to show us duality of life which is visceral yet cerebral all at the same time, it also touches on themes of connection and the human struggle for balance.” explains WATW.

Shanda Woods and Ryan Manchester, originally from Texas, formed the Brooklyn, NY based duo in the winter of 2010. After only a year into writing and recording music, We Are The Wilderness has been positively received by industry veterans and music aficionados alike. Some of their most recent accomplishments include headlining playing showcases at CMJ 2012, SXSW 2013, and venues such as Brooklyn’s Cameo Music Gallery and Glasslands. The band also interviewed with Enter The Shell, The Glendale Register, Fern TV, Bushwick Nation and My Social List.

Using their background in classical music, WATW challenges today’s notions of indie pop/rock by mixing their various influences into each song. From piano sonatas, electronic music, to hip hop, WATW masterfully and meticulously crafts each song to reveal many layers that are at once artistically relevant and widely appealing. We Are The Wilderness’ live show uses a mix of electronics, live instruments, vocals, and interactive video projections to create an experience that engages their ever-growing fan base. The WATW fan base ranges from local die-hards (some driving three or more hours to catch the SXSW set) to international listeners. ReverbNation’s Brooklyn indie charts list We Are The Wilderness in the Top 40 and many of indie rock’s tastemakers follow them on Twitter and Facebook. Regardless of trends, We Are The Wilderness will always create quality, honest music for both themselves and those supporting this burgeoning act from the ground floor up. - Eco-Vegan Gal

Shanda Woods exists in two different places at once. There's the realist: a character that wears the hard-bitten reality of hometown Brooklyn in her comforting soprano. At the same time, all of this is pumped through an electro rock blur that wraps an artificial atmosphere around her charged energy. One half of We Are The Wilderness, latest video 'Just For Now' (song streaming below) plays with these alternating realities by placing Shanda as a coin-collecting, body-suit wearing heroine in an adventure that needs to be seen to be believed. All part of upcoming record 'Descending From Paramount,' slated for May. Perfect for any fan of boundary-breaking soul... or of old-school video games. - Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets) - The Deli Magazine

After the premiere of their new video for “Just For Now” on Baeble, We Are The Wilderness released their album Descending from Paramount that is set with the intention to inspire and uplift listeners with solid tracks and purposeful lyrics. Fern TV states, We Are The Wilderness are “making groundbreaking musical material” with which they “tamed the chaos of the music industry to their benefit”. Their sound is “perfect for any fan of boundary-breaking soul”, declares the Deli Magazine.


The opening song and first single “Just For Now” is a dark and melodic track and has already been featured as song of the day and video of the day on various fashion and music blogs. The video provides a satisfying aesthetic both optically and audibly.
The third track “Outside Looking In” starts out with upbeat vocals and an energetic tambourine. Woods genuinely declares “everyone is looking for love”, and the song shifts into a light-hearted dance beat.
“Worlds Burn Bright” is the penultimate track on the album, starting out with a peaceful melody via the harp, it becomes more visceral: heavy drum beats, haunting but still beautiful- a metaphor for humanity. “It blends beauty and harshness, silence and sound, to show us duality of life which is visceral yet cerebral all at the same time, it also touches on themes of connection and the human struggle for balance.” explains WATW.
Unlike many other records, Descending From Paramount is not just a collection of songs. The tracks remain cohesive yet each one provides a distinct listening experience. This is an album for all seasons; written and recorded during the summer, mixed and mastered during fall and winter and will be glooming in your speakers in spring! - Nerdy Frames

We Are The Wilderness is a Brooklyn-based indie-electronic outfit started by Shanda Woods and Ryan Manchester. The group performed at SXSW and their new album, Descending from Paramount, dropped May 7.

We got a chance to talk to Shanda about how We Are The Wilderness got started, how they came up with the name and the story behind the gaming-inspired video for their new single, “Just for Now.”

How did you guys get started?

We are high school friends (originally from Amarillo, Texas). For years, we had independently worked on music. Both of us went to the University of North Texas but never really collaborated on anything while there. We started working on music together after moving to NYC. It started as a DIY bedroom project, a few writing sessions with just piano and voice and working on a cover of “Life Like Weeds” by Modest Mouse. We had a few music friends and colleagues help us with production techniques, and over time it grew into us creating larger and more complex tracks. It was around 2010-2011 when it became an actual band. Now, we have a live drummer, electronics, and live video projections. Also, we’re in the process of adding other analog components into the live show.

Is there a story behind the band name?

“We” is all of us. The function is inclusive, just as music should be. It’s for everyone, if it speaks to you. It’s tiring to keep up with trends and the specificity of persona that certain types of indie music require, and it reminds us we are all connected and not required to be anything more than what we already are. The wilderness is something that can be anything known or unknown. We live in a city, in organized streets, walls and rules, but there is constant chaos and constant uncertainty. The opposite can be said about nature and the wilderness. Where some humans find the wilderness to be “uncivilized and chaotic” it contains rigid structure and balance. We need to account for both ends of the spectrum in order to maintain equilibrium. The name reminds us to appreciate this balance, to cultivate awareness and care for it. Not just the human experience, but everything that makes up our world.

How would you describe your sound?

We try to balance electronic and acoustic elements, indie rock creativity with sensible structure. We use our classical backgrounds to blend beauty into a somewhat darker landscape of sounds and sharp percussion. We’ve heard the term “gloom pop” and have also been compared to a few different trip-hop groups.

What are some of your biggest influences, music or otherwise?

Philip Glass for his innovation and hustle, Jay-Z for his entrepreneurship, Thom Yorke for his creativity and refusal to conform, John Lennon for his vision, care, and effort to make the world better through music



An underrated album everyone should listen to:

Not sure if it’s necessarily underrated, but we have been loving Sea Wolf’s Old World Romance. We listened to it on our way to our SXSW gig this year. Many tracks stir the heart with a painful nostalgia and a reminiscence of something past that used to hold deep love.

What inspired the video for your single “Just For Now?”

The concept was formed by our friends and fellow Bushwick artists, Sarah Stuve (director/editor) and PJ Linden from Wonderpuss Octopus Ink. We all love different types of anime, video games and fantasy nerd stuff so it came out as a brilliant culmination of all of that. Sarah’s vision was creative and innovative (something we were blown away by from the beginning) and the effort PJ put in on all the artwork, illustrations and styling (Shanda’s long-john suit by Mandate Of Heaven and Ryan’s sweater from Chop Wood, Carry Water) made for an amazing finished product.

What was the songwriting process like for Descending from Paramount?

We were writing, tracking, and producing the songs all at the same time! We only had two previously written songs that made it to the full-length so everything was new. From start to finish, it took us about four months to complete the album. The pace was crazy, but it was also a lot of fun.

What’s next for We Are The Wilderness?

We would love to do a US tour. In the meantime, we are working on new videos. The next one will be for “Outside Looking In.” We are always looking for new opportunities to collaborate with local artists and musicians. We already have a few song sketches in the works for the next album as well. Through creativity we can all truly live.



Read more: http://www.riffraf.net/2013/05/indie-spotlight-we-are-the-wilderness/#ixzz2YaNoL3Wq - Riff Raf

Cameo Gallery has been rocking just about every night so far in the early part of the summer concert season, and the action will be getting even more intense when We Are The Wilderness takes the gallery stage on July 6.

The band decided to hold the show a result of selling out Glasslands and having prominent guests, such as Phantogram's own Josh Carter, in the audience for their official record release show last month.

With the premiere of their new video for “Just For Now” on Baeble, We Are The Wilderness recently released their album Descending from Paramount to much critical acclaim.

"Worlds Burn Bright" is the penultimate track on the album, starting out with a peaceful melody via the harp, it becomes more visceral: heavy drum beats, haunting but still beautiful- a metaphor for humanity. “It blends beauty and harshness, silence and sound, to show us duality of life which is visceral yet cerebral all at the same time, it also touches on themes of connection and the human struggle for balance.” the band explained.

Shanda Woods and Ryan Manchester, originally from Texas, formed the Brooklyn, New York based duo in the winter of 2010.

After only a year into writing and recording music, We Are The Wilderness has been positively received by industry veterans and music aficionados alike.

Some of their most recent accomplishments include headlining playing showcases at CMJ 2012, SXSW 2013, and venues such as Brooklyn's Cameo Music Gallery and Glasslands.

The band also interviewed with Enter The Shell, The Glendale Register, Fern TV, Bushwick Nation and My Social List.

Using their background in classical music, WATW challenges today’s notions of indie pop/rock by mixing their various influences into each song.

From piano sonatas, electronic music, to hip hop, WATW masterfully and meticulously crafts each song to reveal many layers that are at once artistically relevant and widely appealing. We Are The Wilderness' live show uses a mix of electronics, live instruments, vocals, and interactive video projections to create an experience that engages their ever-growing fan base.

The WATW fan base ranges from local die-hards (some driving three or more hours to catch the SXSW set) to international listeners. ReverbNation's Brooklyn indie charts list We Are The Wilderness in the Top 40 and many of indie rock's tastemakers follow them on Twitter and Facebook.

Regardless of trends, We Are The Wilderness will always create quality, honest music for both themselves and those supporting this burgeoning act from the ground floor up.

Their show on July 6 at Brooklyn's Cameo Gallery will surely be a hot ticket. Music fans can check them out at their official website. - Examiner

Shanda Woods, 29, and Ryan Manchester, 28, came to Bushwick from Amarillo, Texas, four years ago to pursue the fast-paced life of New York City.

It wasn’t until 2011 when they finally decided that what they really needed was already there in front of them.

Two years ago, they formed the two-person indie-rock band We Are The Wilderness, and have been playing shows around the city ever since, formulating their sound and doing what they love.

Their debut album, "Descending From Paramount", is set for May 7 with an album release party at The Glasslands at 289 Kent Ave., on Wednesday, May 22, at 8:30 p.m.

Where did you meet?

Shanda: We were in High School, in our hometown in Amarillo, Texas.

How did you decide to come together and make music?

Ryan: I got a classical composition degree, so I was coming here (New York) to do classical music. So we always wanted to collaborate musically, but we just didn’t know how. I always played in bands, with like four or five people, and learning these fresh techniques helped us hone our skills to be able to create a nice full sound as just two people.

Shanda: While Ryan was doing the classical composition thing, I was going to Columbia University for the Evolutionary Biology and Ecology program. I took the GRE and was like, “I don’t ever want to do this ever again.” Music was just something that was leading up to everything in my life. I also teach yoga and spin classes, and that is a very musically driven thing. I’ve been in musicals and choirs my whole life, so I was just like, you know we’re here, this is New York, this is the place to live and actually do what you want to in life because it’s such a non-traditional place to be.

What instruments do you play?

Ryan: I play guitar and I picked up piano while I was in college, but I am more classically trained on the guitar. We both sort of co-produce the tracks and we self-edit what we’re doing and edit each other’s stuff as well.

Shanda: Starting in elementary school, in middle school and in high school, I was in one of the best choirs in Texas. At Tascosa High School in Texas, I was in the acapella choir in my senior year. I also studied voice at University of North Texas for a little bit.

Your music is very involved. When you play a show, how do the two of you re-create that?

Shanda: We have a live drummer now, so that has added a nice full component to it. We run some of the extra production stuff, we run it through some backing tracks.

Ryan: Through a laptop and the house monitors.

Shanda: We’re also looking to add in analog synth for more of the soundscape.

Ryan: As we add more live elements, we will get away from some of the backing tracks on the computer.

How do you describe the style of music you are playing now?

Shanda: I feel like it is an authentic expression of what we love about music. For the genre, I guess it’s like indie, electronic or pop; that kind of thing. A friend of ours called it Gloom Pop the other day (Ryan laughs) and I thought that was kind of accurate because it’s beautiful, but it’s also kind of visceral in a way and I think that the beauty comes from Ryan’s classical background.

I also have a classical singing background, so we manage to form a melody in a certain way. It is also very accessible. It’s not so artsy or esoteric, even though it is artistic. It’s detailed but not overly so much, because I think a lot of indie music can be slightly pretentious.

Who are your biggest influences?

Ryan: Really my biggest influence musically and otherwise was Phillip Glass, the classical composer. Really I just like the way he’s done it. He came up in a way in the classical world that rejected his music, and he didn’t care. He didn’t compromise anything and did it his own way. He drove a cab until he was 40 and now he’s making money on his music solely, but just that sort of drive and uncompromising passion is what inspired me.

Shanda: I would honestly have to say Radiohead, because that was the first, with my money, I bought OK Computer, not with the help of my parent’s pocket. I remember going and getting it and just that they had been consistently weaving in and out of my life. Now that I am older and creating music, and learning the detail of their songs and just how complex it is, there’s always something new. I can go back and listen to albums from years ago like Kid A and hear different stuff constantly.

What makes Brooklyn the place to be right now for music?

Ryan: Live music culture is changing here drastically. You all have these have clubs in the Lower East Side, in Manhattan, that are closing down that used to be the place to check out live music. I feel like now people are kind of scrambling to find it.

Shanda: We’ve been playing shows here, and I feel like its resurging.

Ryan: I feel like Brooklyn is bringing that vibe back. CBGB’s is closed down and I feel like the club owners are taking the responsibili - Greenpoint Star

It’s a pretty big claim for a duo from Brooklyn—comprising players Shanda Woods and Ryan Manchester—to name themselves something as expansive as We Are the Wilderness. Lucky for them, their electronically inclined pop tunes sound like they took an army to make. Opener “Just for Now” rings with gauzy guitar phrasings, thundering drums, and Woods’ to-the-rafters singing. Here and on moodier turns later in the record—cascading “Dreams are Thoughts” or the expansive “Spiraling to Still”—the band is at full strength, meshing live instrumentation (especially those propulsive drums) with shimmering electro-textures.

Sometimes that shimmer is a bit too shiny, buffed to a hollow sheen on tracks such as “Outside Looking” and “Leading From Emptiness”. In these moments, the size becomes too crowded, the sweating pulse of the songs lost in a fog of keyboards and skittering beats. We Are the Wilderness has a name that implies size, but it’s when they balance that synthed-out size with the organic elements their name also implies that their tunes shine the brightest. - Pop Matters

They say that you are a product of your environment and that holds true for the indie duo band from Brooklyn, We are the Wilderness. Coming from a strong and overlooked community of arts, both Ryan Manchester and Shanda Woods are continuing that great tradition of making groundbreaking musical material. It is all about aligning yourself to what feels right and in the case of We are the Wilderness, both Ryan and Shanda are in the right places. To where they make their music to where they play their music, We are the Wilderness have definitely found their niche and tamed the chaos of the music industry to their benefit. FERNTV gets an exclusive interview with both Ryan Manchester and Shanda Woods who explains why the Brooklyn Zoo is definitely the borough.
FERNTV: Can you please tell us the meaning or story behind naming the band We Are The Wilderness?

Shanda: "We" is all of us. The name is inclusive, just as we want our music to be. It's for everyone, if you want it to be. It's tiring to keep up with trends, and the "scene" that has become indie music. It reminds us we are all connected and not required to be anything more than what we already are. The wilderness is something that is feared because of the unknown. We live in a city, in organized streets, walls and rules, but there is constant chaos and constant uncertainty. The opposite can be said about the wilderness. For some reason we have deemed it "uncivilized and chaotic" yet it contains structure and balance. The name also reminds us to appreciate this balance between the two, to cultivate awareness and care for it. Not just the human experience, but everything that makes up our world.

FERNTV: Everybody knows that New York is a musical hub but people tend to forget that there is a lot of musical history in the city of Brooklyn. Coming from Brooklyn, why do you think this is so?

Shanda: I think a lot of people, unless they have visited or lived here, forget just how varied New York is. Each borough has a life of it's own, and it's easy to forget some of the best musical minds came from the somewhat deserts of Brooklyn (Bed-Stuy, Ft. Greene, etc..)

Ryan: A lot of art history (not only music) comes from Brooklyn. I think it's because artists are drawn to similar areas. Due to the lower cost of living Brooklyn can provide, it allows artists of all types of media time to pursue their art as well as be involved in an artistic community.

FERNTV: Are musical expectations high for the group because you are from Brooklyn?

Ryan: I don't necessarily think about expectations, I just think about delivering the best art that I can. We are from many places, not just Brooklyn, so we've gained influence and knowledge from everywhere we've been. It just so happened to culminate in Brooklyn

Shanda: And because of our life experiences as well as our listeners', expectations are more open. As a band, we hold ourselves to the highest level of expectation and will always push ourselves artistically, but our fans are open minded and only expect quality.

FERNTV: What spots (meaning bars) in the Tri State area does a band have to play in before anything else and can you briefly describe why?

Ryan: I don't subscribe to the belief that there are only a few certain ways to get your music out. As far as playing live goes, bands should find venues that fit their sound and image. For us, NYC venues such as Cameo Gallery and Cake Shop have fit well for us.

FERNTV: Tell us a little bit about your upcoming debut LP "Descending from Paramount"?

Ryan: The songs are all very dynamic, some more so than others. We took the approach of writing an album, not just a collection of singles. In that way, we feel the songs flow nicely from one to the next and a cohesive aesthetic was achieved. As far as a listening experience, this is an album for all seasons. We wrote and recorded it during the summer, mixed and mastered during the fall and winter, and will release it in the spring (May 7). We both have been listening to the album recently and have realized that it is an album that resonates all year round.

FERNTV: What was one of the major differences in making this LP from making you EP "Elevation"?

Ryan: "Elevation" was more of a collection of songs with Shanda and I trying to find what We Are The Wilderness is. Through creating these songs on our own, self releasing it, and getting feedback from friends, we were able to use "Elevation" as a stepping stone to "Descending From Paramount," which is a more cohesive and rewarding listening experience.

FERNTV: Is there a connection between the two albums because you are elevating and then descending?

Shanda: There is constant flux in life, the only consta - FERN TV

We Are The Wilderness are a two-piece, electro rock outfit who hang their hat in the borough of Brooklyn. It's a setting that serve's the band's video for "Just For Now" well. Here actual and virtual reality collide, as singer Shanda Woods makes her way through a human video game...sporting, we might add, a really excellent body suit. "Just For Now" is from the band's new album Descending From Paramount, out May 7th.

- Baeble Music

They have sold out venues and been receiving critical praises from different music blogs and that’s not a surprise once you listen to the band and especially their latest album, Descending From Paramount and is that We Are The Wilderness is bringing with them a really particular sound.

“Just For Now” is a dark and emotional intro for what looks to be a really special record. We can hear drums, guitar scratches more than riffs though this doesn’t mean it isn’t awesome and that piano that really gives a great touch to an already great track. “Dreams Are Thoughts” has this pop vibe that reminded me of acts such as Britney Spears (Think Toxic), Little Mix but at the same time it has this dreamy rock feel. Vocal harmonies combined with a perfect messy background music it’s just catchy, fun and beautiful. “Leading From Emptiness” it has some of the aforementioned though this track it’s more indie as in Coldplay. A piano driven track that’s really dramatic but it has some of what looks to be hip hop or electronica.

“Outside Looking In”, it’s haunting and really reminded me of The Smiths, tambourines combined with upbeat vocals that eventually shifts from a sad song to an interesting dance track. “Feeling is Necessity” goes for what looks to be a Moby sort of vibe, with some great guitar rhythm riffs and some goblins and special effects that really makes the song interesting. “Dissolving Into Illusion” kicks once again with some great guitar riffs, drum beats and pretty follows the same road as last track.

“Together We Pretend” it has some great vocals, the sound we already know though we can hear more of this particular, really similar Sega and Super Nintendo video games sound. In “World Burns Bright” we got this beautiful, relaxing intro that as the song goes on leaves behind the peace for a much heavier and intense song with double pedal drum beats and guitar riffs.

“Impressions of Time” close this record and it immediately kicks with this really cool piano and the interesting vocals, it’s an emotional and it really knows how to evoke your spirit. Background harmonies in the background with the music once again makes, in my opinion, one of the best of track. Especially when the song comes to an end.

In conclusion, here’s an album and a band that will change your perception of music. Get ready to be taken into a journey of sound that even though bands such as Nine Inch Nails already use in their music for years, there’s something unique and interesting in this band that really catch your attention and imagination. Outstanding considering it’s the product of just two people.

- See more at: http://ventsmagazine.com/descending-from-paramount-by-we-are-the-wilderness/#sthash.WGS617eP.dpuf - Vents Magazine

Who: We Are The Wilderness
Where: Brooklyn, NY
For fans of: The Postal Service, Phantogram, Portishead, Karmin

“Perfect for any fan of boundary-breaking soul and video games” – The Deli Magazine

"Their show on July 6 at Brooklyn’s Cameo Gallery will surely be a hot ticket" – Examiner

"Here’s an album and a band that will change your perception of music." – Vents Magazine

“The band is truly inspirational.” – Eco Vegan Gal

"Their electronically inclined pop tunes sound like they took an army to make." – Popmatters

Very high praise indeed for Brooklyn-based indie-electronica pop duo We Are The Wilderness, who recently came off a successful run at this year’s SXSW. The duo of Shanda Woods and Ryan Manchester came together back in 2010 and first came to light a couple years later at the influential CMJ Festival and took their take on electronica-infused pop music to SXSW this year in showcase-fashion. They now have their debut LP out called Descending From Paramount, which is described as:

“not just a collection of songs. The tracks remain cohesive yet each one provides a distinct listening experience. This is an album for all seasons; written and recorded during the summer, mixed and mastered during fall and winter and will be glooming in your speakers in spring!”

Just watch…this slowly burgeoning duo could explode in the near and forseeable future…you wait and see!

Why? Check out their video to “Just For Now” and their track “”Worlds Burn Bright1” - Musiqtone