Early Riser
New album Vocations coming soon
Early Riser
Brooklyn quartet Early Riser has emerged as one of the most distinct-sounding bands in the punk scene, blending cello riffs and soaring vocal harmonies with pop hooks and uplifting lyrics. Since the 2017 release of their debut LP, Currents, they've played The Fest and Montreal’s Pouzza Fest, toured with The Homeless Gospel Choir, and opened for The Hold Steady, Anti-Flag, Jonah Matranga, Chris Farren, Spanish Love Songs, and Katie Ellen. They've also solidified their lineup, with founding members Kiri Oliver (vocals/guitar) and Heidi Vanderlee (cello/vocals) joined by Nicole Nussbaum on bass/vocals and Mikey Erg on drums/vocals.
Vocations, their forthcoming second album on A-F Records, zeroes in on their strengths and then amplifies them, with a fuller sound, four-part vocals, and insightful lyrics that dig into the challenges of life but ultimately focus on the way forward. Although the album was written and recorded before the pandemic, several of the songs ask questions that have taken on even more meaning in the past year: "What are you doing with your life for the next 24 hours?" "If I asked you right now to be honest, would you just run away?" "Are we artists, are we fighters, are we all of the above?" While Currents was about closing the door on the past, Vocations is about being fully immersed in the challenges and opportunities of the present. It’s a powerful love letter to self-acceptance and the decision to double down on what’s most important to you.
