Jet Black Sunrise
Gig Seeker Pro

Jet Black Sunrise

Boston, Massachusetts, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2013 | SELF

Boston, Massachusetts, United States | SELF
Established on Jan, 2013
Band Rock Indie

Calendar

Music

Press


"Jet Black Sunrise feature in Indie Rock Cafe"

Jet Black Sunrise is a Boston-based indie band with a knack for crafting dreamy modern pop compositions that pay proper respect to the band’s musical idols, such as Death Cab, Matt Pond, Counting Crows and Coldplay. The band – consisting of Matt Cronin, Nick Fede, Jay Schneider, Matt Smith and JC Zwisle – formed in 2010, and in that time, have earned their spots as accomplished musicians.

JBS weaves intricate arrangements, straddling the line between 90′s folk rock and experimental electro pop styles. JBS’s sound strikes a remarkable familiarity with The Wallflowers, the band formed by Bob Dylan’s son, Jackob Dylan, in the early 90′s. JBS’s songs are mellow and often drift from one chorus to the next with dreamy chords, soft ambience and poignant lyrics..... - Indie Rock Cafe


"JET BLACK SUNRISE: DEPARTURES EP REVIEW"

Jet Black Sunrise is an indie band originating from Boston, hosting a stronghold of experiences and lasting friendships. Letting this seep into their new EP, Departures, Jet Black Sunrise close the summer of 2014 with a fleeting touch of grace.

Paying more attention to the ‘Jet Black’ rather than the ‘Sunrise’, thoughts immediately turn to a darkly toned undercurrent to the music this band produce. If you too follow that thought trail, you will be mesmerised by the mellow tones that Departures opens with.

‘In Flight’ leads into the EP with a delicate whisper that could be stolen away from a lover in a private moment. This opening track is largely instrumental before bursting forth into tender vocals and delicate lyrics that remain for the rest of the album.

‘Rockview’ may seem like a hard hitting title, but the shudders it provides come from a beautiful mix of heavier percussions and a haunting piano. The success of Departures transcends from an intricacy of emotions that laps gently over a heart, rather than overwhelm it with suffocating impulses.

Closing track ‘Run Away’ eclipses the whole EP as ethereal vocals come to the forefront – a subtly induced change from the band’s classical instrumental training that is so stark in the other tracks. ‘Run Away’ presents Jet Black Sunrise’s lyrical depth and vocal variation. This is the track that encompasses every bit of shining of light that has developed within this band over the past five years.

Magically falling into place, Departures follows a wonderful architecture from beginning to end. Starting with instrumentals that provide hope and warmth, the EP plays through humbleness, frailty, honesty and ends with a touching farewell. Removed from the popular indie scene of guitars and jovial Jet Black Sunrise have created something really elegant with Departures. - Shannon Greaney


"Review: Jet Black Surnise, "Capture""

With a name like Jet Black Sunrise, I expected to hear power metal or some seriously annoying angsty ballads pop through my speakers as I queued up their new five song EP, Capture. Instead, my ears were greeted with feel-good pop rock that quickly dismissed any notion that I’d have to check out depression meds anytime soon. This Boston-based band makes unapologetically catchy songs that employ a charming mix of syncopated rhythms, vocal harmonies, the occasional piano accompaniment and power chords.

Opening track “Can’t Wait to Start” is a delightful introduction to music that borrows as much from 90s-era pop rock (think of a hybrid between Buffalo Tom and Semisonic, which don’t go together at all, but somehow find themselves in step with each other here) as it does adult-contemporary. “321” is straightforward power pop, an unabashed and catchy homage of the same timeframe reminiscent of Goo Goo Dolls (without the conventional dramatics). The vocal breakdown hits nicely and shows a more complex vocal arrangement. “Across This Country” catches a groove that hangs easily in the pocket and shows off a looser attitude. The piano work here gives this the added flavor that I was listening for and is definitely a highlight I hope they continue to play with on future material.
“Skyscrapers” is a definite departure from the previous three songs stylistically - synthesizers and an uptempo beat with layered vocals - but finds the band stretching themselves out of the comfortable confines of more straightforward pop writing. “County Jail,” however, is a quick blast of Americana roots rock that feels good, but steps out of focus with the rest of the work presented.

Despite this, Jet Black Sunrise have pieced together an EP that showcases the type of music that influences them and that they love to perform. This record shows potential and boasts some great moments sonically. What it also shows is a flair for producing music that will move fans to feel good and enjoy themselves. This is unapologetic in its approach and performed with conviction, and a pleasant departure for the ears. - Heidi Drockelman


"Review: Jet Black Surnise, "Capture""

With a name like Jet Black Sunrise, I expected to hear power metal or some seriously annoying angsty ballads pop through my speakers as I queued up their new five song EP, Capture. Instead, my ears were greeted with feel-good pop rock that quickly dismissed any notion that I’d have to check out depression meds anytime soon. This Boston-based band makes unapologetically catchy songs that employ a charming mix of syncopated rhythms, vocal harmonies, the occasional piano accompaniment and power chords.

Opening track “Can’t Wait to Start” is a delightful introduction to music that borrows as much from 90s-era pop rock (think of a hybrid between Buffalo Tom and Semisonic, which don’t go together at all, but somehow find themselves in step with each other here) as it does adult-contemporary. “321” is straightforward power pop, an unabashed and catchy homage of the same timeframe reminiscent of Goo Goo Dolls (without the conventional dramatics). The vocal breakdown hits nicely and shows a more complex vocal arrangement. “Across This Country” catches a groove that hangs easily in the pocket and shows off a looser attitude. The piano work here gives this the added flavor that I was listening for and is definitely a highlight I hope they continue to play with on future material.
“Skyscrapers” is a definite departure from the previous three songs stylistically - synthesizers and an uptempo beat with layered vocals - but finds the band stretching themselves out of the comfortable confines of more straightforward pop writing. “County Jail,” however, is a quick blast of Americana roots rock that feels good, but steps out of focus with the rest of the work presented.

Despite this, Jet Black Sunrise have pieced together an EP that showcases the type of music that influences them and that they love to perform. This record shows potential and boasts some great moments sonically. What it also shows is a flair for producing music that will move fans to feel good and enjoy themselves. This is unapologetic in its approach and performed with conviction, and a pleasant departure for the ears. - Heidi Drockelman


"Artist Spotlight: Jet Black Sunrise"

Kicking off the month of November with a brand new edition of Artist Spotlight! This week, we're keeping it local in Beantown and focusing on a band called Jet Black Sunrise. The band is composed of Matt Cronin on vocals and keys, Nick Fede on vocals and guitar, Jay Schneider on vocals and bass, Matt Smith on guitar and vocals, and JC Zwisler on drums and vocals. The band is a mixture of indie-rock and alternative influences that can best be described as a offshoot of Death Cab For Cutie, but with a stronger emphasis on electric guitars and vocal presence. I recently had the pleasure of checking out the band this past Friday at McGann's in Boston and they really left a impression on me with their amazing set which was a mixture of Death Cab covers and some of their own tracks which gave a great representation of what the band's sound is like for those who may not be too familiar with the band. An awesome band and one that is starting to make their presence known throughout the Boston area music scene. Some songs of theirs for you to check out include "Falling" (the title track from their latest album) and "Impossible".

For more on Jet Black Sunrise, log on to their Facebook page and 'Like' it by going over to www.facebook.com/jetblacksunrisemusic You can also follow the band on Twitter by heading over to www.twitter.com/jbsmusic If you want to download the band's album "Falling" and check it out for yourself, you can do so by going over to jetblacksunrise.bandcamp.com and see what the band have to offer you. - Music Box Pete


"New Music: Jet Black Sunrise"

Boston-based Jet Black Sunrise claims the title of their debut album “Falling” is a reference to the group’s hard-won comfort and stability after nearly a year and a half of writing and recording. But JBS’s tender piano-driven 90's alt-pop reveals another interpretation, coated in the retreating warmth and understated melancholy of the fall season.

As confessional lyrics and intimate instrumentation dominate, these twelve songs drift like falling leaves into winter’s cold. Spring’s naivete and summer’s obstinacy fade on this debut, leaving a gentle wash of quiet nostalgia and battered optimism to wander the twilight. - Seeds, the Hypetree Blog


"Jet Black Sunrise Interview with Jay Schneider"

I had the chance to briefly speak with Jay Schneider, of Boston based rock group Jet Black Sunrise, regarding their latest release "Falling." For information on the band, check out the following sites: website (jetblacksunrise.com), bandcamp page (jetblacksunrise.bandcamp.com) for album streaming, and itunes album (http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/falling/id431719526)

Who are some artists/bands that you have looked up to in the past regarding stage presence/live performance?A few of us come from punk rock backgrounds, so growing up, stage presence was all about energy and movement. Band’s like MxPx, Hot Water Music and The Bouncing Souls always put on great shows. I think if you asked Nick (vocals/guitar), he’d say something more like Guster/Counting Crows and if you asked Matt C (vocals/keyboards) he’d say Radiohead. I think the bottom line is if you captivate your audience, we look up to you.
For people that haven't seen your live performance before, what can they expect when they come to one of your shows?
We’re goofy. That’s kind of the way we act on stage. The only thing we love more than playing each other’s songs is playing them for an audience full of drunken friends and fans. So any time we can have fun on stage while interacting with people in the crowd we do. There’s always a fair amount of poking fun at each other, too. At the end of the day, we just don’t like to take ourselves too seriously. We know a lot of bands that go kind of crazy with lights and equipment, but we kind of like to just keep it really straightforward- play our songs and have plenty of quality banter with the audience.
"Falling" is a beautiful album, would you consider it to be a conceptional record?
Thanks for the compliment! That’s a tough question. So many bands call something a “concept” album when the album just has a coherent theme, when in reality, a concept album (to me) tells a narrative. Our LP is really just a cohesive album with a central theme. Falling was the culmination of a lot of writing and band lineup changes. We introduced Matt C to the band early last year, and one of the biggest challenges was fitting his songs into JBS, which had already established a style of its own. I think at the end of the day, Falling came together with more of an emotional theme. The idea of “Falling” isn’t negative. It’s an ironic perspective that if you fall (i.e. take risks, put it all out there, make mistakes), something great will come of it. The title track refers more to relationship-based themes, whereas “All Away”, refers more generally to knowing that big things lie ahead. Our bio puts this theme a bit more eloquently, but you get the idea.
How has the reception of the album been thus far?
Great! We did a very small pressing and have been relying more on digital sales. We actually had to do a second pressing because we ran out. I think the key here is word-of-mouth. We’re still a really young band, and it’s been awesome to see how many people have picked up the album (or just the single), because their friends did. It’s also refreshing that we’ve received some reviews that have pointed out the fact that they liked our ability to merge the three songwriters into one cohesive sound. We’ve been really pleased.
What would you like for people to take away from listening to "Falling?"
I think I alluded to this a bit in your previous questions, but the whole point is that life is about risks. Whether you’re getting into a new relationship, starting a new job or moving across the country, you have to go for it. As people, one of the worst things you can do is avoid an opportunity because you’re afraid of it. JBS has had had to deal with a lot of adversity (both in personal lives and as a band), with changing lineups and trying to fight through the “noise” in these New England music scenes, but we’re really excited with the music we’ve written and the goals we’ve reached. We could never have done that without the risk of failure. So, we wanted to get that into the album, and I think it comes across pretty well.
Any recording/album plans in the near future?
Because it took us so long to finish Falling we’re torn between letting it go forward with the current momentum, or working on a new release with all the material we’ve written during promotion. I’d like to think we’ll start planning for a shorter EP later this year, maybe for release in early 2012? But that’s really up in there air. What I can say is that the next release will be a much more collaborative effort, and you’ll hear a truly cohesive JBS sound.
How does the writing process normally pan out for you? Several of you are avid songwriters, correct?
That’s right, we have 3 writers in the group, Nick, Matt C and me. We all write differently. Matt and I are both classically-trained composers so we tend to write with those concepts in mind. Matt is truly a “chordsmith”, and always starts with awesome progressions. I usually start with an instrumental hook - Mousertime: Music and What Not


"Falling with Jet Black Sunrise"

Boston indie boys Jet Black Sunrise are out making some moves. Their Debut LP Falling just came out a couple months ago and it is getting some pretty awesome reviews on iTunes. When you listen to Falling you are going to hear more musical influences than you can count and they make it work.
I haven’t had the chance to see the JBS crew play live yet but when they make it to the west coast I’m going to because I have been watching some of their videos on YouTube and it looks like they bring the party. I posted a short clip below of Jet Black Sunrise performing “The Fire Escape” which is my favorite track off the new album. Though that may be because for some reason it makes me think of drinking with my friends and there is always room for a song like that on any playlist. - What Radio


"Jet Black Sunrise - Rocking Out Of Boston"

5 piece band Jet Black Sunrise hail from Boston and will be playing live this coming month. This is pure rock n roll with thumping guitar hooks. Potentially this is big stadium music. They are currently promoting new album "Falling" and there are a strong handful of songs from there which are worthy of a listen. Here are my favourites:
- Have You Heard New Music


"Jet Black Sunrise, Falling LP"

The past several days I have been in a music coma. Headphones on, volume up, and emotion tuned in. The focus of my attention has been on Jet Black Sunrise. They are a five-piece alternative rock band hailing from Boston, MA, and they recently released Falling, their debut LP. It took over a year to come to fruition, but now that it’s here, it’s well worth the wait. At first listen, my thought was, “When did The Hold Steady release a new album?” And that is a high compliment. There is definitely a symbiotic relationship among the musicians; feeding energy to one another and powering the songs from beginning to end. And that compatibility is heard throughout the entire track listing, giving the album a certain je ne sais quoi.


Five musicians therefore five writers and five contributing voices provides this group with a diverse backdrop. They weave in and out of genres offering listeners a variety of musical gourmet. There is an added sound dimension with the use of piano, elevating the composition while still maintaining a down-to-earth vibe that has the potential for comfort in the local underground and on mainstream radio play. I imagine these guys are a blast in person, because as stated, there is an audible camaraderie.

The album begins on a musically high note with the title song, and first single, “Falling” (oh the irony in that sentence!). A piano inspired track interlaced with melodic guitar and driving percussion. The lyrics stem from a lover scorned offering up the hard truths, he sings: “When you feel like you’re almost home. Look around, face the faces you have known. When you see that you’re all alone, beg forgiveness from all of those you’ve outgrown. Your tears are falling to earth. You won’t find me here to wash them. Be sure of the things you’re going to do, but be careful not to stray far from you.” Definitely an emotionally driven track, the music and lyricism combine beautifully to create a pleasurable tension and a relatable story. Without a doubt you will be tapping your feet, or fingers, bobbing your head and wanting more. As the first single, it offers a nice insight into the rest of the album, which does not disappoint.

Additional favorites: “This Wasn’t What You Planned,” “You Didn’t Break My Heart,” “Your Heart Runs the Sun,” and “All Away.”

For more information on this group you should definitely follow them on Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace. Also, here is a link to get the album streaming. SERIOUSLY, hook yourself up with these tunes.
- The Stars in the Sky Reviews


"NU Bands Spotlight: Jet Black Sunrise"

Just a few weeks ago, rock indie/pop band Jet Black Sunrise played in WRBB’s Battle of the Bands, where they performed original songs such as “Falling” and “Fire Escape.” While on stage, they danced and goofed around, even performing Cee Lo Green’s “[Expletive] you,” where they traded instruments and rocked out.
When first sitting down with The News they were a bit distracted, discussing Death Cab for Cutie’s upcoming Boston show and complaining that they couldn’t get tickets, as well as poking fun at each other.
But then the band members got down to business. This coming Saturday will be a busy day for them, they said, with the release of their new CD and a party April 2 at Copperfield’s Bar on Brookline Avenue to celebrate their accomplishments.
The band consists of Keyboardist Matt Cronin, guitarist Nick Fede, bassist Jay Schneider, drummer JC Zwisler and guitarist Matt Smith. All five members of the band contribute to the vocals.

Huntington News: How did you form the band?
Jay Schneider: So, Nick was in a band in high school and the first year of college and they had broken up and needed a drummer and a bass player, and I got introduced to Nick through my roommate. Nick wrote a Craigslist ad and JC responded. They got lunch one time, I don’t know if they kissed or anything.
Nick Fede: I paid. I paid for lunch.
JS: We had a different lead guitar player who could no longer be with the band. So, Matt Cronin came in on keys, mostly to add a Coldplay aspect to the band. Matt Smith is the latest addition. Me and Matt Smith actually grew up together.

HN: What style of music do you play?
Matt Smith: First you have to consider the facts. We have three guys who are writing songs for this band. You have a lot of different influences. You have a lot of Barenaked Ladies, Gin Blossoms and Guster from Nick, Death Cab for Cutie and Coldplay coming from Matt Cronin, and then Jay and I, we have kind of always been an alternative, punk influence-bands like Alkaline Trio.
Matt Cronin: We put our iTunes genre as indie pop.
MS: I feel like the words alternative, indie, pop and rock could be used to describe us.
JS: We’re rock/indie pop, because we’re more rock than we are pop, I would say.

HN: How do you split the songwriting?
NF: Between myself, Jay and Matt Cronin, we are fairly prolific with our writing. We do write a lot of songs and having three songwriters, everyone’s best writing comes to the table.
JS: Lyrically, Nick is very upfront, very narrative in his lyrics. Matt is like, almost 100 percent cryptic. I try to find somewhere in the middle usually, but it all comes together. At the end of the day some of the songs, it’s hard to call a certain song, you know, “A Matt Cronin Song.”
MC: Because we bounce ideas off each other so much that it turns into a JBS song.

HN: Where did the name Jet Black Sunrise come from?
NF: We’ve heard of bands look at bands they like’s songs and maybe that will inspire a band name. So, we were looking at songs from Gin Blossoms and found one called Jet Black Sunrise. It isn’t a song that particularly resonates with anyone, ever. It’s a very deep cut that didn’t get any attention but we really liked how it sounded.

HN: How often are you working together for the band during the week?
JS: We rehearse once a week at the Sound Museum. That’s just rehearsal. With the album we’ve been having band meetings a couple times a week to hammer out fliers for the show, booking the show, getting press coverage, making T-shirts.
NF: This has been a busy week; we’ve probably gotten together about four times.
NF: At the end of the day we’re best friends, really. We’ll get together and we won’t even talk about music. We’ll watch hockey.
JS: Sass each other all night.
NF: Officially, days the bands work together are one to three a week.
JS: The better answer to that question is that we hang out all the time.

HN: What are you plans for the future?
JS: In the future, we’re hoping that the money from the album could fund going to play some Philly shows, some New York shows. I think that’s a viable next step, we want to reach more ears. The point of the band is to have fun.
NF: We’re not at the point yet where we’re thinking about this as a career, because, you can’t. If that happens later, great.

HN: What are the details on the album?
MC: It’s called Falling, which is the title track. I won’t say that I wrote that song, but I did write that song.
NF: It encompasses a lot of the themes that we did write about. A lot of it is about taking chances in relationships, starting new ones and it’s all about taking a chance. Falling and you hope you end up somewhere.
MC: Yeah, we’re a pretty sentimental band. For a bunch of goofy dudes, we’re pretty sentimental.
JS: You can buy it on our website Jetblacksunrise.com, iTunes, Amazon, most digital outlets. It will cost $10. I think we’re going to try to work on getting it into local stores, so hopefully you’ll see it there soo - Huntington News


"Album Review: Jet Black Sunrise - Falling"

It's been a mellow couple of days for Chroma, and these guys are no exception. Jet Black Sunrise an alternative/indie 5-piece out of Boston, MA who have recently released their debut album "Falling".


From the opening track, JBS's sound is very refined, very mellow. There's a lot of emotion in the music, and you WILL find yourself shaking your head along with the beat. If you caught my review of Transit, and liked them, then you should definitely take a look at these guys. The album does pick up pace, staying mellow, but becoming a little more upbeat and complex, and by the end it has settled back down, with a lot of acoustic guitars involved.


The instruments set the mood well, it tends to bring big city nights to mind for me, maybe hearing them playing in a bar or small club at 2am. I could see this album easily setting the mood for a late night cruise with a lady (or gentleman) friend, and that's never a bad thing. I particularly enjoy the mellow guitar with the very Interpol-like drums, it's always been a sound I enjoyed, no matter how unoriginal. I also liked the implementation of piano in a lot of the songs, it gave a very Augustana feel to the sound.


Speaking of lady friends, the lyrics seem centered very around love, loss, and other matters of the heart. The lyrics are very relatable and honest, and are definitely a highlight of the band. Unfortunately, one of the gripes I have is with the singer, as he does an excellent job... most of the time. There are a few parts where the vocals just aren't up to par with the level of polish on the rest of the album. A minor complaint, but important nonetheless.


In the world of indie music, with all it's nuances and subtle differences, it can be hard to judge a release like this, and the smallest things can make or break an album. Fortunately, Jet Black Sunrise escapes Chroma without the scathing critiques I've been giving today, and is highly recommended for your MP3 player of choice. They are a hard working group of guys, and it shines through in their songs. Check them out at the links, or go track them down on iTunes! - Chroma Productions


"Jet Black Sunrise Shines in First Show"

Everyone around here is feeling the pressure of midterms and oppres­sive college schedules. Now imagine being in a band, tacking on additional time every week for endless hours of practice, songwriting, and recording at every possible chance, and booking occasional gigs in downtown Boston. How does anyone manage to do that?
The guys of Jet Black Sunrise have figured it out, and they seem to be doing something right. Formerly known as Perfect Mercury, the band released their debut album Running Through Crossfire in November 2007. Now, with the recording of sopho­more album The Casualties of Sleeping well on its way, two new band mem­bers, Jay “Rojo Grande” Schneider on bass guitar and JC “Jesus” Zwisler on drums, join veterans Tom Farrell, A&S ’11, and Nick Fede.
“Jay and JC have breathed some fresh air into the band…They’re beasts,” Fede said, who plays guitar and shares lead vocals with Sch­neider.
Farrell, the lead guitarist and a ju­nior at BC, finds it difficult at times to manage his course load with his band activities, which includes traveling to Northeastern University to practice with the other members a couple times per week.
“It’s hard to play and focus on music with all the work I have to do in my major, which is not music” Far­rell said, who gave up the possibility of a Berklee education to pursue a philosophy major at Boston College. Nevertheless, he is still enthusiastic about the band’s progress.
They describe themselves as hav­ing a ’90s indie pop-rock style. But hoping to continue with the matura­tion of their music, they have become more active around the college and local music scene as possibilities con­tinue to present themselves. A couple weeks ago, they took advantage of the opportunity to play at All Asia in Cambridge.
The venue was small, but it was big step for the band as their first show together. Despite the limited space, Jet Black Sunrise still con­nected with the crowd through their chemistry and talent — not to men­tion their comedic interludes between songs. The set list was a mix of mostly their own songs, including “Pictures” and “Move On,” and also featured covers of Gin Blossoms’s “Hey Jeal­ousy” and MGMT’s “Kids.”
Afterward, the guys seemed pretty satisfied with the show.
“All of our free demos were taken!” Tom said, referring to the sampler EPs of their upcoming full-length album that were available.
Farrell said that he hoped their performance met the expectations of friends and family present.
Although Farrell says that he is doubtful he could make a career out of music, he is certain that he would love it if it happened. For now, he says he just wants to take it one step at a time. Based on the warm recep­tion and mildly obnoxious chants for an encore at their latest performance, they certainly seem to be living up to the hype. - Boston College Gavel


"NU Bands Spotlight: Jet Black Sunrise"

Just a few weeks ago, rock indie/pop band Jet Black Sunrise played in WRBB’s Battle of the Bands, where they performed original songs such as “Falling” and “Fire Escape.” While on stage, they danced and goofed around, even performing Cee Lo Green’s “[Expletive] you,” where they traded instruments and rocked out.
When first sitting down with The News they were a bit distracted, discussing Death Cab for Cutie’s upcoming Boston show and complaining that they couldn’t get tickets, as well as poking fun at each other.
But then the band members got down to business. This coming Saturday will be a busy day for them, they said, with the release of their new CD and a party April 2 at Copperfield’s Bar on Brookline Avenue to celebrate their accomplishments.
The band consists of Keyboardist Matt Cronin, guitarist Nick Fede, bassist Jay Schneider, drummer JC Zwisler and guitarist Matt Smith. All five members of the band contribute to the vocals.

Huntington News: How did you form the band?
Jay Schneider: So, Nick was in a band in high school and the first year of college and they had broken up and needed a drummer and a bass player, and I got introduced to Nick through my roommate. Nick wrote a Craigslist ad and JC responded. They got lunch one time, I don’t know if they kissed or anything.
Nick Fede: I paid. I paid for lunch.
JS: We had a different lead guitar player who could no longer be with the band. So, Matt Cronin came in on keys, mostly to add a Coldplay aspect to the band. Matt Smith is the latest addition. Me and Matt Smith actually grew up together.

HN: What style of music do you play?
Matt Smith: First you have to consider the facts. We have three guys who are writing songs for this band. You have a lot of different influences. You have a lot of Barenaked Ladies, Gin Blossoms and Guster from Nick, Death Cab for Cutie and Coldplay coming from Matt Cronin, and then Jay and I, we have kind of always been an alternative, punk influence-bands like Alkaline Trio.
Matt Cronin: We put our iTunes genre as indie pop.
MS: I feel like the words alternative, indie, pop and rock could be used to describe us.
JS: We’re rock/indie pop, because we’re more rock than we are pop, I would say.

HN: How do you split the songwriting?
NF: Between myself, Jay and Matt Cronin, we are fairly prolific with our writing. We do write a lot of songs and having three songwriters, everyone’s best writing comes to the table.
JS: Lyrically, Nick is very upfront, very narrative in his lyrics. Matt is like, almost 100 percent cryptic. I try to find somewhere in the middle usually, but it all comes together. At the end of the day some of the songs, it’s hard to call a certain song, you know, “A Matt Cronin Song.”
MC: Because we bounce ideas off each other so much that it turns into a JBS song.

HN: Where did the name Jet Black Sunrise come from?
NF: We’ve heard of bands look at bands they like’s songs and maybe that will inspire a band name. So, we were looking at songs from Gin Blossoms and found one called Jet Black Sunrise. It isn’t a song that particularly resonates with anyone, ever. It’s a very deep cut that didn’t get any attention but we really liked how it sounded.

HN: How often are you working together for the band during the week?
JS: We rehearse once a week at the Sound Museum. That’s just rehearsal. With the album we’ve been having band meetings a couple times a week to hammer out fliers for the show, booking the show, getting press coverage, making T-shirts.
NF: This has been a busy week; we’ve probably gotten together about four times.
NF: At the end of the day we’re best friends, really. We’ll get together and we won’t even talk about music. We’ll watch hockey.
JS: Sass each other all night.
NF: Officially, days the bands work together are one to three a week.
JS: The better answer to that question is that we hang out all the time.

HN: What are you plans for the future?
JS: In the future, we’re hoping that the money from the album could fund going to play some Philly shows, some New York shows. I think that’s a viable next step, we want to reach more ears. The point of the band is to have fun.
NF: We’re not at the point yet where we’re thinking about this as a career, because, you can’t. If that happens later, great.

HN: What are the details on the album?
MC: It’s called Falling, which is the title track. I won’t say that I wrote that song, but I did write that song.
NF: It encompasses a lot of the themes that we did write about. A lot of it is about taking chances in relationships, starting new ones and it’s all about taking a chance. Falling and you hope you end up somewhere.
MC: Yeah, we’re a pretty sentimental band. For a bunch of goofy dudes, we’re pretty sentimental.
JS: You can buy it on our website Jetblacksunrise.com, iTunes, Amazon, most digital outlets. It will cost $10. I think we’re going to try to work on getting it into local stores, so hopefully you’ll see it there soo - Huntington News


Discography

Falling - 2009
Capture EP - 2013
Departures EP - 2014

Photos

Bio

A lot can happen in five years. It’s half a decade, five hockey seasons. And for a young indie rock band, it can be an absolute eternity. Jet Black Sunrise’s five-year tenure not only stands as a testament to the band’s love for the music they make, but also to their bond as irreplaceable friends.

Beginning in 2009 in a humid apartment in Boston’s Fenway Area, JBS traces its origin from a mutual love of nuts-and-bolts songwriting and an equally strong affinity toward bourbon-soaked evenings around an acoustic guitar. After Nick Fede and Jay Schneider kicked things off that first summer, they crossed paths with a Berklee musician met through classified ads who also happened to be the best drummer they’d ever heard (JC Zwisler), a fellow keyboardist-composer who also happened to be a roommate perfect for 4AM songwriting collabs (Matt Cronin) and a long-time childhood friend who also happened to be a killer guitar player (Matt Smith). After an elevator mishap, a few dingy warehouse rehearsals, and more than a few Mission Hill parties, the band was officially born.

From there JBS spent the ensuing 4 years graduating from humble Boston night clubs to full-blown, historic rock fixtures throughout the Northeast, including the Middle East Downstairs and the Studio at Webster Hall. From there they secured festival support slots alongside Dr. Dog, St. Lucia, Bad Rabbits, Lucius and way more, establishing themselves as a real, honest-to-God rock band—a realization that these goofy New Englanders don't take lightly.

To close out the summer of 2014, Jet Black Sunrise is proud to release the Departures EP, their third recorded effort. It’s the perfect combination of the band’s background in barebones songwriting, their classical training in composition, and their tendency toward evenings filled with Rolling Rock in tiny New England apartments. Download Departures at jetblacksunrise.com and all major digital distributors.

Band Members