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Ekko Astral

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Ekko Astral
Ekko Astral in 2023. From left to right: Hughes, Holzman, Tully, Tyler.
Ekko Astral in 2023. From left to right: Hughes, Holzman, Tully, Tyler.
Background information
OriginWashington, D.C.
Genres
Years active2021 (2021)-present
LabelsTopshelf Records
MembersJael Holzman
Liam Hughes
Miri Tyler
Past membersStephen Yaeger
Guinevere Tully
Sam Elmore

Ekko Astral are a punk rock band based in Washington, D.C. The group play a blend of noise rock and pop-punk, referred to by the band as "mascara mosh pit". Their first album, Pink Balloons, was released on Topshelf Records in 2024.

History

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Ekko Astral started in 2021, after longtime friends Jael Holzman and Liam Hughes reconnected following Hughes moving to Washington, D.C. in 2021. The pair previously wrote music together while they attended the University of Vermont but disbanded post graduation. Their debut EP, Quartz, was recorded for Hughes' master's thesis at American University, where he was studying audio technology.[1][2] Before the recording of Quartz, Holzman came out as a trans woman. In recording the EP, Holzman wanted to provide an outlet for expressing the emotions she felt coming to terms with her transgender identity during the COVID-19 pandemic.[3][4][5]

Bassist and percussionist Miri Tyler was recruited from Washington, D.C.'s DIY music scene for the recording of Quartz. Following the recording and release of Quartz, Tyler was made the group's full-time drummer, and was joined by fellow trans D.C. indie musician Guinevere Tully on bass. The band's lineup was finalized with the addition of rhythm guitarist Sam Elmore, a childhood friend of Holzman's.[3][6] The group's first release as a quintet was the live EP The Quartz Farewell, recorded at Comet Ping Pong in 2023.[7]

Ekko Astral announced their signing to Topshelf Records in 2024;[8] their full-length debut Pink Balloons was released through the label on April 17th. Its release was preceded by that of singles "Baethoven", "Devorah", and "On Brand", which received enthusiastic profiles in outlets including NPR[9] and Stereogum.[8][10][11]

Also in 2024, it was announced the group would be supporting Idles on tour for three dates in the Southern United States, as well as opening for Ted Leo and the Pharmacists on the first leg of their Shake the Sheets 20th anniversary tour.[12] As of May 2024, the band are working on their next release, "a concept album about the Beltway".[3]

In July 2024, Tully left the group, citing mental health and a desire to take a break from music.[13] Holzman became the group's bass player in her absence.[14] Elmore announced his departure 2 months later on September 4.[15]

Style and influences

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Ekko Astral's name was derived from a lyric in the Death Grips song "Come Up And Get Me", the opening track from their album No Love Deep Web.[2]

The group uses the genre label of "mascara moshpit" music as a descriptor of both their musical style as well as the queer and countercultural leanings of their music. While the group intended Quartz to be explicitly about the experience of being transgender, Pink Balloons features a more expanded focus. Tully describes their music as "for [trans women], but not just for [trans women]"; while Holzman says their primary audience for their music is those "who are struggling, who are at their absolute lowest".[16][17][5]

Describing the band's sound in opposition to those of other punk influences, Holzman has said that Ekko Astral is "just Charli XCX and Sophie with loud guitars".[18] The lyrics of Pink Balloons have been compared to those of Arctic Monkeys;[1] Holzman has named their album Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino as an influence. Ekko Astral has also drawn influence from Jeff Rosenstock,[12] Kendrick Lamar, Ethel Cain,[6] Gilla Band, Idles, and Ditz, alongside other trans-fronted punk acts such as Lambrini Girls,[2] Crush Fund, and Anita Velveeta.[16]

Members

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Current members

  • Jael Holzman (2021-present) - vocals, bass guitar (2024-present)
  • Liam Hughes (2021-present) - lead guitar, keys
  • Miri Tyler (2021-present) - drums, percussion, bass guitar (2021-2022)

Past members

  • Stephen Yaeger (2021-2022) - drums
  • Guinevere Tully (2022-2024) - bass guitar
  • Sam Elmore (2022-2024) - rhythm guitar

Discography

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Studio albums

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EPs

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Studio

  • Quartz (2022)

Live

  • The Quartz Farewell (2023)

Works cited

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  1. ^ a b Corcoran, Nina (April 17, 2024). "Ekko Astral: pink balloons Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Farrell, Margaret (March 27, 2024). "Band To Watch: Ekko Astral". Stereogum. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Parnell, Annie (May 7, 2024). "Ekko Astral: The Best of What's Next". Paste. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  4. ^ Davis, Bailey (October 25, 2022). "Premiere: Meet Ekko Astral, a Queer Post-Punk Band Making Mascara Moshpits". Riot Fest. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  5. ^ a b Kelly, Chris (January 24, 2024). "Meet Ekko Astral, D.C.'s 'mascara mosh pit' rockers with a message". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  6. ^ a b Ruckle, Taylor (April 17, 2024). "With Their Debut Album, Ekko Astral Are Building an Apolitical Punk Constituency". Washington City Paper. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  7. ^ "THE QUARTZ FAREWELL". Bandcamp. August 8, 2023. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  8. ^ a b DeVille, Chris (February 14, 2024). "Ekko Astral - "baethoven"". Stereogum. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  9. ^ Gotrich, Lars (April 2, 2024). "8 Tracks: Samba shoegaze, cherry blossom jazz and an 8-bit K-pop crush". NPR. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  10. ^ "The 5 Best Songs Of The Week". Stereogum. March 29, 2024. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  11. ^ Breihan, Tom (April 16, 2024). "Ekko Astral - "on brand"". Stereogum. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  12. ^ a b Sacher, Andrew (April 17, 2024). "Ekko Astral on how Arctic Monkeys, Charli XCX, Jeff Rosenstock & more influenced their debut LP". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  13. ^ @ekkoastral (July 5, 2024). "a message from @rosslyn_station ❤️" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  14. ^ @ekkoastral (July 5, 2024). "from the rest of the band who's on bass? @jholz__ who guin will give immeasurable amounts of guff to, we're sure of it" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  15. ^ "Ekko Astral Part With Two Members". 2024-09-04. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
  16. ^ a b Karon, Giliann (April 18, 2024). "Inside the Mascara Mosh Pit: A Conversation with Ekko Astral". Post-Trash. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  17. ^ Rodrigues, Mela J. (November 4, 2022). "Get to Know Yourself With the Unstoppable Ekko Astral". Washington City Paper. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  18. ^ @ekkoastral (April 17, 2024). "people compare us to all these punk bands when really it's just charli xcx and sophie with loud guitars" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
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