“… a sound that's as warm and diverse as the duo's native California.” - Folk n’ Rock
“Their voices are a match made in heaven, and that paired with their unique songwriting skills make Calling Cadence something truly special. All of that wrapped up in beautiful melodies that mix classic rock with country influences makes one of the best bands we’ve seen in recent times.” - The Honey Pop
”L.A. band Calling Cadence has released a new song with an old-school vibe. The band says the song “Throw My Body” was recorded without the use of any computers; the performance was captured with a vintage tape machine.” - KTLA (on “Throw My Body”)
“...capturing the classic sound of Motown on record, and combining
classic musical forms with modern lyrical narratives.” - The Indy Review
“...it’s a smorgasbord of folk, rock, soul, punk, jazz and country with an easy-to-digest attitude and gotcha hooks. All that, coupled with the extremely high level of musicianship,
makes the end product easily absorbed.” - The Audio Beat
“The band casts a large net and has clearly soaked up inspiration from a disparate cross-section of some all-timers while forging their own sound that could sit comfortably next to Chris Stapleton (“Took a Chance”) or… Michael frigging Jackson (“This Time”). There’s Memphis Soul, and A.M. Gold in them hills too. A veritable smorgasbord of sonic exploration and goodness.“ - Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity
CR: Michelle Shiers
LISTEN TO “CALIFORNIA BARTENDER” HERE
Los Angeles band Calling Cadence has released their fourth single, “California Bartender” — out today on hi-res records off their forthcoming self-titled LP. Fronted by Oscar Bugarin and Rae Cole, Calling Cadence is a band rooted in harmony — harmony between voices, between songwriters, between genres like rock, country and Southern soul. The result is a sound that's as warm and diverse as the duo's native California, where Oscar and Rae first crossed paths.
“California Bartender” was written from the real-life perspective of Rae working as a bartender in Los Angeles. While the song has an uplifting summertime feeling, at its lyrical core are the very real and sometimes heartbreaking stories overhead from across the bar. This song is a window into the ups and downs of aspiring artists in Los Angeles, a city that can be unforgiving and merciless. “I love having Oscar as a bandmate because we are able to work simple jams into meaningful songs in a way that feels effortless when we align. Most of the lyrics/chords from our original improvised jam remained in the final production,” says Rae.
Calling Cadence has received support from legendary Los Angeles rock station KLOS. They were featured on the popular KLOS Friday morning Heidi & Frank show. Additional radio support has come in from Nashville's WMOT, WCNR in Charlotte, WPYA in Birmingham, WCLX in Burlington, KSYM in San Antonio.
Calling Cadence, the band's self-titled debut album, showcases a group whose songs nod to the past while resolutely pushing forward. It's a classic-sounding record (recorded, mixed and mastered straight to analog tape) for the contemporary world. Computers were only employed for streaming prep and CD replication. Produced by David Swartz and Matt Linesch, the album is being released on their own hi-res records label. The producers and the band thought long and hard about diving into the all-analog domain but came to the conclusion that the final product would benefit in a way that digital would not allow. The 15 songs shine a light on Calling Cadence's strength as a live act, blending Oscar and Rae's entwined voices with vintage keyboards, guitar heroics and plenty of percussive and low-end stomp. Josh Adams (Norah Jones, Beck, Fruit Bats): drums, Elijah Thomson (Father John Misty, Nathaniel Rateliff): bass, and Mitchell Yoshida (Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros): keyboards, round out the core band.
For Calling Cadence (whose name pays tribute to Oscar's time in the army), recording to analog tape wasn't just a production choice; it was a way of maintaining honesty with themselves and their audience. Like the classic albums that inspired Calling Cadence's layered vocal arrangements and warm, guitar-driven sound, the record is a genuine snapshot of a band on the rise. And, once again, it all comes back to harmony.
Calling Cadence will be playing at the Mint in Los Angeles on March 30. More information can be found HERE.
