We may not have climbed aboard the Somesurprises train when it first departed in 2016. Once a quality solo project from songwriter and and moodmaker Natasha El-Sergany, Somesurprises has since evolved into an expansive dream pop imprint, with the tunes and the chops to grab the attention of anyone who’s caught their dynamic live shows. They’ve toured up and down the west coast, and opened for the likes of A Place to Bury Strangers and Circuit Des Yeux.
A flurry of announcements caught our attention last month: Somesurprises signed to Drawing Room Records, promised a full debut album by 20 September, and teased the effort with the sublime “High Rise” single. From plucked guitar interplay amid fuzzy chords, to a melodic shift halfway through that begins with nightmare and ends in triumph, it’s a wild and captivating ride. Like seeing different colors projected as light strikes through a prism, the self-titled album is beautifully encapsulated in this multifaceted song.
Given the opportunity to premiere the second single from the album, we naturally jumped at the chance. While “High Rise” borrowed from multiple traditions, like Mazzy Star stapled to the propulsive pop-psych of Linda Guilala, “Empty Threat” has parallels in the Twin Peaks soundtrack: Julee Cruise updated for the 21st century. David Lynch would be proud (and maybe rather jealous). Press play and follow along.
We asked Natasha about the genesis of “Empty Threat”.
“What you seek in someone else is often an illusion, an affirmation no one else can give you, an empty threat. This song was originally written with a loop pedal and a drum machine in a practice space with unforgiving stony, echo-y walls. I rode my bike there at night and the ride home listened repeatedly to a phone recording—then just an instrumental seven-minute two-chord drone with a simple burning guitar melody in place of lyrics, that I kept as a wordless chorus. Later it became a meditation on letting go of what you thought you wanted by saying it out loud.”
Nobody likes a know-it-all, but we’ve heard the album in full, and it’s popped to the top of our most anticipated releases for 2019. Textures and layers abound, but it’s the songwriting and attention to detail that make this LP a standout, and one to watch for. Won’t be surprised when the DJs and critics start murmuring about it next month.
Only a few live dates are announced at this moment to celebrate the album, but that’s likely to change as word spreads.
Aug. 22nd – Portland, OR @ Holocene
Aug. 30th – Seattle, WA @ Clock-Out Lounge
Oct. 26th – Seattle, WA @ Sunset Tavern w/The Cave Singers
Of course we’ll be playing more Somesurprises on air as it becomes available, but in the meantime we’d encourage you to follow them on Bandcamp and Spotify for breaking sounds, and on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for updated tour and release news. The debut self-titled LP from Somesurprises is available for preorder now on limited edition vinyl, cassette, and digital formats. It’s an impressive musical document, and we can only hope there’s much more to come!
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