Requiem, hailing from Washington, DC, consists of Doug Kallmayer, an engineer who has worked with Blonde Redhead, guitarist Tristan Welch, and visual artist Monica Stroik. In their new offerings, the band combines their forward-thinking musicianship with a strong sense of emotional catharsis by bringing together ambient sounds, adventurous post rock elements, and electronic components accompanied by a multimedia presentation. Their upcoming album, POPulist Agendas, will be released on August 11th, 2023 through Mutineer Records.
Suddenly I Have A Dreadful Urge To Be Happy epitomizes the principles of classic post rock, not only through its intriguing song title, but also as a result of its expansive sound, resonating with the genre's characteristic openness. The track presents a grand and magnificent melody, and comes across reminiscent of the impassioned post rock sound of bands such as Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Mogwai, together with the shoegaze approaches of Bowery Electric.
The album's overall aesthetic merges an array of musical elements, extending across subtle pop sensibilities, instrumental post rock, ambient textures, and electronic rhythms.
“Our frames of mind might be different,” Tristan Welch comments. “We can get along with the harsh noise people. We can get along with the ambient world. We can get along with the punk world and metal and all that. But we never fit in with any little sub-scene.”
“It’s really interesting what it does for people,” Doug Kallmeyer expresses his fascination with the impact of the band's sound and its interplay with the mesmerizing multimedia experiences they provide during their live performances. “We’ve had massive responses from those who have PTSD, people who have problems with insomnia or anxiety, or A.D.H.D. After shows, these people approach us and exclaim, ‘Oh my God, I haven’t been able to be that calm in years. You’ve gotta release this.’”
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