# Art Pop Band ELK CITY Present ‘That Someone’, Previewing Ambitious New Album

- Link: https://www.nyrdcast.com/art-pop-band-elk-city-present-that-someone-previewing-ambitious-new-album/
- Published: 2022-08-24T16:30:00-05:00
- Author: Eugene Tierney

**Art pop band ELK CITY present ‘That Someone’, previewing ambitious new album**

_“Elk City’s cool and elegant sound draws on 1980s “dream pop” and bits of 1960s
folk-rock”_ ~ **The New York Times**

_“A formidable offering… it comes as no surprise Elk City sounds so animated, brazen
and effervescent. LoBue’s commanding vocals are the icing on the cake, making for
a highly infectious track” _~ [**The Spill Magazine **](https://spillmagazine.com/spill-music-premiere-elk-city-that-someone/)

Art pop band [**Elk City**](https://www.facebook.com/elkcityband) shares [**‘That Someone’**](http://spotify%20pre-save%20https/distrokid.com/hyperfollow/elkcity/that-someone-2),
a song exploring the dual nature of self and other, excitement and dismay. The sound
is vibrant, raw-edged, guitar-driven and maybe even a little scary.

![](https://i0.wp.com/redirect.haulix.com/WAFJt5xNcyOuFtHIuoRMyxTlHLus7oGsvoNHnE9SyqQ%
3D/PromoAccessory_440881.jpg?w=1290&ssl=1)

**Photos by Jon Reino**

The first single from their forthcoming [**‘Above the Water’ LP**](https://elkcity.bandcamp.com/album/above-the-water),
opens a new chapter in the Montclair, New Jersey-based band’s evolutionary story,
showcasing a new guitar-rich lineup featuring members of **Versus, Luna** and the**
Psychedelic Furs **side-project **Feed**.

Elk City revolves around its founders, artist/vocalist **Renee LoBue** and producer/
drummer [**Ray Ketchem**](https://soundbetter.com/profiles/232601-ray-ketchem). 
Ketchem’s [**Magic Door Recording**](https://www.facebook.com/magicdoorrecording/)****
studio is homebase, where the band creates their uniquely swirling dream pop for
insomniacs.

‘That Someone’ and the full ‘Above the Water’ LP will be released via the new [**Magic Door Record Label**](https://magicdoor.bandcamp.com/),
founded by[** Guided by Voices **](https://www.guidedbyvoices.com/)drummer **Kevin
March** with Ketchem and LoBue. These three neighbors, collaborators and friends
launched the label with a simple mission to release music created by the rich community
of artists who surround them.

With a glimmering rock thread, ‘That Someone’ dishes up potent atmospheric pop with
psychedelic undertones and overtones. Ketchem and LoBue’s co-pilots here are uniquely
qualified for this high-flying task: twin rods of lightning in guitarists **Sean
Eden (Luna) **and **Chris Robertson (Feed, Punch Havana)**, and electrifying bass
courtesy of **Richard Baluyut (Versus)**.

Since 1999, Elk City has faced the omnipresent question: What does Elk City sound
like? Given their output of 5 albums, 3 EPs and countless one-off tracks, the answer
is ever evolving. But that’s a good thing, revealing an even deeper question:

_What does Elk City feel like?_

It feels pretty good, man. ‘That Someone’ is definitive in this regard: Like so 
many Elk City songs, it feels like it’s happening at night, and there’s a storm 
coming.

Opening with a riff akin to early Sleater-Kinney or ‘Loaded’-era Velvets, it quickly
goes Blondie, then unleashes into the kind of full-fledged tornado that is uniquely
Elk City.

“We’ve never used this much improv before,” says **Renee LoBue** of this initial
single and the forthcoming album.

![](https://i0.wp.com/redirect.haulix.com/wkwa_B_uMLyoimwbD_UoqyNXSYnhHTvYcwfgFGaQvLs%
3D/PromoAccessory_610949.jpg?w=1290&ssl=1)

**Photos by Jon Reino**

“The stuff you hear is happening in the moment, while tape was rolling,” says **
Ray Ketchem**.

From there, **Richard Baluyut** became the band’s rehearsal tape archivist and obsessive
editor, building out these rehearsal room jams into something completely different:
The kind of elegantly crafted 3:30 pop songs that decades ago, bands would press
onto a 12-inch, one to a side, almost as if to say, “Here’s a song you can get swept
up in. Here’s a song about what it feels like to be alive.”

‘Above the Water’ was recorded, mixed and mastered at Ketchem’s [**Magic Door Recording**](https://www.facebook.com/magicdoorrecording/),
opened in 2017 as an acoustically lush refuge where musical expression and experimentation
can unfurl. Ketchem, whose production credits include **Guided By Voices**, **Luna**,
and **Gramercy Arms**, partnered with legendary studio designer [**George Augspurger**](https://augspurger.com/)
to transform a cavernous warehouse into a freeform studio where vintage microphones,
modern studio gear, and bespoke sound tuning elevate and inspire.

As of August 24, ‘That Someone’ will be available everywhere digitally, including
[**Apple Music**](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/elk-city/5421978)**, [Tidal](https://tidal.com/browse/artist/3610647),
[Qobuz](https://open.qobuz.com/artist/27846), **[**Spotify**](https://open.spotify.com/artist/3fP1b6MT31lrhF7Xzf4KSA?si=vQGI0lCUSGGkaG-jMbvHLQ)
and [**Bandcamp**](https://elkcity.bandcamp.com/), where the full album can already
be pre-ordered. The ‘Above The Water’ LP will be released on October 21.

![](https://i0.wp.com/redirect.haulix.com/YsdBdztoQiwJ1ZWPuMKOL4TBjskXgNu2cHv3DSj5B84%
3D/PromoAccessory_454365.jpg?w=1290&ssl=1)

**CREDITS **
Renee LoBue – lead vocals, percussionChris Robertson – guitars, backing
vocalsRay Ketchem – drums, percussion, synths, soundsSean Eden – guitarsRichard 
Baluyut – bass, synths, backing vocalsRecorded, Mixed & Mastered by Ray Ketchem 
at Magic Door Recording, Montclair, NJSongs written and performed by Elk City© 2022
sound is crazy music (BMI)Single cover artwork by Ray KetchemAlbum cover artwork
by Ray Ketchem and Renee LoBue

**FOR FANS OF:** 
The Fiery Furnaces, Throwing Muses, PJ Harvey, John Cale, Jefferson
Airplane, Cate LeBon, Luna

**Keep up with Elk City**
[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/elkcityband) | [Bandcamp](https://elkcity.bandcamp.com/)
| [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/elkcityband/) | [Twitter](https://twitter.com/ElkCityMusic)
| [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw000Y-Q86FvREYEAU2kZ3A) | [Apple Music](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/elk-city/5421978)
| [Tidal](https://tidal.com/browse/artist/3610647) | [Qobuz](https://open.qobuz.com/artist/27846)
| [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/artist/3fP1b6MT31lrhF7Xzf4KSA?si=vQGI0lCUSGGkaG-jMbvHLQ)

**Magic Door Record Label:**
[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/magicdoorrecordlabel/)
| [Twitter](https://twitter.com/magicdoormusic) | [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/magicdoorrecordlabel/)

**Keep up with Shameless Promotion PR**
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