# Artist of the Week – Avindale

- Link: https://indierockcafe.com/2015/01/artist-of-the-week-avindale/
- Published: 2015-01-20T17:23:12-05:00
- Author: Max Hammer

Avindale is an exciting **El Paso ** indie rock band whose sound can be best described
as a mix of powerful ambient guitar melodies, distinct bass lines, dynamic drum 
beats, and evocative vocals that draw from the band members’ diverse musical interests.

Early in 2014, the band released a 7-inch containing two triumphant singles – the
funkier, more electronic Grizzly Bear-like, “Azure,” with its slick guitar and bass
hooks, followed by the ringing guitars and melancholy mood of “Not Even Gold.”

[ Azure ](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/Azure.mp3) – **Avindale**
from _Azure/Not Even Gold_ 7″

[ Not Even Gold ](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/NotEvenGold.mp3) –**
Avindale** from _Azure/Not Even Gold_ 7″

So where did this promising new band start out? In 2011 – four years after first
forming – the band released their debut EP, _Cycles_, containing three demo tracks.
But it was their 2013 sophomore EP, _Lost In A Place Some Call Home_, recorded with
the help of engineer/producer **Dryw Owens** (Indian Lakes, Culprit ), that really
started gaining traction with music lovers, and with which the band felt they were
finally producing the sound they always envisioned.

“Her Piano” – Avindale from _Lost In A Place Some Call Home_

Following the release of _Lost In A Place Some Call Home_ , which also included 
a Japanese release on Cars and Calories Records, with distribution through Tower
Records, Avindale set out to tour the U.S. and Japan, gaining more fans along the
way. Standout songs from the EP include “Come Through,” “Her Piano,” and “Summer
Meets Winter” (watch the [db Session video](https://youtube.com/watch?v=InUs6PyL6oY&t=0m28s)).
In November, the band released the single, “Dreamer,” a mellow pop song that floats
along on the wings of soaring and swirling synths and guitars that deliver encouraging
lyrics of better days ahead.

Related Post:  Artist of the Week - S. Walcott

[“Dreamer”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/Avindale%20-%20Dreamer.mp3)–**
Avindale** from _Dreamer_ single

Avindale’s blending of rock, electronic, ambient and jazz creates wonderfully rich
and textured sounds that draw the listener in to hear more. That’s part of what 
makes labeling the band not such an easy thing to do. To that point, lead vocalist,
guitarist and keyboardist, **Oscar Alderete**, says they consider themselves part
of a “new wave of rock music that can not really be defined, where different influences
are merging together.”

Unfortunately, the band has to travel far from their home base to participate in
this ‘new wave of rock music.’ That’s simply because the El Paso music scene, Alderte
told IRC, “has not had much to offer. El Paso, he said, is a “considerable distance
from other cities with a stable or even growing music scene,” which in turn, “motivated
the band to work even harder.” And that’s good for music fans everywhere. The more
the band can get out of El Paso – especially to big music cities like **Austin**–
the more their popularity is bound to spread.

The other band members include bassist **Gary Espinoza**, guitarist **Chris Gards**,
drummer **Beto Herrera**, and percussionist and backup vocalist **Oscar Diaz de 
Leon**. The band’s musical influences range from Bombay Bicycle Club, Mutemath and
Young the Giant to Indian Lakes and Radiohead. In the past, they’ve opened for Indian
Lakes, as well as bands like Circa Survive, Dance Gavin Dance, Coheed and Cambria,
A Lot Like Birds, and artist Johnny Craig. At a time when so many ‘indie’ bands,
often at the hands of the record labels, are putting out predictably cookie-cutter
releases, it’s refreshing to have bands like Avindale to listen to.

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[Avindale on Bandcamp](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/avindale.bandcamp.com)