For Immediate Release<\/b><\/p>\n
June 15, 2020
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Krief to release new single in June, new album coming in August<\/p>\n Album\u00a0Chemical Trance<\/em>\u00a0is a psychedelic ride<\/p>\n Krief taps into the intersection of divine and mortality, confronting his own vulnerabilities in a beautiful cacophony<\/strong><\/p>\n Indie singer-songwriter Krief (full name Patrick Krief) is set to release the first single, \u201cI Am the Pillar of Darkness in Your Life,\u201d from his new album on June 26, 2020 via Rock Ridge Music in the U.S.\u00a0 The track and video for the song will premiere at\u00a0Glide Magazine<\/em>\u00a0on June 24th.\u00a0 \u201cI Am the Pillar of Darkness in Your Life\u201d appears on Krief\u2019s forthcoming album,\u00a0Chemical Trance<\/em>, which is set for simultaneous U.S. (Rock Ridge Music), Canadian (Indica), and German (Popup Records) release on August 14, 2020.\u00a0 For fans looking for another sneak peek at\u00a0Chemical Trance<\/em>, the title track is set to be the second single and will be released on July 24, 2020.<\/p>\n Chemical Trance<\/em>\u00a0is a psychedelic masterpiece of secular shamanistic humanism.\u00a0 The Montreal-based musician taps into that holy intersection of divine and mortality, confronting his own vulnerabilities in a beautiful cacophony that, at times, recalls Pink Floyd, late-era Beatles, Leonard Cohen, and Radiohead. And just like the artistic epochs of those great musical masters, the new album is at its best when Krief digs deepest into his most personal moments.<\/p>\n Chemical Trance<\/em>\u00a0(the follow-up to his 2019 release,\u00a0Dovetale<\/em>) was recorded at Krief\u2019s home studio just outside of Montreal. While Krief helmed most of the drums, bass, piano, guitar, keys, and vocals across the nine songs that comprise the album, joining him on the record were: Kate Maloney (violin), Justin Wright (cello), Lorraine Muller (tenor and baritone sax), Philippe Brunet (trombone), Tony Albino (drums on \u201cChemical Trance\u201d) and George Donoso (drums on \u201cLine Stepper\u201d).\u00a0Chemical Trance<\/em>\u00a0was produced and mixed by Krief himself. To maintain a feeling of raw \u201cold-school\/off-the floor\u201d performances, most of the instrumentation was recorded in one or two takes. The vocals were performed live with an instrument (piano or guitar) and a commitment was made to not using tuning or editing.<\/p>\n While Krief is known for dream pop, shoegaze, classic pop\/rock, and folk, he pictured\u00a0Chemical Trance<\/em>\u00a0to be more psychedelic in nature, like an Ayahuasca trip. \u201cIt\u2019s like you’ve taken the drug and you’re confronting your whole past \u2013 all the darkest stuff,\u201d Krief says. \u201cBut you’re not reliving it in a normal way, it’s hyped-up: emotions as demons, that sort of thing.\u201d<\/p>\n The album, conceived to be one continuous listen, is bookended by Krief\u2019s two extremes. Opener \u201cI Am The Pillar of Darkness in Your Life\u201d plays like Dante\u2019s Virgil guiding the listener through the first circle of hell, in this case representing Krief\u2019s own crippling anxiety. By album closer, \u201cGyp Million Star,\u201d salvation appears in sight. \u201cThe idea is by the end of the album it’s beautiful,\u201d Krief says. \u201cNot dark. Peaceful.\u201d Along the way, there\u2019s a sonic journey of truly maximalist proportions \u2013 oscillating at will between aggressive, progressive, and groovy (\u201cLine Stepper,\u201d \u201cThe Light Between Your Eyes\u201d), and fragile and intimate (\u201cNever Without You\u201d).\u00a0 Yet for all its bombast, there\u2019s a total freedom of spirit that envelops\u00a0Chemical Trance<\/em>.<\/p>\n When he began the recording process in November 2019, Krief decided that he wanted to make an album that took him on a journey in which he could heroically confront his demons and completely escape reality. It is fitting, then, that he will release the album to the world in the midst of a pandemic that leaves many wanting to escape reality themselves. Rooted in exploring anxiety and depression, two states that have become rampant in today\u2019s world,\u00a0Chemical Trance<\/em>\u00a0is a well-timed aural getaway for those who need it most. \u201cWhen I was a teen cooped up in my room feeling completely isolated, and misunderstood, I used music as an escape,\u201d Krief says. \u201cI still do to this day. Just art, and catharsis, for my ears only. That quickly became the only goal in making this record.\u201d<\/p>\n Continues Krief: \u201cI sat with the idea of releasing for three months. I was riddled with self-doubt about it, as I\u2019d never imagined releasing something so transparent and personal. It\u2019s flawed, it\u2019s lo-fi, and it\u2019s full of the nicks and scratches that usually get buffed out in bigger productions. That is how I like to hear music, as most of my favorite albums were tracked to tape, but it\u2019s always been scary to try and release something that is made that way. My wife convinced me that this music could make other people happy, and that I should share it.\u201d<\/p>\n Nothing short of a reinvention for the Montreal singer-songwriter (who is known by many as the former co-writer for Montreal\u2019s \u201cOrchestral Pop Noir\u201d Band The Dears),\u00a0Chemical Trance<\/em>\u00a0is an assertion of artistic autonomy. \u201cUnlike my previous work, I wanted to write an album that was built out of a vibe \u2013 one continuous listen,\u201d Krief explains. \u201cTo do that, I brought myself back to the point of being lost in music; just having fun, making art because it pleases me. The songs made me feel young.\u201d<\/p>\n On past releases,\u00a0American Songwriter<\/em>\u00a0called his songs \u201cdeeply personal,\u201d\u00a0Brooklyn Vegan<\/em>\u00a0praised his \u201canthemic, widescreen sound,\u201d while\u00a0Clash Music<\/em>\u00a0lauded his \u201cconfident, mature songwriting.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Bsides & Badlands<\/em>\u00a0declared his tunes are \u201ca smokey kind of elixir\u2026 [they] carve deeper into the complexities of human nature.\u201d\u00a0The Waterloo Record<\/em>\u00a0proclaimed, \u201cKrief’s music is dark, intelligent, and sonically opulent. His deep voice is a like a hypnotic instrument as he takes the listener through an aural opus of intertwining emotional scenarios.\u201d\u00a0Exclaim!\u00a0<\/em>dubbed his music an \u201chonest musical take on life,\u201d and\u00a0Jam Magazine<\/em>\u00a0called it \u201ca gorgeous listening experience.\u201d<\/p>\n