Eric and Erica, Cantina, Young Nudist

Eric and Erica is a duo making raw, unconventional pop music. Beginning in Oakland, CA playing soft-textured dream pop with electronic drums, the band recently relocated to Durham, NC, and has evolved in to a sleek, energetic live duo. Intent to get as much sound as possible out of two people, the live version of the band has Erica singing and playing effected electric Autoharp, with Eric accompanying on drums, foot pedal bass synthesizer and voice simultaneously. The effect is as tender and carefully crafted as ever, but with a new dynamic intensity and a bolder emotive quality. They make intimate music, and invite you in to it.

Eric and Erica’s new full-length album (The Way To Turn, out 8/25) broadens their delicate musical origins with fuller instrumentation and a bolder sonic palette. Themes of deep yearning and nostalgia play out in confessional lyrics both emotional and playful across songs ranging from up-tempo garage-pop anthems (“One Two Three”) to whisper-quiet ballads (“Person). Always centered around Erica’s intimate, highly expressive vocal performances, the varied instrumentation on record includes everything from feedback-laden guitar solos to multi-tracked swirling autoharps to the ambient sounds of Erica running down the hallway. These diverse arrangements were expertly captured and finessed by veteran recording engineer Robert Cheek (Band of Horses, Tera Melos), who helped balance the band’s desire for extremes of sonic density and minimalist songwriter craft. With ten songs lasting just thirty-five minutes, the album moves along quickly, always rooted in a classic pop music sensibility, but with a restless exploratory energy eager to move beyond the genres formulas and traditions.

To celebrated the record, the band released a music video created by Sneal (tUnE-yArDs, Young Nudist) for the song “Comeback,” as well as several short experimental videos they created themselves. More videos will follow, including a collaboration with Christine Hucal (Naytronix, Pegasus Warning). They will be touring the US extensively throughout the fall of 2015 and early 2016. Eric and Erica have toured the whole country several times over in support of previous releases (they have one previous full-length album, and three EPs), including many dates as supporting act and backing band for Sean Hayes, and shows with Here We Go Magic, The Dodos and Buke and Gase. All this time on the road has the band eager to bring their music to a wider variety of spaces and people this time around. Houses, farms, store fronts and bowling alleys find their way in to their upcoming tour schedule, among the usual clubs and bars. They hope that this is only the beginning of a new kind of touring and music making that can find them playing anywhere from nursing homes and elementary schools to public pools and libraries, and continuing to use their music to connect with and take care of people


Cantina is Renata Zeiguer's growing music project. Horizons was recorded last spring with the help of Adam Schatz, Ian Chang, Ian Davis, and Alex Jacobs. This spring will bear something new. Stay posted for new music and for upcoming shows.


Composer and pianist Michael Coleman (Beep!, CavityFang, Chris Cohen, tUnE­yArDs) began recording himself alone in his rehearsal studio in Oakland, CA. Out of this small room, filled with casio keyboards, curious synths, abandoned percussion and disreputable guitars, Young Nudist emerged. The name captures the uninhibited and slightly mischievous nature of Coleman's unpredictable pop songwriting, which calls to mind the best of Deerhoof, Captain Beefheart, SMiLE­era Beach Boys, and acid­balladeer Rodd Keith.