Royal Teeth
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Royal Teeth

New Orleans, Louisiana, United States | INDIE

New Orleans, Louisiana, United States | INDIE
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"Royal Teeth Goes National"



If you missed Royal Teeth's gig last night at Jefferson Street Pub, perhaps you have heard the band and didn't know it.

Royal Teeth's song, "Wild" was in the opening scene of ABC's crime drama Body of Proof Tuesday night.

"A group of teenagers are coming out of a movie theater and one of the teenagers shortly thereafter that his dad had been murdered," says Josh Hefner, Royal Teeth's drummer. "It's just a little weird. It went from happy-sounding music to finding out a family member has been killed."

Oh, the drama.

And in January, Fox began using the song in a promo for its 2012 line-up. And if you happen to be in Canada anytime soon, that song you hear behind GM's Buick commercial is also "Wild" by Royal Teeth.

Royal Teeth, formed in November 2010, is Gary Larsen, vocals; Nora Patterson, vocals; Andrew Poe, keyboards, Stevie Billeaud, guitar; Josh Wells, bass; and Hefner, drums.

The song Wild is off of the band's debut EP titled Act Naturally which was released in July of last year.

"All pretty cool things," says Hefner. "It's pretty cool having your music on national television."

So what category does Royal Teeth fall into?

"It's kind of hard to classify," Hefner says, but leans toward in Indy-pop. "We've got rock elements. We've got pop elements. We definitely have Indy elements as well. So if you put it those together, it's Indy-rock-pop.

"It's kind of a hard classification," he continues. "You say pop and people think Brittney Spears. You say rock, people think Aerosmith. But we're far from either one of those.

"I just say Indy-pop," he says.

Despite the new found fame and growing reputation, the band members all have day jobs and Hefner is in his first year of law school at Loyola in New Orleans.

The road to national recognition began in November when Royal Teeth received an offer from Fox to use their song. After the paperwork was done, the band waited to hear from the network.

But it wasn't the network who informed the group about their song.

"We were hanging out for New Year's Eve in New Orleans and our singer Gary got a phone call from one of his buddies who was like, 'I just heard you guys on Fox,'" says Hefner. "And that's pretty much how we found out they used it."

Same sort of thing with the Buick commercial.

Finding out second hand about song placement isn't really a bother; the band gets compensated which is a good thing.

"On a local level, it's hard to make money and keep your band. We put a lot of money into recording, merchandise and all that stuff," he says. "And all that stuff is fairly expensive if you do it right you can spend a lot of money doing that."

As a rule, while there is little compensation putting the money into those things, the song placement deals have been rewarding.

"It's actually given us an opportunity to do stuff and also given us an opportunity to purchase a van and hit the road this summer," says Heffner. "It's hard to let go of a steady income with a hope that things are going to work out.

"But now that we have some financial support behind us," he says. "It's going to really allow us to do more than what we could have done before."

Like touring this summer. But prior to that, Royal Teeth is heading to Austin's South by Southwest later this month.

And come June 1, Royal Teeth and Rareluth share a gig at Downtown Alive! - The Independent Weekly


"Royal Teeth Goes National"



If you missed Royal Teeth's gig last night at Jefferson Street Pub, perhaps you have heard the band and didn't know it.

Royal Teeth's song, "Wild" was in the opening scene of ABC's crime drama Body of Proof Tuesday night.

"A group of teenagers are coming out of a movie theater and one of the teenagers shortly thereafter that his dad had been murdered," says Josh Hefner, Royal Teeth's drummer. "It's just a little weird. It went from happy-sounding music to finding out a family member has been killed."

Oh, the drama.

And in January, Fox began using the song in a promo for its 2012 line-up. And if you happen to be in Canada anytime soon, that song you hear behind GM's Buick commercial is also "Wild" by Royal Teeth.

Royal Teeth, formed in November 2010, is Gary Larsen, vocals; Nora Patterson, vocals; Andrew Poe, keyboards, Stevie Billeaud, guitar; Josh Wells, bass; and Hefner, drums.

The song Wild is off of the band's debut EP titled Act Naturally which was released in July of last year.

"All pretty cool things," says Hefner. "It's pretty cool having your music on national television."

So what category does Royal Teeth fall into?

"It's kind of hard to classify," Hefner says, but leans toward in Indy-pop. "We've got rock elements. We've got pop elements. We definitely have Indy elements as well. So if you put it those together, it's Indy-rock-pop.

"It's kind of a hard classification," he continues. "You say pop and people think Brittney Spears. You say rock, people think Aerosmith. But we're far from either one of those.

"I just say Indy-pop," he says.

Despite the new found fame and growing reputation, the band members all have day jobs and Hefner is in his first year of law school at Loyola in New Orleans.

The road to national recognition began in November when Royal Teeth received an offer from Fox to use their song. After the paperwork was done, the band waited to hear from the network.

But it wasn't the network who informed the group about their song.

"We were hanging out for New Year's Eve in New Orleans and our singer Gary got a phone call from one of his buddies who was like, 'I just heard you guys on Fox,'" says Hefner. "And that's pretty much how we found out they used it."

Same sort of thing with the Buick commercial.

Finding out second hand about song placement isn't really a bother; the band gets compensated which is a good thing.

"On a local level, it's hard to make money and keep your band. We put a lot of money into recording, merchandise and all that stuff," he says. "And all that stuff is fairly expensive if you do it right you can spend a lot of money doing that."

As a rule, while there is little compensation putting the money into those things, the song placement deals have been rewarding.

"It's actually given us an opportunity to do stuff and also given us an opportunity to purchase a van and hit the road this summer," says Heffner. "It's hard to let go of a steady income with a hope that things are going to work out.

"But now that we have some financial support behind us," he says. "It's going to really allow us to do more than what we could have done before."

Like touring this summer. But prior to that, Royal Teeth is heading to Austin's South by Southwest later this month.

And come June 1, Royal Teeth and Rareluth share a gig at Downtown Alive! - The Independent Weekly


"NIKON and Warner Winners Royal Teeth Keep it Regal at SXSW"

“Don’t you think it’s time for you and me to make some history?” intone vocalists Gary Larsen and Nora Patterson as colors and darkness sweep around them. Louisiana-based band Royal Teeth sports a substantial roster of instruments and vocals – and from the video they entered in the Warner and Nikon Creative Invite from Talenthouse, it’s clear that they’ve got the wild child chops to make it all come together on stage.

After triumphing in the Invite, the sextuple skills of Gary Larsen (vocals/guitar/percussion), Nora Patterson (vocals), Joshua Wells (bass), Josh Hefner (drums), Stevie Billeaud (guitar) and Andrew Poe (keys/percussion) made their way to the Warner Sound event of South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas. Following up on their surprise winner announcement video, we landed a written interview with Royal Teeth as they rolled toward “The Live Music Capital of the World.”


Royal Teeth rock the house as part of Warner Sound at SXSW.
Talenthouse: What lead you to participate in this Creative Invite?
Royal Teeth: A friend of ours sent us a link to the contest. It seemed like a great opportunity so we just went for it! Opportunities like this can really make a difference so we are very grateful to have been chosen for this opportunity. We didn’t think we could be more excited to be showcasing our music at SXSW…until now!

TH: How might you define your music in terms of genres or styles?
RT: We get asked the genre question a lot and it’s always difficult to answer, so we have made up a genre called Afro/Hug-step. Ha! Our music is very upbeat and fun but it’s also very big and has a lot of heart. Royal Teeth equals Afro/Hug-step.

TH: Releasing your first EP with a cover of the The Knife’s “Heartbeats” was an ambitious move. What elements or new perspective do you emphasize in your interpretation?
RT: It was but it didn’t feel like it at the time. We chose Heartbeats to play live. We thought we could do it justice and that it might be something fun at shows. When we started noticing that it was something people were looking forward to live we figured to bring it to the studio. Our producer had never even heard the original song! I think that made the creating process fun and helped make the cover our own. Our version was based off of a live video of the song. When we saw that video it really clicked that we could use those elements and make it huge.

TH: What was the inspiration for your song “Wild,” the video of which (directed by Jared Serigné) won you the Nikon and Warner Creative Invite?
RT: The inspiration for “Wild” was pretty simple. Gary had the chorus melody in his head and from there it was very easy to write as a band. We never really know which song is going to be the one that stands out but from live shows and writing it in the studio we knew there was something special about it. It’s about feeling young and naive, and how that can feel so amazing at times when things are hard or complicated. The lyrics are easy to connect to and I think it’s the most relevant in our lives personally when we think of ourselves making the leap to quit our regular lives and pursue our music.


The band in high spirits on the roads from Louisiana to Texas.
TH: Please list a few reasons why you have named yourselves “Royal Teeth” – with only one of them being true. (And let us know which is reply is authentic at some point.)
RT:
A) Every one is the band has AMAZING teeth…so it just made sense.
B) One time Josh and Gary got in a huge fight and Josh punched Gary in the face, knocking one of his teeth out. They later started a band and Royal Teeth was born.
C) If you say Royal Teeth fast it sounds like Royalty…and that’s pretty cool.
D) In reality, Royal Teeth means nothing. Make something up and get the rumors going!

[Editor's note: The correct answer is D.] It was two words from two different band name ideas and we liked the play on words. It is the perfect example that a name can mean anything to anyone. Everyone tells us different definitions of Royal Teeth and we love it. Ha! It really doesn’t have to mean anything. Now, it simply means us and our music.


Royal Teeth scales new heights at yet another venue.
TH: Any special plans for SXSW – playing old favorites, unleashing new songs, catching some particular bands onstage, or sampling signature Austin cuisine?
RT: We plan on bringing as much energy and fun as we can! We have some new songs that were recently recorded that we can’t wait to show off. We are really hoping to catch Fionna Apple, Kimbra, B.o.B, Fun., Right Away Great Captain!, Santigold, Theophilus London, and many others! The food goes without question.

We now have footage provided directly by Royal Teeth, granting us an insider’s view of what they unleashed at SXSW – briefly starting from an edgy sideways POV before hitting a more horizontal vision: - Talenthouse.com


"NIKON and Warner Winners Royal Teeth Keep it Regal at SXSW"

“Don’t you think it’s time for you and me to make some history?” intone vocalists Gary Larsen and Nora Patterson as colors and darkness sweep around them. Louisiana-based band Royal Teeth sports a substantial roster of instruments and vocals – and from the video they entered in the Warner and Nikon Creative Invite from Talenthouse, it’s clear that they’ve got the wild child chops to make it all come together on stage.

After triumphing in the Invite, the sextuple skills of Gary Larsen (vocals/guitar/percussion), Nora Patterson (vocals), Joshua Wells (bass), Josh Hefner (drums), Stevie Billeaud (guitar) and Andrew Poe (keys/percussion) made their way to the Warner Sound event of South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas. Following up on their surprise winner announcement video, we landed a written interview with Royal Teeth as they rolled toward “The Live Music Capital of the World.”


Royal Teeth rock the house as part of Warner Sound at SXSW.
Talenthouse: What lead you to participate in this Creative Invite?
Royal Teeth: A friend of ours sent us a link to the contest. It seemed like a great opportunity so we just went for it! Opportunities like this can really make a difference so we are very grateful to have been chosen for this opportunity. We didn’t think we could be more excited to be showcasing our music at SXSW…until now!

TH: How might you define your music in terms of genres or styles?
RT: We get asked the genre question a lot and it’s always difficult to answer, so we have made up a genre called Afro/Hug-step. Ha! Our music is very upbeat and fun but it’s also very big and has a lot of heart. Royal Teeth equals Afro/Hug-step.

TH: Releasing your first EP with a cover of the The Knife’s “Heartbeats” was an ambitious move. What elements or new perspective do you emphasize in your interpretation?
RT: It was but it didn’t feel like it at the time. We chose Heartbeats to play live. We thought we could do it justice and that it might be something fun at shows. When we started noticing that it was something people were looking forward to live we figured to bring it to the studio. Our producer had never even heard the original song! I think that made the creating process fun and helped make the cover our own. Our version was based off of a live video of the song. When we saw that video it really clicked that we could use those elements and make it huge.

TH: What was the inspiration for your song “Wild,” the video of which (directed by Jared Serigné) won you the Nikon and Warner Creative Invite?
RT: The inspiration for “Wild” was pretty simple. Gary had the chorus melody in his head and from there it was very easy to write as a band. We never really know which song is going to be the one that stands out but from live shows and writing it in the studio we knew there was something special about it. It’s about feeling young and naive, and how that can feel so amazing at times when things are hard or complicated. The lyrics are easy to connect to and I think it’s the most relevant in our lives personally when we think of ourselves making the leap to quit our regular lives and pursue our music.


The band in high spirits on the roads from Louisiana to Texas.
TH: Please list a few reasons why you have named yourselves “Royal Teeth” – with only one of them being true. (And let us know which is reply is authentic at some point.)
RT:
A) Every one is the band has AMAZING teeth…so it just made sense.
B) One time Josh and Gary got in a huge fight and Josh punched Gary in the face, knocking one of his teeth out. They later started a band and Royal Teeth was born.
C) If you say Royal Teeth fast it sounds like Royalty…and that’s pretty cool.
D) In reality, Royal Teeth means nothing. Make something up and get the rumors going!

[Editor's note: The correct answer is D.] It was two words from two different band name ideas and we liked the play on words. It is the perfect example that a name can mean anything to anyone. Everyone tells us different definitions of Royal Teeth and we love it. Ha! It really doesn’t have to mean anything. Now, it simply means us and our music.


Royal Teeth scales new heights at yet another venue.
TH: Any special plans for SXSW – playing old favorites, unleashing new songs, catching some particular bands onstage, or sampling signature Austin cuisine?
RT: We plan on bringing as much energy and fun as we can! We have some new songs that were recently recorded that we can’t wait to show off. We are really hoping to catch Fionna Apple, Kimbra, B.o.B, Fun., Right Away Great Captain!, Santigold, Theophilus London, and many others! The food goes without question.

We now have footage provided directly by Royal Teeth, granting us an insider’s view of what they unleashed at SXSW – briefly starting from an edgy sideways POV before hitting a more horizontal vision: - Talenthouse.com


"Royal Teeth plays CNN Special"

Royal Teeth was selected by CNN to perform a special acoustic version of "Wild" at SXSW 2012. - CNN


"Royal Teeth plays CNN Special"

Royal Teeth was selected by CNN to perform a special acoustic version of "Wild" at SXSW 2012. - CNN


"Royal Teeth plays Warner Sound Showcase @ SXSW"

The Warner Sound Captured by Nikon” will officially get underway on Wednesday, March 14th with a performance from Royal Teeth, the just-announced winners of WMG and Nikon’s “Your 1 Shot” contest. The Louisiana-based indie-pop sextet were selected by a stellar panel of music industry experts, including A&R executives from both Atlantic Records and Warner Bros. Records as well as guest artists from each label’s prestigious roster. Royal Teeth will also receive Nikon’s new portable camera with interchangeable lenses, the Nikon 1 J1, to capture their most memorable SXSW moments.
- Warner Music Group


"Royal Teeth plays Warner Sound Showcase @ SXSW"

The Warner Sound Captured by Nikon” will officially get underway on Wednesday, March 14th with a performance from Royal Teeth, the just-announced winners of WMG and Nikon’s “Your 1 Shot” contest. The Louisiana-based indie-pop sextet were selected by a stellar panel of music industry experts, including A&R executives from both Atlantic Records and Warner Bros. Records as well as guest artists from each label’s prestigious roster. Royal Teeth will also receive Nikon’s new portable camera with interchangeable lenses, the Nikon 1 J1, to capture their most memorable SXSW moments.
- Warner Music Group


"Travelin' Band"

High on the impending release of debut studio EP Act Naturally, upstart regional pop rock band Royal Teeth splurged on a little Flaming Lips-style theatricality for its energetic, fan-converting set at Secret’s Out!, a successful music, art and food bonanza held inside the Hartley-Vey studio space at the Manship Theatre in May.
“The last thing you want to do is shoot off a confetti cannon and have everybody just watch,” drummer Josh Hefner says a few weeks later, miming a comically bored facial reaction to a flutter of imaginary confetti drifting overhead at a corner table inside Garden District Coffe. “But people actually really got into it.”
Turns out those confetti guns went down like most everything else with this young six-piece band. More often than not, Royal Teeth tries something, and despite the odds or apparent roadblocks, it simply works.
Recruit a lead vocalist who has never been in a band before—check. Choose a live record for the group’s very first release? Sure. Record a cover of a popular, mega-selling single for the band’s new EP—why not? Maintain split residences in Lafayette and New Orleans, and no one complains about the road trips.
“I can’t even imagine what it would be like to be able to do two or three rehearsals a week,” says Hefner, who lives in Lafayette with bassist Josh Wells and keyboardist Andrew Poe, while guitarist Steve Billeaud and co-lead singers Gary Larsen and Nora Patterson reside in New Orleans. “That’s just unheard of for us. We’re lucky that everyone is a good enough musician that we know what each other brings to the table. Our practices are just fine-tuning.”
As somewhat of a midpoint, Baton Rouge has benefited from this distance, but ironically, so has the band’s songwriting. Royal Teeth’s first collaborations were kick-started by email.
“Lots of our songs have developed from us just sending each other ideas on a whim,” Larsen says. The 22-year-old songwriter even contacted Patterson for the first time online.
“We emailed her, told her about the band and asked her to try out,” Larsen says. “A week later she was practicing with us, and she stuck with it. I think it’s easier, especially with the Internet, just to throw it out there. She could have just made up any excuse or said she was too busy if she wasn’t interested in the band, so it wasn’t too nerve wracking.”
The petals of Patterson’s collaboration with the band are in full bloom on Act Naturally, a five-track record finished in just 10 days in South Carolina with Shinedown’s Eric Bass producing.
Leadoff track “Wild” finds Patterson’s crystalline vocal hooks bounding in joyous romps over Larsen’s grounded narrative. “I believe I can make you scream for me,” she sings, like Debbie Harry without that hint of snarling in her voice, like a little girl flirting on the playground with her fingers firmly crossed behind her back.
The band’s bold, warmed-up rendition of The Knife’s 2003 chilled-out club single “Heartbeats” sounds like a long-lost New Wave hit from the early 1980s, bubbling over with dance floor pulses and thick kick drum echoes. Royal Teeth effortlessly makes this familiar song its own without having to radically reinvent the style of the track or compromise the character of the band.
Royal Teeth’s musicians are only interested in being themselves, following their instincts and enjoying the ride, Larsen says. If making music and having audiences respond well is a difficult thing—even with his band split between two cities more than 100 miles apart—it is news to him.
“Everything about this band has been easy so far,” Larsen says. “Lots of people do the guy-girl vocals thing, but we felt that we could take our own swing at it.” Act Naturally is available in stores and through online retailers now. facebook.com/royalteeth - 225 Magazine


"Travelin' Band"

High on the impending release of debut studio EP Act Naturally, upstart regional pop rock band Royal Teeth splurged on a little Flaming Lips-style theatricality for its energetic, fan-converting set at Secret’s Out!, a successful music, art and food bonanza held inside the Hartley-Vey studio space at the Manship Theatre in May.
“The last thing you want to do is shoot off a confetti cannon and have everybody just watch,” drummer Josh Hefner says a few weeks later, miming a comically bored facial reaction to a flutter of imaginary confetti drifting overhead at a corner table inside Garden District Coffe. “But people actually really got into it.”
Turns out those confetti guns went down like most everything else with this young six-piece band. More often than not, Royal Teeth tries something, and despite the odds or apparent roadblocks, it simply works.
Recruit a lead vocalist who has never been in a band before—check. Choose a live record for the group’s very first release? Sure. Record a cover of a popular, mega-selling single for the band’s new EP—why not? Maintain split residences in Lafayette and New Orleans, and no one complains about the road trips.
“I can’t even imagine what it would be like to be able to do two or three rehearsals a week,” says Hefner, who lives in Lafayette with bassist Josh Wells and keyboardist Andrew Poe, while guitarist Steve Billeaud and co-lead singers Gary Larsen and Nora Patterson reside in New Orleans. “That’s just unheard of for us. We’re lucky that everyone is a good enough musician that we know what each other brings to the table. Our practices are just fine-tuning.”
As somewhat of a midpoint, Baton Rouge has benefited from this distance, but ironically, so has the band’s songwriting. Royal Teeth’s first collaborations were kick-started by email.
“Lots of our songs have developed from us just sending each other ideas on a whim,” Larsen says. The 22-year-old songwriter even contacted Patterson for the first time online.
“We emailed her, told her about the band and asked her to try out,” Larsen says. “A week later she was practicing with us, and she stuck with it. I think it’s easier, especially with the Internet, just to throw it out there. She could have just made up any excuse or said she was too busy if she wasn’t interested in the band, so it wasn’t too nerve wracking.”
The petals of Patterson’s collaboration with the band are in full bloom on Act Naturally, a five-track record finished in just 10 days in South Carolina with Shinedown’s Eric Bass producing.
Leadoff track “Wild” finds Patterson’s crystalline vocal hooks bounding in joyous romps over Larsen’s grounded narrative. “I believe I can make you scream for me,” she sings, like Debbie Harry without that hint of snarling in her voice, like a little girl flirting on the playground with her fingers firmly crossed behind her back.
The band’s bold, warmed-up rendition of The Knife’s 2003 chilled-out club single “Heartbeats” sounds like a long-lost New Wave hit from the early 1980s, bubbling over with dance floor pulses and thick kick drum echoes. Royal Teeth effortlessly makes this familiar song its own without having to radically reinvent the style of the track or compromise the character of the band.
Royal Teeth’s musicians are only interested in being themselves, following their instincts and enjoying the ride, Larsen says. If making music and having audiences respond well is a difficult thing—even with his band split between two cities more than 100 miles apart—it is news to him.
“Everything about this band has been easy so far,” Larsen says. “Lots of people do the guy-girl vocals thing, but we felt that we could take our own swing at it.” Act Naturally is available in stores and through online retailers now. facebook.com/royalteeth - 225 Magazine


"Band Shows its Teeth"


Local band Royal Teeth is having a CD release party at 8 p.m. Saturday at Grant Street Dancehall. Tickets are $6.
Written by
Matthew Sigur
msigur@theadvertiser.com
FILED UNDER
Accent
Pull Out
ADS BY PULSE 360
Get Listed Here
New Orleans:Mom Makes Botox Doctors Furious
Mom Reveals Clever $4 Wrinkle Therapy That Makes BOTOX Doctors Furious
TheHigherLifestyle.com
Louisiana: Refinance at 2.6%
$160,000 Louisiana Mortgage $659/mo. 2.9% apr. Get a Free Quote!
Lendgo.com/mortgage
Cash For Cell Phones
Get An Immediate Quote - Ship Now
www.PhoneDaddy.com
Lafayette is known most for its Cajun and Zydeco flavor. However, the area might just be carving out another reputation for delivering electronically-driven pop anthems.

Royal Teeth is the latest area band in the latter category. The area sextet is set to release its debut EP, "Act Naturally," Saturday night with a CD Release Party at Grant Street Dancehall. Music starts at 8 p.m., with Mobley, DJ Scoop and Sean Bruce opening. Tickets are $6.

In a little under a year, the band has transformed from naive pop babies just trying out new things to a mature band with stage presence that rivals Coldplay and other big-name touring acts.

To hone the band's adventurous sound, they knew they needed a huge-sounding record. They packed their bags and traveled to South Carolina to get prep a five-song album with producer/songwriter Eric Bass (who also plays in the popular rock act, Shinedown).

"Eric really brought us together and completed our sound and goals," drummer Josh Hefner said.

The recording process was difficult at first for the young band, full of "13-hours days of playing the same songs over and over again," Hefner said.

"We did some demos and a live EP previously, but this was the first real studio session [vocalists Gary Larsen and Nora Patterson] had done," Hefner said. "It can be intimidating, but they handled themselves really well. Because of that experience, they're new singers on stage as well."

Larsen went into the process expecting the worst, yet returning full of pride and confidence the band had completed what it set out to do.

"I was expecting it to be really hard, and I thought it was all going to be over my head," Larsen said, mentioning his previous experiences in the studio were local-based. "Musically, it was the best experience I had ever had. We were reinventing everything, and we rolled wiht it. We whole-heartedly feel that the finished product is what we wanted."

Among the material on the album is a slower, more toned-down cover of The Knife's cult hit, "Heartbeats."

"We always liked the idea of covering a song," Larsen said. "We never anticipated that it would be a standard for our set. Going into the studio and recording it, Eric had never heard it, but he didn't want to hear it. He let that influence what he did."

To fund the recording and post-production, the band used fundraising website, Kickstarter, hoping to raise $4,000 to support the album.

"Kickstarter is a tricky thing," Hefner said. "From the outside, it looks like you're asking for people's money. Four-thousand dollars is a lot to ask."

The fundraiser added stress to an already stressful situation. The band added videos each day to bring its fans in the studio with them and provided bonus incentives for those who pledged certain amounts.

Larsen said he was checking his phone "24/7 to see if anyone had donated." However, the band exceeded the goal, almost reaching $5,000.

"To see this many people donate money before they've even heard it ... it's a great feeling to know people are interested in what you do," Larsen said.

What you hear on "Act Naturally" is a band plowing through the maligned "local" adjective and producing stadium-ready songs. The band has come a long way from its days in separate folk and hard rock bands.

"We wanted to make a tangible record everyone can enjoy," Hefner said. "It had to be inviting. It's all about if the song is good." - The Daily Advertiser


"Band Shows its Teeth"


Local band Royal Teeth is having a CD release party at 8 p.m. Saturday at Grant Street Dancehall. Tickets are $6.
Written by
Matthew Sigur
msigur@theadvertiser.com
FILED UNDER
Accent
Pull Out
ADS BY PULSE 360
Get Listed Here
New Orleans:Mom Makes Botox Doctors Furious
Mom Reveals Clever $4 Wrinkle Therapy That Makes BOTOX Doctors Furious
TheHigherLifestyle.com
Louisiana: Refinance at 2.6%
$160,000 Louisiana Mortgage $659/mo. 2.9% apr. Get a Free Quote!
Lendgo.com/mortgage
Cash For Cell Phones
Get An Immediate Quote - Ship Now
www.PhoneDaddy.com
Lafayette is known most for its Cajun and Zydeco flavor. However, the area might just be carving out another reputation for delivering electronically-driven pop anthems.

Royal Teeth is the latest area band in the latter category. The area sextet is set to release its debut EP, "Act Naturally," Saturday night with a CD Release Party at Grant Street Dancehall. Music starts at 8 p.m., with Mobley, DJ Scoop and Sean Bruce opening. Tickets are $6.

In a little under a year, the band has transformed from naive pop babies just trying out new things to a mature band with stage presence that rivals Coldplay and other big-name touring acts.

To hone the band's adventurous sound, they knew they needed a huge-sounding record. They packed their bags and traveled to South Carolina to get prep a five-song album with producer/songwriter Eric Bass (who also plays in the popular rock act, Shinedown).

"Eric really brought us together and completed our sound and goals," drummer Josh Hefner said.

The recording process was difficult at first for the young band, full of "13-hours days of playing the same songs over and over again," Hefner said.

"We did some demos and a live EP previously, but this was the first real studio session [vocalists Gary Larsen and Nora Patterson] had done," Hefner said. "It can be intimidating, but they handled themselves really well. Because of that experience, they're new singers on stage as well."

Larsen went into the process expecting the worst, yet returning full of pride and confidence the band had completed what it set out to do.

"I was expecting it to be really hard, and I thought it was all going to be over my head," Larsen said, mentioning his previous experiences in the studio were local-based. "Musically, it was the best experience I had ever had. We were reinventing everything, and we rolled wiht it. We whole-heartedly feel that the finished product is what we wanted."

Among the material on the album is a slower, more toned-down cover of The Knife's cult hit, "Heartbeats."

"We always liked the idea of covering a song," Larsen said. "We never anticipated that it would be a standard for our set. Going into the studio and recording it, Eric had never heard it, but he didn't want to hear it. He let that influence what he did."

To fund the recording and post-production, the band used fundraising website, Kickstarter, hoping to raise $4,000 to support the album.

"Kickstarter is a tricky thing," Hefner said. "From the outside, it looks like you're asking for people's money. Four-thousand dollars is a lot to ask."

The fundraiser added stress to an already stressful situation. The band added videos each day to bring its fans in the studio with them and provided bonus incentives for those who pledged certain amounts.

Larsen said he was checking his phone "24/7 to see if anyone had donated." However, the band exceeded the goal, almost reaching $5,000.

"To see this many people donate money before they've even heard it ... it's a great feeling to know people are interested in what you do," Larsen said.

What you hear on "Act Naturally" is a band plowing through the maligned "local" adjective and producing stadium-ready songs. The band has come a long way from its days in separate folk and hard rock bands.

"We wanted to make a tangible record everyone can enjoy," Hefner said. "It had to be inviting. It's all about if the song is good." - The Daily Advertiser


"First Listen - Act Naturally"

Art/Official has gotten a sneak preview of New Orleans/LaFayette band Royal Teeth's forthcoming Act Naturally EP. The sextet crafts bouncy, yet emotional dance pop. Sincerity manages to shine through a thick coating of production. Charming male & female back-and-forth vocals complement uplifting, almost arena-ready instrumentation. At times, Royal Teeth sound like a welcome combination of your favorite 7th grade emo band and some of today's indie dance mainstays.

The EP opens with the soaring declarations of "For Keeps," followed by the slow-build of "Heartbeats." Next come the angular, latin-esque hooks of "My Donna." The EP slows just a little bit with the consistent "Waste Your Body On Me," before ending on its strongest track, "Wild," a convincing dance anthem with an organic catchiness.

This kind of music is meant to be heard live, coming directly from the source. - Art Official


"First Listen - Act Naturally"

Art/Official has gotten a sneak preview of New Orleans/LaFayette band Royal Teeth's forthcoming Act Naturally EP. The sextet crafts bouncy, yet emotional dance pop. Sincerity manages to shine through a thick coating of production. Charming male & female back-and-forth vocals complement uplifting, almost arena-ready instrumentation. At times, Royal Teeth sound like a welcome combination of your favorite 7th grade emo band and some of today's indie dance mainstays.

The EP opens with the soaring declarations of "For Keeps," followed by the slow-build of "Heartbeats." Next come the angular, latin-esque hooks of "My Donna." The EP slows just a little bit with the consistent "Waste Your Body On Me," before ending on its strongest track, "Wild," a convincing dance anthem with an organic catchiness.

This kind of music is meant to be heard live, coming directly from the source. - Art Official


"Exclusive Album Preview - Act Naturally"

Ok. So there’s this band called Royal Teeth. They are a dance-pop band from “around here” (New Orleans/Lafayette) coming out with their first studio EP on July 15th entitled “Act Naturally.” Due to certain events that may or may not have been pure happenstance, I became privileged in receiving the entire “Act Naturally” EP more than a month in advance of its release. So here I am preparing you for what’s in store. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Royal Teeth is: Joshua Wells (Bass), Gary Larsen (Vocals/Guitar), Nora Patterson (Vocals), Josh Hefner (Percussion), Stevie Billeaud (Guitar/Keys), and Andrew Poe (Vocals/Keys/Percussion/Guitar)

As a whole, this debut EP is a huge success for members of this young band and fans of electronic dance-pop. Produced by Eric Bass, the album simply sounds amazing. The four original songs provide crunchy bass lines, stick clicks, calypso influenced backbeats, and ethereal guitars/keys that allow you to get lost in the rhythm. Nora Patterson’s voice complements Gary Larson’s emotionally delivered lead vocals on numerous occasions, especially on my favorite track “Wild.” With its crazy catchy and super powerful chorus, I can see this one quickly becoming the most popular single for Royal Teeth. Ms. Patterson however holds her own on the album’s fifth and final track “Heartbeats.” It is a rejuvenation of the electronic song originally written by the Swedish music duo The Knife. In addition, other original songs, like “My Donna,” have catchy, danceable grooves and memorable lyrics. Forget the chorus. I have verses and pre-choruses stuck in my head.

“Act Naturally” will be officially released July 15th at the Republic New Orleans. I fully expect that the release of this album will launch Royal Teeth into a new level of popularity. The excellent production quality, meticulous songwriting, professional musicianship, and the infectious dance hooks will be too much for a variety of niches to ignore. I expect some stuff will go down. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
- invadeNOLA


"Exclusive Album Preview - Act Naturally"

Ok. So there’s this band called Royal Teeth. They are a dance-pop band from “around here” (New Orleans/Lafayette) coming out with their first studio EP on July 15th entitled “Act Naturally.” Due to certain events that may or may not have been pure happenstance, I became privileged in receiving the entire “Act Naturally” EP more than a month in advance of its release. So here I am preparing you for what’s in store. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Royal Teeth is: Joshua Wells (Bass), Gary Larsen (Vocals/Guitar), Nora Patterson (Vocals), Josh Hefner (Percussion), Stevie Billeaud (Guitar/Keys), and Andrew Poe (Vocals/Keys/Percussion/Guitar)

As a whole, this debut EP is a huge success for members of this young band and fans of electronic dance-pop. Produced by Eric Bass, the album simply sounds amazing. The four original songs provide crunchy bass lines, stick clicks, calypso influenced backbeats, and ethereal guitars/keys that allow you to get lost in the rhythm. Nora Patterson’s voice complements Gary Larson’s emotionally delivered lead vocals on numerous occasions, especially on my favorite track “Wild.” With its crazy catchy and super powerful chorus, I can see this one quickly becoming the most popular single for Royal Teeth. Ms. Patterson however holds her own on the album’s fifth and final track “Heartbeats.” It is a rejuvenation of the electronic song originally written by the Swedish music duo The Knife. In addition, other original songs, like “My Donna,” have catchy, danceable grooves and memorable lyrics. Forget the chorus. I have verses and pre-choruses stuck in my head.

“Act Naturally” will be officially released July 15th at the Republic New Orleans. I fully expect that the release of this album will launch Royal Teeth into a new level of popularity. The excellent production quality, meticulous songwriting, professional musicianship, and the infectious dance hooks will be too much for a variety of niches to ignore. I expect some stuff will go down. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
- invadeNOLA


"July 2011 CD Reviews"

Now here’s an album you can blast from your car stereo—windows down, naturally. In true summer release fashion, the debut EP from New Orleans/Lafayette group Royal Teeth has five tracks of belt-along pop anthems and indie darlings already finding their way to stages across the state. Vocalist duo Gary Larsen and Nora Patterson are a compelling match and demonstrate the delicate but powerful balance of male-female intertwining voices. The chorus of “Wild”—a lighthearted look back on the blissful naivety and carefree, can-do attitudes of youth—insists, “I believe that I can make you scream,” before launching into vocal interludes so inescapably catchy, you can’t help but “oo-oo-ooo” right along with them. The drums were recorded and mastered perfectly for this EP: there’s a faint echo to it, as if the drums were recorded alone in a massive open room, to where you can almost feel the burst of air from each booming bass drum kick and tom fill. Drummer Josh Hefner’s raw, unabashed performance is keenly matched by the unwavering melodic foundation from bassist Joshua Wells, whose presence as a thudding heartbeat, especially in “My Donna,” is indispensable to the group’s overall sound. Hazy, psychedelic guitar riffs from Larsen and guitarist Stevie Billeaud complement bright, infectious synths and samples, manned by Billeaud and Andrew Poe, which together set the sunny, eclectic mood of the EP. Whether it’s a pick-me-up, good times or solid jams you’re looking for this summer, search no further—Royal Teeth just might be on to something here. —Carolyn Heneghan - Where Y'at Magazine


"July 2011 CD Reviews"

Now here’s an album you can blast from your car stereo—windows down, naturally. In true summer release fashion, the debut EP from New Orleans/Lafayette group Royal Teeth has five tracks of belt-along pop anthems and indie darlings already finding their way to stages across the state. Vocalist duo Gary Larsen and Nora Patterson are a compelling match and demonstrate the delicate but powerful balance of male-female intertwining voices. The chorus of “Wild”—a lighthearted look back on the blissful naivety and carefree, can-do attitudes of youth—insists, “I believe that I can make you scream,” before launching into vocal interludes so inescapably catchy, you can’t help but “oo-oo-ooo” right along with them. The drums were recorded and mastered perfectly for this EP: there’s a faint echo to it, as if the drums were recorded alone in a massive open room, to where you can almost feel the burst of air from each booming bass drum kick and tom fill. Drummer Josh Hefner’s raw, unabashed performance is keenly matched by the unwavering melodic foundation from bassist Joshua Wells, whose presence as a thudding heartbeat, especially in “My Donna,” is indispensable to the group’s overall sound. Hazy, psychedelic guitar riffs from Larsen and guitarist Stevie Billeaud complement bright, infectious synths and samples, manned by Billeaud and Andrew Poe, which together set the sunny, eclectic mood of the EP. Whether it’s a pick-me-up, good times or solid jams you’re looking for this summer, search no further—Royal Teeth just might be on to something here. —Carolyn Heneghan - Where Y'at Magazine


"Royal Teeth Releases New EP - Act Naturally"

One of the area's more underrated acts have put its' best foot forward with the debut EP, "Act Naturally." With help from producer/songwriter Eric Bass, Royal Teeth traveled to South Carolina to hone production on five key tracks.



And the effort shows.

In a little more than 20 minutes, the area sextet easily wins over listeners with glossy electronics, percussion bursts and catchy melodies.

The best tracks feature simple oohs and ahhs as choruses, delivered with clear range and lack of post-production gimmickry from vocalists Nora Patterson and Gary Larsen. Meanwhile, the rhythm section provides huge backgrounds of joyous noise, like confetti at the end of a New Year's Eve party.

Make no mistake, these are grand anthems, comparable to Coldplay's "Viva La Vida." If Tarzan had music in his head while swinging happily from branch to branch, it would most likely sound like "Wild" or the denouement of "For Keeps."

Lead single "My Donna" sounds exactly like something Duran Duran wants to write nowadays, but can't. Days later, you'll find yourself humming the chorus. That's what pop music should do — stick to your brain like glue.

On "Act Naturally," the band easily does what most bands want to do with a career — make a big, hooky, glossy, love-soaked pop album. Here's to seeing what they do on a full-length. - The Times of Acadiana


"Royal Teeth Releases New EP - Act Naturally"

One of the area's more underrated acts have put its' best foot forward with the debut EP, "Act Naturally." With help from producer/songwriter Eric Bass, Royal Teeth traveled to South Carolina to hone production on five key tracks.



And the effort shows.

In a little more than 20 minutes, the area sextet easily wins over listeners with glossy electronics, percussion bursts and catchy melodies.

The best tracks feature simple oohs and ahhs as choruses, delivered with clear range and lack of post-production gimmickry from vocalists Nora Patterson and Gary Larsen. Meanwhile, the rhythm section provides huge backgrounds of joyous noise, like confetti at the end of a New Year's Eve party.

Make no mistake, these are grand anthems, comparable to Coldplay's "Viva La Vida." If Tarzan had music in his head while swinging happily from branch to branch, it would most likely sound like "Wild" or the denouement of "For Keeps."

Lead single "My Donna" sounds exactly like something Duran Duran wants to write nowadays, but can't. Days later, you'll find yourself humming the chorus. That's what pop music should do — stick to your brain like glue.

On "Act Naturally," the band easily does what most bands want to do with a career — make a big, hooky, glossy, love-soaked pop album. Here's to seeing what they do on a full-length. - The Times of Acadiana


"Royal Teeth CD Release"

Though not a hard and fast rule, the growth of a band may be most easily measured by the length of time it’s been together. In the case of Royal Teeth, a local indie pop act whose members have found their lives in a complete state of flux since they started playing together about a year ago, time has seemingly taken a backseat to nomadic travel and the prospects of once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.

After their debut release, the Live Office Session EP, caught the attention of some music industry higher-ups, the baby six-piece band found themselves in Charleston, South Carolina with producer Eric Bass (bassist and pianist for the multi-platinum Shinedown) feeling the band-aid rip of exposure therapy that is major label large-budget recording. With hands-on oversight from Warner Bros. Records Chairman Rob Cavallo (the producer responsible for Jawbreaker’s Dear You and nearly every Green Day album since Dookie), Royal Teeth – at this point only a musical infant of ideas and raw chemistry – spent tireless hours in the studio. The band recorded practically every note on every conceivable instrument from every possible acoustic angle, while Gary Larsen and Nora Patterson experimented vocally with unfamiliar registers and new styles of singing. The result was the Act Naturally EP, a concise, five-song representation of Royal Teeth’s undeniably eventful past seven months.

Having hibernated for such an extended period of time, this Friday’s CD release show at Republic is something of a long-awaited homecoming for Royal Teeth. Not to lose too much step with the energy necessary to put on the kinds of captivating live shows for which they’re known, the band has spent their concert off-season working on beefing up their live performances to visually match the deeply lush production found on Act Naturally. - Barryfest


"Royal Teeth CD Release"

Though not a hard and fast rule, the growth of a band may be most easily measured by the length of time it’s been together. In the case of Royal Teeth, a local indie pop act whose members have found their lives in a complete state of flux since they started playing together about a year ago, time has seemingly taken a backseat to nomadic travel and the prospects of once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.

After their debut release, the Live Office Session EP, caught the attention of some music industry higher-ups, the baby six-piece band found themselves in Charleston, South Carolina with producer Eric Bass (bassist and pianist for the multi-platinum Shinedown) feeling the band-aid rip of exposure therapy that is major label large-budget recording. With hands-on oversight from Warner Bros. Records Chairman Rob Cavallo (the producer responsible for Jawbreaker’s Dear You and nearly every Green Day album since Dookie), Royal Teeth – at this point only a musical infant of ideas and raw chemistry – spent tireless hours in the studio. The band recorded practically every note on every conceivable instrument from every possible acoustic angle, while Gary Larsen and Nora Patterson experimented vocally with unfamiliar registers and new styles of singing. The result was the Act Naturally EP, a concise, five-song representation of Royal Teeth’s undeniably eventful past seven months.

Having hibernated for such an extended period of time, this Friday’s CD release show at Republic is something of a long-awaited homecoming for Royal Teeth. Not to lose too much step with the energy necessary to put on the kinds of captivating live shows for which they’re known, the band has spent their concert off-season working on beefing up their live performances to visually match the deeply lush production found on Act Naturally. - Barryfest


"Royal Teeth"

When the six members of Royal Teeth take the stage, one might get the impression of an average indie rock group, but half-way through the first song, it’s easy to find something deeper and much more interesting in the group’s electro-pop.

The band has already made an impact in 2011 with their EP, “The Live Office Session,” released in February.

With a blend of creative indie pop and light-hearted electronic vitality aided by the dynamic interplay of singers Nora Patterson and Gary Larsen, Royal Teeth bite its the listener and refuse to let go until they dance.

The Royal Teeth moniker was established in August 2010, when former Oh, Juliet bassist Josh Wells, drummer Josh Hefner and keyboardist Andrew Poe decided to form a new group after the Lafayette-based alternative-rock quintet disbanded.

Hefner said it wasn’t a far leap to bring in vocalist Gary Larsen and guitarist Stevie Billeaud, and following the addition of Nora Patterson a couple of months later, Royal Teeth was ready to hash out a place on the southeast Louisiana music scene.

In less than a year, Royal Teeth has already started to make a buzz around Lafayette, Baton Rouge and New Orleans.

Foregoing a studio album as its first release, Royal Teeth decided a live EP would properly announce the group’s arrival and hopefully give listeners a taste of Royal Teeth’s energetic live show. It did the trick.

Hefner said Royal Teeth has picked up a lot of momentum in a short amount of time — momentum the group hopes to continue with a studio EP out later this year.

Royal Teeth is set to push through any difficulty, even distance.

Poe, Hefner and Billeaud live in Lafayette while Larsen, Wells and Patterson reside in New Orleans. For Royal Teeth, the three-hour drive is a small obstacle.

“I don’t think we’ve ever sat down in the same room and wrote a song together as a band,” Hefner said. “But it’s been a good process and it’s worked out really well.”

Hefner said the writing process usually begins when Larsen and Wells sketch out song structure, record it and email it to Lafayette. Hefner and Poe then add drums and electronic work before sending it back. They will continue this rotation until the song is complete.

A little brush-up and rehearsal in the weeks before a show and the group is ready for its dynamic and fun live set.

“Stay” is an exclusive track, only caught on “The Art of Noise” compilation album.

Royal Teeth on Facebook - Legacy


"Royal Teeth"

When the six members of Royal Teeth take the stage, one might get the impression of an average indie rock group, but half-way through the first song, it’s easy to find something deeper and much more interesting in the group’s electro-pop.

The band has already made an impact in 2011 with their EP, “The Live Office Session,” released in February.

With a blend of creative indie pop and light-hearted electronic vitality aided by the dynamic interplay of singers Nora Patterson and Gary Larsen, Royal Teeth bite its the listener and refuse to let go until they dance.

The Royal Teeth moniker was established in August 2010, when former Oh, Juliet bassist Josh Wells, drummer Josh Hefner and keyboardist Andrew Poe decided to form a new group after the Lafayette-based alternative-rock quintet disbanded.

Hefner said it wasn’t a far leap to bring in vocalist Gary Larsen and guitarist Stevie Billeaud, and following the addition of Nora Patterson a couple of months later, Royal Teeth was ready to hash out a place on the southeast Louisiana music scene.

In less than a year, Royal Teeth has already started to make a buzz around Lafayette, Baton Rouge and New Orleans.

Foregoing a studio album as its first release, Royal Teeth decided a live EP would properly announce the group’s arrival and hopefully give listeners a taste of Royal Teeth’s energetic live show. It did the trick.

Hefner said Royal Teeth has picked up a lot of momentum in a short amount of time — momentum the group hopes to continue with a studio EP out later this year.

Royal Teeth is set to push through any difficulty, even distance.

Poe, Hefner and Billeaud live in Lafayette while Larsen, Wells and Patterson reside in New Orleans. For Royal Teeth, the three-hour drive is a small obstacle.

“I don’t think we’ve ever sat down in the same room and wrote a song together as a band,” Hefner said. “But it’s been a good process and it’s worked out really well.”

Hefner said the writing process usually begins when Larsen and Wells sketch out song structure, record it and email it to Lafayette. Hefner and Poe then add drums and electronic work before sending it back. They will continue this rotation until the song is complete.

A little brush-up and rehearsal in the weeks before a show and the group is ready for its dynamic and fun live set.

“Stay” is an exclusive track, only caught on “The Art of Noise” compilation album.

Royal Teeth on Facebook - Legacy


"Music Recommendations - Royal Teeth"

Louisiana's rock awakening in 2010 wasn't rooted only in New Orleans. Lafayette produced a remade Brass Bed, the overjoyed Givers and Royal Teeth, whose electro-acoustic pop operas — voiced in hooting duplicate by Gary Larsen and Nora Patterson — suggest a Dirty Coast Projectors - The Gambit


"Music Recommendations - Royal Teeth"

Louisiana's rock awakening in 2010 wasn't rooted only in New Orleans. Lafayette produced a remade Brass Bed, the overjoyed Givers and Royal Teeth, whose electro-acoustic pop operas — voiced in hooting duplicate by Gary Larsen and Nora Patterson — suggest a Dirty Coast Projectors - The Gambit


Discography

GLOW (out August 13, 2013) LP Produced by Gavin Brown

Act Naturally (July 15, 2011) - EP Produced by Eric Bass

Photos

Bio

If all music tells a story, then Royal Teeths joyous, inspired songs spin an exuberant tale of possibility, each note conveying the youthful excitement of venturing out into the great wide world. The songs on the bands debut album, Glow, were penned around the idea of exploration and spirited adventures into the unknown, and its 12 tracks lay out a kaleidoscopic narrative of discovery.

The group came together in 2010 with Gary, Josh W, Poe, Josh H and Stevie, friends from all across Louisiana whod gravitated to one another during their early days playing out in New Orleans. It was with the discovery of Nora, the last piece of the puzzle, that the band began to truly hone in on what would become their sound. The aim was to have fun, with no master plan for the music at the outset. As they began to experiment, it became clear that the synthesizers theyd been playing around with elevated their effusive indie pop songs and best conveyed the buoyance and levity of being young and anxious for the world to open up for you.

The album is really about finding yourself, said Nora who, as the visual artist in the group, conveys that cheerful enthusiasm both through the music and the bands striking artwork and graphics.

We started playing more folk-driven stuff, Gary says. But once we added the electronic sounds, it changed everything. The music evolved from there and as it did, our vision for the songs became clear.

The groups 5-song debut, Act Naturally, was recorded in Charleston, S.C. in 2011 and was their first foray into the studio. EP in hand, the band set out to tour outside Louisiana, eventually going all-in, quitting their jobs in May of 2012 and hitting the road. These shows, which included CMJ and SXSW and tours with bands as diverse as Fitz and the Tantrums, 2 Skinnee Js and Gold Fields, had a tremendous impact in forming the debut album, Glow.

We take a lot of pride in our live show, Gary says. We put everything into it and thats where we make the strongest connections with people. I think when it came to making the record, knew we wanted it to be more raw and capture that live energy. We had been on the road, testing out these new songs, figuring out whats working and whats not working. When youre trying out new songs every night for people that dont know you it plays a big role in shaping the bands vision and our confidence in what makes our music special. That played a huge factor into what we songs we knew we had to put on the record.

The songs on the album, including the single Wild, were penned over a two year span, some emerging in a burst of activity and inspiration just before the band headed into the studio in Toronto with producer Gavin Brown in February 2013. Nearly 30 song ideas were eventually culled down to an albums worth of material, and the studio time was focused and quick, concluding in only a few weeks. The idea was to harness the bands positive energy into the recordings, ensuring that the vigor the musicians radiate onstage was showcased on the tracks.

Once we were in the studio, it was a real common energy driving what we wanted, Gary says. It really does show in the music. Whether the songs a little slower or a little darker, I think theres a common thread in all of them capturing a moment. I think the music really represents that.

The resulting album is a shimmering collection of indie pop numbers that revel in that idea of being young and wild. The songs vary in tone and aesthetic, but it all ties back to that overarching theme. Vagabonds, is a soaring, hook-laden tale of escapism, while the prancing Hold Me captures that moment before the end of the world. Wild, the bands current single, contrasts with We Can Glow, a moody anthem revealing the flipside of the bands live-in-the-now sensibility.

Royal Teeth, who have been featured on Last Call with Carson Daly and seen several songs placed in various TV spots, are really only embarking on their adventure now, with the release of this debut album. Joining forces with the team at Dangerbird Records has enabled them to more fully realize their vision of touring extensively and broadening their own inspired journey. The first chapters of that story are heard in the music, a soundtrack for exploration and discovery, of bursting into a world teeming with possibilities.

Weve learned so much from being on the road, Gary says. And I think theres so much more to learn. We want to deliver every night, no matter what. Were really just excited for the album to finally come out. Were very excited to offer more than five songs to all of our fans and see where we can go from here.

Band Members