Romancer’s ambient punk vibe
‘Honeybee’ marks a change in sound and lyrical themes
Romancer’s new EP, “Honeybee,” looks set to create significant buzz for the emerging Kitchener punk quartet.
The band — featuring Adam Horrocks and Riley O’Donnell on guitars and vocals, Nathan Cumber on drums, and Ben Abu Halaga-Dilgert on bass — will release their new EP Saturday night at Open Sesame in Kitchener as part of a five-band, all-ages bill that kicks off at 7 p.m.
The follow up to “As We Both Close In On The Water,” the band’s 2016 debut EP, “Honeybee” marks a change in sound and lyrical themes for the group, Horrocks and O’Donnell said.
“Initially, I had a thought that I wanted to stop screaming at the top of my lungs, I wanted to do that less,” said Horrocks.
“I think my music tastes just changed, and I just wanted to write something more vibe-y, more relaxed is probably the best word I could use to describe (it). As far as change in songwriting topics, 2017 was definitely the hardest year of my life, emotionally and mentally, for a number of reasons, and that definitely, to me at least, is apparent in the EP.”
“Honeybee” showcases a more experimental side of the band than their previous release, something Horrocks and O’Donnell credit to producer Jon Horvath, who also goes by the name Sad Sorcerer. A childhood friend of Horrocks, Horvath brought an “arsenal of instruments and production ideas” to help elevate the group’s sound on “Honeybee,” Horrocks said.
“He makes the most compelling and sonically stimulating music I’ve ever heard from a Canadian artist. He’s super-underground and I go way back with him. Jon’s been my friend since we were both 12 and I’m really happy to have met him. The recording process really rekindled our friendship, and nothing has changed at all — if anything, it’s just kind of strengthened our bond. It’s so fun making music with your friends.”
Added O’Donnell: “He’s one of the most experimental-sounding artists we’ve ever encountered, and he played a major role in providing his take on things when we were making the album. A lot of the things that you hear on this EP that’s different from the last one are John’s input in the production side of things.”
Though it receives its official release today, “Honeybee” has already been building a name for Romancer in the music industry.
The website Kill Your Stereo said the EP contains “wonderful, dynamic moments of post-rock and hazy ambience,” while Alternative Press showcased the group’s new video, “Nausicaa,” and included them on a Spotify playlist.
The band, whose members previously played in local groups Lancaster and Credit Valley, have described their music as “ambient punk,” a term that captures the group’s mix of post-rock, pop-punk, and emo influences.
The group’s still-evolving sound and the experimental nature of “Honeybee” make it difficult to sum up their music in a few words, however.
“Now we’re not really sure how to describe what we’re called,” said O’Donnell.
“Or even where it’s going to go,” added Horrocks.
“We know there’s definitely punk there,” said O’Donnell, “but the thing that makes it different than a punk band is that we’re a lot more ambient and vibe-y, so we just kind of threw those two words together and decided that’s what our genre is.”
Said Horrocks: “We just want to be the best we can possibly be, creatively and musically, and we’re always trying to push the limits of both of those things.”
After the local EP release party at Open Sesame, the band will hit the road for a weeklong Ontario tour that includes stops in Toronto, Niagara Falls, Hamilton, London, and North Bay.
Once they return home, they plan to regroup and decide on next steps, while also finding time to take a little break from their recent hive of activity.
“We worked really hard this year,” said Horrocks. “We deserve a nice little Christmas holiday.”