Klamath based Relevant Discord to release 'The Traverse' December 6
/New single, “Today, We Remember” is available now
The Traverse, a new album by Relevant Discord releases on December 6, 2019. Current single “Today, We Remember (Radio Edit)” is available now.
SOUTHERN OREGON - It's been a bit of a tale of two cites," describes Klamath Falls resident, Nick Depew, in speaking of his past year and a half traveling back and forth between Klamath and Ashland, OR. The purpose for these trips has been to record music and assist members of a studio team in Ashland.
For those unfamiliar with Depew, he is a person of creative, entrepreneurial endeavors. From authoring a career and life success book carried by The New York Public Library, titled "Character in Transition," to co-hosting the bimonthly peace-building Klamath Listens group at the Klamath County Library, the Henley High and Oregon Tech grad finds some of his greatest fulfillment releasing music under the rock band moniker "Relevant Discord" and coaching artists in their business and brand development.
Relevant Discord is a non-traditional effort by most standards. Depew is the only official member of the band. However, he often works with a number of musicians to help bring his vision to life in the studio and when performing live.
This unconventional thinking also makes its way directly into Relevant Discord recorded material.
Instead of releasing simply one version of a particular song, over the years Depew has enlisted the assistance of producer Joe Haze (Sublime, George Lynch, Gladys Knight, Chuck Mosley) to reinterpret, re-invent, re-design, and remix Relevant Discord work.
On December 6, 2019, Relevant Discord will release an 11 track extended EP, titled "The Traverse," that follows suit with such diversity. The EP features multiple interpretations of three songs. Versions include: full-length rock singles, radio edits for time, stripped back string forward and acoustic mixes, and emotive industrial and electronic pieces. The first single, "Today, We Remember (Radio Edit)," is available now as both an individual single and instant download with EP pre-orders.
While previous collaborations between Depew and Haze were created remotely, for "The Traverse," the two convened in Ashland in November of 2018 at Studio Divine [a recording facility affiliated with platinum rock producer Sylvia Massy, known in the industry for her work with acts such as: Tool, System of a Down, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Prince, and Johnny Cash]. That initial session laid the groundwork for the new material, before having Haze return in February of this year to add finishing touches to the recording process. Between the two sessions, Depew worked with an in-house engineer and a Los Angeles based string player to add layers to the compositions. In March of this year, Depew and Haze released a remix EP, titled "Rediscovery," as a precursor to their in-studio collaboration. The months that followed saw the mixing and remixing of "The Traverse" material, with final mastering taking place in September with Howie Weinberg (Nirvana, The Smashing Pumpkins, Muse, The Beastie Boys).
As for the stories behind his writings, Depew seldom gives listeners many specifics, preferring to let the audience insert their own experiences into the frameworks. However, with "The Traverse," he opens up a bit more: "These are songs I wrote over 12 years ago, but they still strongly resonate with me. Sometimes a song comes from one place in life, yet circumstances and realities make that same song just as poignant in the ever changing moment. For example, 'Today, We Remember' is a song that speaks of handling grief collectively and valuing one another in the present. It's not about any one specific event, rather those moments where we all experience pain and loss together. Sadly, things of that nature only continue to occur. In those times, we have love, we have memory, and we have one another."
As for the name "The Traverse," Depew continues: "This past year and a half has been one of significant change in both my life and Joe's. I left a job of several years, saw good people pass away, had a family dynamic change, and turned 40. I made wonderful new friends and was presented with exciting new opportunities. However, there was (and sometimes still is) great struggle and uncertainty throughout it. Physically recording these songs entailed crossing both snowy mountain passes on many occasions and crossing the country. It was rugged and daunting, yet beautiful at varying moments. The idea of embarking on a difficult, life-changing journey surrounded so much of the process and season. The title 'The Traverse' just felt like a natural expression of that."
Nick Depew, Relevant Discord
What's next for Depew? In addition to advancing Relevant Discord's efforts and ongoing artist consultation, Nick and producer Sylvia Massy are pursuing a joint venture in Ashland: the formation of a vintage audio equipment museum. Its purpose will be to preserve vintage recording equipment pieces and support and promote public interest, awareness, knowledge, and education in the audio recording arts. Depew and Massy made the joint announcement at the end of August with a mutually shared social media post showing the two signing paperwork. While few details on the museum have yet to release, Depew assures, "Things are in the works!"
For more information on Relevant Discord, please visit: relevantdiscord.com. Regional "The Traverse" release events are in the works. Details will be posted on Relevant Discord's website and social media platforms, as they become available.