When you think of the 1980's what great songs come to mind? Maybe A-Ha's "Take On Me" or Prince's "Raspberry Beret", The Clash and "Rock the Casbah"? It was a decade that not only established the Synth Pop sound but also generated many classic hits we still crank the stereo to hear. Flash forward 30 years and that sound is trending back into current Alternative and Pop genres. With new technology recreating fresh electronic beats and melodies many bands are starting to embrace Electro-Pop once again. Austin based band SPEAK is among the best in this category, seemingly mastering Synth/Electro Pop on their first outing. Their EP Hear Here (Playing In Traffic Records) out Tuesday, February 9, with lead single, "Carrie (Mindful)" is fresh, modern and ridiculously catchy making SPEAK a band you instantaneously want to hear more of.
Led by frontman Troupe Gammage the group of four has been making music together under the name of SPEAK for the last two years. Troupe lists Pop Icons such as Michael Jackson, Prince and David Bowie among their leading influences saying, "As far as pop icons go, almost anyone who was their own driving force, who really had a big hand in creating their music, creating their image over the years rather than the modern pop icons like Britney Spears or somebody like that who is a very packaged sort of thing." Coming from a family of musicians Troupe knows what he's talking about when he refers to those who worked to create their own original image and sound. Raised by a Mom was who was a folk musician and a Father who sang Motown/Soul he said, "To see people who actually played music as their full time job was definitely kind of inspiring and made me a little more interested in being a musician for a living rather than sort of just the idea of, 'Oh I want to be famous or I don't want to do it at all or just as a hobby.' There's definitely that middle ground."
But perhaps the ultimate inspiration for the funky vibe of SPEAK is Troupe's love and fascination with video games. He admits, "My best friend and I would make video games and I was like, you're the artist and I'll be the musician and make the songs. So I got the software when I was 11 and started making, I mean really not that bad for first attempts, but pretty horrible (tracks). And that's pretty much how I still do everything by using similar software to what I started out with and similar methodology." He continued to say, "I still do game music and voice overs and things like that for video games, sound effects all that stuff as kind of my day job."
By using a computer and programming software to create the core of their sound SPEAK definitely breaks the mold of many current Pop musicians. But their choice to create primarily electronically isn't because they can't write songs using other instruments, Gammage says it's simply because of the freedom and power using a computer gives you as a musician. And from time to time they do work out chord progressions acoustically. "For the song 'I'd Rather Lie' the guitar player (Nick Hurt) and I went out to the park and played two acoustic guitars and tried to come up with something."
Don't let the polished finished product of SPEAK's EP fool you into thinking this Cinderella story came together without time, sacrifice and effort. With two of the four band members still in school and working part-time jobs, finding the time to juggle it all is one if their biggest obstacles. "We have to rehearse so much because our music is so complicated to execute live. Our managers and producers are always pushing us to do more crazy things and get more intricate with it. So that just takes a tremendous amount of time and effort." he continued, "And finding the time to continue making the music when the creative process is so demanding, especially with this kind of music where you can't just get your guitar out and lay down some music. There's a lot of thought that goes into everything that happens."
SPEAK's music is punchy, fun and modern with just the right touch of electronic retro bliss. And though this maybe the first time you've heard of SPEAK I predict it won't be the last. The combination of an exciting and innovative musical product boosted by signing with the same manager that launched the Los Lonely Boys into the spotlight, they've laid down the groundwork necessary for success. Troupe summarizes, "Our goal is to do something a bit brighter and definitely more Pop oriented because I think there's a lot of musical value in Pop songs that are musically exciting, more than the dreary down tempo punk kind of stuff."
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